Just yesterday, I was chatting with a friend of mine who’s really different from most people today.
This guy has over 150 unread chats on WhatsApp, but it doesn’t seem to bug him one bit. He barely goes on social media and doesn’t have a clue about the latest features they keep adding.
He doesn’t really know or care about the day-to-day stuff happening in people’s lives, but he still stays in touch with his close friends just fine.
He’s picky about who he talks to, and he doesn’t let all that internet noise get in his way.
He’s a living proof that you can be happy and chill without being all over the internet all the time.
Less Online = More Life
The greatest wealth is to live content with little.
Plato
It seems like the people who spend less time on the internet are actually the ones feeling happier and more satisfied.
Sounds crazy, right? I mean, the internet’s got everything – news, funny cat videos, ways to keep in touch with everyone etc.
You’d think more of all this stuff would make us happier, right? Turns out, it’s not quite that simple.
One type of “content” is that good feeling, when you’re satisfied and chill, like after a good meal or hanging with friends.
The other type of “content” is all that stuff you find online – news, social media posts, memes, whatnot.
Now, you’d think more of that second type of content would lead to more of the first type, right?
More online stuff = more happiness. But in reality, it’s looking like the opposite is true.
The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.
Henry David Thoreau
Why is this?
Too Much Information
There’s so much stuff online, it’s impossible to keep up with it all.
Trying to do so can stress you out.
Beware the barrenness of a busy life.
Socrates
Life Isn’t a Highlight Reel
All that stuff on social media? It’s like everyone’s “best of” reel.
But real life isn’t always picture perfect, and comparing yours to others can leave you feeling down.
We’re People
Not computers, and we need real interaction to be happy.
Online ~ No Work
Most of the time, being online means not really working and it can be pretty distracting.
Not getting stuff done can make us feel pretty bummed, to say the least.
Conclusion
Happiness isn’t about consuming every bit of online content.
Instead, it’s about being mindful, choosing what to engage with and knowing when to step back. The less clutter from digital noise, the more room for real-life experiences and joy.
In a time when we have access to everything online, it’s the absence of that stuff that often leads to happiness.
The happiest people are often those who consume less online content, and are picky about what they consume.
Remember – sometimes, no content is the best content.
