I watch a lot of youtube, and I mean a lot. I use it as background noise when I work, wash dishes, cook, work on artistic projects, turn it to low volume when I can't sleep....I treat it like a radio. While I don't watch garbage- I watch stuff on politics, history, true crime, nature, etc. and I do my best to vet the creators I consume- but I still feel like it's having a negative effect on my mental health and personal development. My hobbies and my progress on achieving personal goals are suffering. It gets ten times worse when I get sick, burnt-out, or in a depressive slump. I've been watching youtube since my family ditched dial-up (like 2010-ish) and it's only gotten worse after I've moved out of my parents' place. Doubtless I would have been a lot more successful in high school and uni had I not felt the compulsion to have someone yapping in the background as I did my math homework. I have no other social media besides youtube, discord, and a facebook I only use when I want to check fb marketplace. If you've had a similar issue, what are your strategies for overcoming this? How do I learn to be okay with silence? (desu i might just need to go cold turkey and live in a hut innawoods)
>>33650136>I don't watch garbage>true crimeuh oh. you sure about this anon?
I lived in a place where every single person had their own tv on 24/7 (this was before phones were that common. It annoyed me and they all agreed with the talking head on every single issue.>what are your strategies for overcoming this?Move out>it's only gotten worse after I've moved out of my parents' placeSry
>>33650136>How do I learn to be okay with silence?I'm in a similar boat OP, I live alone and when I get home it gets real quiet and real lonely, real fast. I'm starting off slow. Normally when I do things like wash my face or shave or water my plants, I have music or a youtube video essay playing in the background. I've started to cut that out and have those five minute intervals just be silent. My next small step will be to decrease the podcasts and video essays and just listen to mainly music.Ultimately it's a dopamine problem, you need to start practicing being bored and delaying gratification.
