‘Motivation comes and go. Your true friend is discipline’. Such wise words Valerie. I have suffered from depression since I was a teenager, I now am 60 years old and, if I have learnt something all these years is that procrastination comes from fear; fear that we are not good enough, fear that people will laugh at our art, fear that we are unable to make whatever we are making, ‘perfect’ and that is when the depression sets in. You are wise beyond your years Valerie. Thanks for another beautiful and inspirational video, you truly are an artist. Big hugs from Australia 💕🥰
Thank you for sharing your experience Audrey, it´s so true! The day I stopped caring what others think changed so much. Thank you for hanging around with us and warm hugs back from Berlin 🥰☀️💌
I always thought I‘m just lazy. But if I‘m honest to myself, I just fear to begin cause I‘ve got this diffuse fear of failing. But when I think about how often I really failed in a task or a job, I can’t find a lot of examples. It helps me to think about the worst case scenario and I unusually end up realizing that none of the mistakes I could do will end my life.
Hell true and I really relate to it completely and really don’t know how to stop myself bcuz nobody will be there without any return to enhance your mood and motivates….. it’s hard or most of the time impossible…. No matter how much I have taken sleep but I still feel somewhat exhausted and tired
@@dianeo for me procrastinating doesn’t mean I am lazy but rather undecided. So much to the point I don’t start or finish something because I lose focus. It’s a vicious cycle with anxiety.
Even though this centers around phone addiction, I gotta say I can relate to this in the way that I'm addicted to my "bubble". Sometimes I spend whole days daydreaming while listening to music, reading or watching videos, thinking about all the stuff that I need and like to do, without doing anything and looking at the time fleeting before my eyes. My brain does this because he thinks it's comfortable. And it is, but, it's toxic. I end up spaced out and unfocused, I can't concentrate on my friends or my surroundings, it's like I'm not even there, almost like I'm in a drunken state. Recently, I finally decided to start something on a whim. It was a small project that required more than what I'm used to. As in, not only drawing, but thinking about printing, material, price etc. So I ended up discovering SO MANY things that were just a few blocks away from me. Now I know more places where I can print, where I can post mail, new ways to sell online and IRL etc. That boost of energy made me take a train to my hometown, without telling my family, just to wander in the old streets, and then come back home. I never did such a thing. And it was so freeing. And I did *all* of that, just by starting something. Sometimes, it's just all it takes. Even if doesn't go far, the hardest step is *starting*.
For me, I start a lot of things, that’s the easy part. For me, completing is the problem, not because of my phone, but some new shiny project instead. Even sneaking on my yt channel would tell you that 😂 I can never decide or committ on something that takes too long time
With algorithms designed to keep the user addicted, and everything being specified for the user, its hard not to. But yes the user IS in control and needs to take responsibility! Thank you for this and definitely a sign to be more mindful this weekend. 💕 much love for Houston, TX
when valerie says "i didn't know it's so easy to feel peaceful. it's just reading a book" i genuinely got a little emotional. it reminded me of my book worm days in grade school, when i had fun reading through books and wasn't spending time scrolling on a device. i miss those days of being able to be in a genuine, calm state. it's been a week of my dopamine detox (youtube was the exception, however im watching creators that i can learn from so im not too disappointed) and i can feel myself feeling just a little bit better.
Cómo yo pude, tu también seguro lo puedo lograr. Yo no leía libros como vos, pero si dedicaba tiempo a entrenar fútbol, tocar la guitarra y dibujar. El hábito de la lectura lo implementé ahora de adulta, retome aprender nuevamente las clases de guitarra y entrenar fútbol, como también volví a dibujar. Esos eran mis lugares de paz y donde quiero estar, por lo tanto espero y te sirva mí experiencia. Una vez que vuelves a dónde era feliz, sentís tranquilidad, quieres quedarte siempre ahí :)
as i’ve been healing from severe mental illness i’ve found myself naturally wanting to spend less and less time online, and being more focused whenever i do use social media. the algorithms are literally designed to keep you angry, sad, and feeling like you’re missing something-people who feel fulfilled don’t spend multiple hours a day on social media! it helps me to keep in mind the emotions that apps want you to feel when you use them, and close them as soon as i start to feel annoyed, sad, or stop being mindful. and i feel so much grief for the effect this is having on our generation.
!! “people who feel fulfilled don’t spend multiple hours a day on social media.” WOW that hit me. so true and makes me think how i can spend my time and attention in a more fulfilling way.
I agree. There needs to be so much more talk on the effect it can have on us. It’s so detrimental if used without a conscious and aware mind of what it has the power to do. I also am *trying* to heal from severe mental illness (although mental illness could just be the result of core needs not being met over and over and our brains trying to make sense of things that happen and keep us safe in the form of this) and it’s extremely hard.
@@GeorgiaPeck wow, i think the same about mental illness--that they're the result of the brain trying to cope with a stressful environment or with core needs not being met. it's hard, i'm right there with you!
@@kimmyayoga it's really interesting to see that that is the way mental illness comes about and that it's not actually anything 'wrong' with you in some sense. But nonetheless suuuper hard to navigate. I'm with you too :)
I needed this so much. Watching your videos always had a therapeutic effect on me, but this video specifically gave me that push I needed to actively try and change my routine. As an artist myself I NEED to follow into your steps and see if I can get back my joy to create more art.
i am a student who has been going through a lot recently, especially since my parents went abroad I'm alone and addicted to social media, I realized I lose focus a lot, don't study, stay up till 3 am, I didn't really pay much attention, your video made me feel so peaceful and motivated to do other things, thank you
im at my 4 year of animation and my passion has always been drawing or creating but recently i havent been enjoying it and now i realised im addicted to my phone with the excuse of "finding inspiration" now i see that its only a way to escape and not face failure but in those seven hours i spend looking for inspiration it only makes me more depressed and insecure about my art, i see others and i compare myself, thank you for you video since you also create art its nice to hear the opinion of someone who is doing something similar, i will try harder to stay away from my phone and find that "inspiration" outside and in real things from the present
Damn you took my words out of my mouth. I think the reason social media makes us so addicted to it is because some how the world expect us to behave like this. My friends on Instagram keep posting about how great their life is yet I know how much they're in debt, asking their parents for money all the time just to show off ( my parents are friends with my friends parents so they told me ). Honestly social media is destroying today's generation with fake stuffs including beauty standards, unrealistic lifestyle, toxic positivity, hustle culture, depression, anxiety including cyber crimes and so much more.
Just reading the title hit me. It’s so hard, especially because most of my friends are online but something’s gotta give, I want more than screens and scrolling.
Last week I studied approximetly 7 hours a day and really enjoyed it, I didnt enjoy it in such a long time. Then I told myself "wow how peaceful is this now? My conscience isnt stabbing me when I lay to sleep!" I started to notice my surroundings more, I am an artist too and I think thats really a good skill to have, to observe and notice your surroundings and I was so happy once again I claimed it because I had it when I was a child. Thank you for yout content again it makes me reaally happy 💙
@@valerielin yupp it gives just the right amount of coziness if you snuggle up with a good smelling blanket while listening. Whenever I do that I unintentionally smile. Love yo so much 💙💙
I have noticed the negative effects of too much phone/ technology use too. Something I try to say to myself is to focus on creating or being productive and not just consuming. I hope to teach this to my children too. We need to create and not just consume.
There was a time when I loved reading and wanted to become an artist, but then this phone took these from me, thanks a ton for rekindling my forgotten passion!
@@ignoreme1078 I agree with the inspiration part. I think following the right type of people that provides positive vibes and some sort of value is pretty good. I learned a lot about painting through some great artist I follow on Instagram although I stay conscious enough to not open my reels, explore page which is the major cause of "Over consumption of information at once and make us depressed and anxious". I simply like the post of my fav artist/creators, post my own painting photos and then I just log out. That's all I do.
I'm a sufferer of chronic depression. I rely on my phone for music and DDG for research and youtube video for art. But I realised I spend more time now on my phone than actually get better at art. It's a great topic you're covering since this addiction has become a societal problem. I hope more people sees your video! Stay safe out there!
This video is amazing! Some things I had been thinking about lately, you capture phone addiction, the depression/anxiety it can bring, and enjoying the simple, yet amazing things in life so perfectly :) Also, thank you for learning English and choosing to speak English in your videos too
This is so real, I also think as creators and artists who use the internet to power our creativity, learn and share with the world, we need to be perhaps even more aware and vigilant over the negative side of screen addiction... going after short term gratification from youtube views or insta likes is simply a waste of our time - Thanks for sharing the actual things you did to deal with your own phone addiction! It's real guys!!
Watching you is so grounding, thank you for this video! I agree with everything you said, I experienced this myself, at one point for 5 months I didn’t have a phone or internet at my house so only time I could use it was at the public library, I got so much art done, and tbh I thrived without my phone, then I forgot all that and got a phone, so now I have to put alarms on my iPad when I hit 6 hours and it shuts everything down basically
Ditto..(your vids) the soft pastel ly focus is soothingly sumptuous and nurturingly wholesome ..it's like staring at colour charts all day and feeling nourishingly hungry 💗💗💗
i got most of my art inspirations from my phone, seeing other ppl's drawings motivates me to want to draw too. when I'm by myself i lose my drawing interests because i don't really need to draw (i have depression so automatically i come to think everything i do is pointless and I'm gonna die before i reach the age of 20 anyway so i tend to need motivation), but i see the internet of people's drawings and i would think to myself "woah i think i can draw something like this too, I'm gonna try". i guess i can only do things when I'm challenged by my own beliefs, not by discipline I'm not strict with myself as much. so my phone's good for me.
Valerie I am so glad you addressed this topic. I also have been feeling myself become more addicted to scrolling on my phone. Honestly your videos over the past 5 months have been the one thing motivating me to begin painting and doing other creative things! When I am feeling uninspired, I rewatch one of your videos. You are so inspiring, and it is humbling and comforting to see you also struggle with this. You mentioned that you have some favourite creators who inspire you. Who are they?
Oh man, thus is making me cry. I'm right there with it...too much time just looking at things which mean NOTHING. ugh. I'm going to intervene on myself. It's just too sad...
A few days I was so tense why my skill is not improving, I just watched this video and I have the answer I am phone addicted but now I promise my self I will try my level best to overcome Thanks a lot Valerie ❤
Very serious issue! I struggle with this too. I thought of doing a detox to start fresh, but I can't , I have online courses to take and I need to stay available for job applications, so I feel stuck with screens, laptop and phone, and the temptation of scrolling is very hard to resist.
I feel your pain. I’m trying deleting the apps I waste time on but do I have the willpower to not just download them again? I don’t know but it’s worth trying.
maybe you could only let certain numbers(from your job) come through? I know that the temptation is super big, when you are surrounded by all those screens. But I believe your willpower is stronger and you can train it too 🌱 i heavily reduced eating chocolate because I got soooo many pimples on my face. Maybe you can find something that bothers you too when you spend too much time on screen
@@valerielin my main scrolling sites are youtube and Google news. It sounds so random but I can't remove Google news from my phone and even thought I don't need youtube, technically it's hard to not fall in the rabbit hole. I even use an exercising app for fitness so I have no excuses it's purely an addiction issue. 😅 I shlould plan something to change my habbits I think.
@@sourgreendolly7685 it's so easy to go back! I don't have social media anymore and I really don't miss it, every personn who needs to contact me have my number. But youtube is a hole other addiction issue on itself for me.
Try Cold Turkey Blocker. It will prevent you from using unnecessary websites or even your computer at all during certain times, and when a block is active it's basically impossible to turn off.
this is so true. for the last two years ive had my fair share of shocks and downs which eventually caused me to go into this deep spiral of scrolling through social media.this is when i realized i was depressed. everything just triggered more, i became lazy, stopped doing art, stopped studying, even till the point where i didnt care about my college applications, i stayed up late doing nothing but phone and woke up late. everything just felt so scattered and numb. thanks so much for this video it helped knowing someone is going through same struggles
Valerie, thank you for posting this. I think it is rare to find someone who is not experiencing what you are discussing. I also believe creatives are more susceptible to this kind of addiction for a couple of reasons. #1. it is a uniquely visual focused addiction. #2. We live in a world that is NOT structured for our brains to begin with. We are, without knowing it, under more stress because we are forced more than others, to go against our grain in order to put food on the table. I am not complaining. I think, as you said, discipline is the key to success (or at least one of them), but I find it SO discouraging as it dawns on me more and more, that we cannot just get rid of these devices. Eventually they find their way back in. We can never fully heal from the addiction. It is like saying to an alcoholic "you have to stop this addiction to alcohol but you also have to drink a little alcohol everyday to do your job." It feels hopeless and some days I don't know what to do. Again, thanks for the vid.
I can understand your POV however it's definitely possible to make a Genuine and positive connection with social media. Everyone uses social media nowadays however successful youtubers or artist also know what's their true purpose which is "CREATING ART and CONTENTS". In simple words: it's upto you whether you'll let social media control your life or you would rather be the main character of your own life and focusing on things that are beneficial as well as enjoyable to you from over 40/50 years from now. Famous writers like "James Clear" wouldn't have been successful today if he spent his entire life on social media.
You are so Inspiring and relatable ❤️ it's like whenever I don't feel motivated enough or I need a push but I can't give that to myself your videos help so much ❤️
It's so fascinating to think that we're all human beings, everyone lives their own lives but at some point we feel the same things, and I feel so connected to this video right now. These days I struggle a lot with stress and procrastinating and you're completly right about discipline, it's what we need. I want to thank you for sharing it, you spread such authentic vibes and I'm grateful to have found you. Have a nice day Valerie, sending love.
This really helped me think that I can break my addiction too. I'll try again and I'll follow your steps. Say good luck to me I hope this time I win. I'm so glad I found your channel your context is extremely relatable, peaceful, calming! And I love how u speak and how peaceful your voice is. Plus you're actually very pretty. Thank you for existing!🥺♥️
This is so relatable. I try to spend my free day painting (the one that i was waiting for ages) but whole day passes in using just my phone. Thanks for this video! Love you as always
This is wonderful, I too find myself addicted to my phone. It's been two years since I dropped out of grad school and since then I've been struggling emotionally to try and find new paths. However, I have hesitations and social media only exacerbates these insecurities I feel. If anything I notice social media is almost entirely about the self, the ego, what others think of you, of how you are functioning in this illusion of virtual society. But in reality, when you're offline you don't think much about what you are in the sense of how people view you but rather who you are as a person. I would scroll mindlessly through my phone, trying to distract myself from the pain, apathy, or anxiety when really I should be out in nature or better yet making art out of these difficult experiences. Anyway, thank you for these valuable and sober reminders
Knowing that someone like you who loves art, drinks the alley bubble tea and cooks spring rolls on the other side of the world is so calming to me. We live very similar lifestyles yet in different countries makes me feel like everything is gonna be okay
This past 2 months i had my finals in uni, i was so stressed out bc i hadn´t prepared myself properly that i spent most days in christmas just on my phone and computer, trying to avoid thinking about the exams. Technology has always been my escape mechanism , it still is, this entire week i've been playing a videogame just so i could forget about the exams (once again). I used to read and draw a lot, but with time i've become a much more stressed out person and i've just forgotten to spend time on the things that i love. Lately, i've bought a bunch of books and retaken my sketchbook.. mayb i'll slowly get back to these little thing that i love. Abyway, thank you for the wonderful videos u make, they always inspire me to draw again!! PS: Valerie always read with a light on!! its very important or you'll start losing sight.
OMG, vermicelli! I'm so happy that you feel comfortable opening up about these things. I think the most important thing is to recognize what makes you feel bad and confronting it. I too feel like I'm glued to my phone sometimes. I struggle to be gentle and kind to myself while fostering self-discipline. Thank you for making this video and making us feel we're not alone.
this might end up in the bench, but its ok. You are an amazing soul, really special really thoughtful, and really unique. Kind, warm, and cute. Elegant, humble and sweet. I didn't expect to see a person thriving to be so real the wat you do. In times i lose hope in finding wise people. But things like this video make me really happy when they prove me wrong. Wish you all the happiness.
So many gems in this video. Thank you for enlightening solutions to artistic procrastinations and unresolved stress. Escapism is always the easy solution, the dopamin fix that never fixes anything. I am 50 years old and had given up on all my artistic dreams out of frustration with the artistic process, but you have opened the door for me and rekindled the dream with concrete steps. You are a beautiful being that brings light to others. Please continue your channel, you are highly inspiring.
Coach Valerie I want you to know that I'm really grateful for all the content you make, it is so inspiring to watch you paint and get emersed through the day! This video was so much helpful and relatable you have no idea😊👍👌💐 Xoxoxo love love love Valerie
I feel the same way about this addiction, it is like a trance, like time stops and I do it whenever I need to stop thinking (switch my brain off). One of these days, something unexpected happened - my phone fell in water and ultimately broke. I was actually relieved. Now I am using a phone with buttons and this is THE BEST thing that happened to me. I am using my laptop to now think of my future and to make a career as an artist. I knitted winter gloves and I am constantly thinking of new things to do with my time. Honestly I wish to you all that your smartphone breaks! (with the best intentions)
@@lila310 I made myself a dress, painted a booklet for my cousin, some tote bags and I have plans for more things when I get home. I was in Sicily on erasmus + and it was amazing. My cousin gave me his phone, but I dont use it as often as I did before. I am finding value in myself and I hope it continues
I would love to write a comment that makes sense, but my mind is complete chaos right now so... Just want to deeply thank you, you truly are gifted person, not only your art is beautiful, but also your soul. I'm only one of thousands of your viewers, but I feel like you know me, my problems, my struggles and my joys and you are here just for me. You bring calmness and so many other positive feelings I desperately need right now. Thank you for just being you. 🌸🌸
Thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤️ Valerie. I have just found your video and I think I was meant to find you, you so eloquently and artistically described exactly what I have been feeling the past few months, that I have become a slave to my phone. You have given me the motivation to stop and start finding joy in the small things again, how I miss reading a good book and getting lost in it! Thank you eternally, I had tears in my eyes as this is something no one very verbalises, but I think so many people suffer a very real addiction to technology but it’s not taken as a serious problem. All the best, and sending you lots of positive vibes xxx
Honestly, I feel like I needed this. I always knew that I am not the only one suffering from a phone addiction, but to have someone speak out about it is different than just knowing. Moreover, to see that someone is growing out of this addiction and is getting rid of it is really motivating. Phones are basically essentials to our lives now, and it is hard to not spend time on them. I feel like we very literally use them to connect to the world nowadays, whether it being in the form of messaging your friends, or just going on solely to see if anything that interests you (news about this and that, content by people you follow, etc.) will be on your homepage. Then comes with the games offered by phones that can get you addicted. For me, I have always struggled with scrolling through short videos for an excessive amount of time, and the likelihood of me getting on an application that features short videos for me to scroll over has increased as short videos slowly become more common among other apps after the popularization of Tiktok. With something like Instagram, making their own version of these short videos (Instagram reels), this problem became way harder to get rid of because I don't use Instagram only for reels, I use it to communicate with everyone I know (my best friends, peers, etc.) as well. I can't just delete it. and there is the game addictions. There were periods of times where I would play 5 hours of games on my phone per day, whether it being when I was playing the MOBA game Arena Of Valor, or when I got into Genshin Impact. Frankly, I wasn't happy playing these games for extensive amounts of times either, I just played and played. For a MOBA like Arena Of Valor, it was the belief that maybe in the next round, I would be able to win, just like how gamblers may believe that as long as they give it one more shot, then they'll win as well. For a gatcha game like Genshin Impact, I wanted the characters, so I grinded hard (and probablyyyyyy also to satisfy my gatcha/gambling addiction which grew in me after starting Genshin). Whether it being going through short videos that do not stick around in my memory, and are not nearly as informative as longer, more detailed ones, or playing games, it is so hard to just put the phone down once I start on one of the two, or simply anything that could get me hooked. After these long sessions on the phone, I'd really just lose a lot of the energy that I started the day with. I was always sure to become brunt out. Coming back to today, I've really gotten better with managing how I spend time on my phone, or at least I'd like to think I have 😂😂 I've definitely had less of those sessions where I would just be playing games or mindlessly scrolling on Instagram for a long period of time. I still hate how I would still go back to it from time to time though, especially with the nature of how I use Instagram. I am not saying that we should never go on our phones for short videos or games. A moderate amount of them is probably fine, and even if you spend too much time on them once or twice, don't beat yourself up too hard for that because that is just gonna make you feel rubbish for the rest of the day ^^
I just love the way how you're simplifying the things, you can't imagine how much you're helping me to discover new ways to enjoy my life and how to make it more special than it sounds, I love you so much Valerie, keep creating 💙!
I’m so glad I found your videos! This one in particular hits home! I spend soooo much time on my phone procrastinating in fear so that I don’t do the things I truly want to do. This video was such a good reminder to embrace discipline….and put the phone down 🐞
Ich bin so froh deinen Kanal gefunden zu haben...war in einem tiefen Loch was meine Kunst angeht und deine Videos haben mich zT neu inspiriert. Ich liebe die Art wie du editierst und Dinge einfängst. Bitte mach unbedingt weiter. Ich freu mich echt über jedes neue Video. Das hier im Besonderen spricht gerade sehr direkt an womit ich zur Zeit struggle. Procastination wie es so schön heißt. Selbstdisziplin ist hart. Ich bewundere Leute, die wirklich welche haben...
I’m so excited about school ending and being able to enjoy the things outside of technology. October of last year I was in that space of so much taking myself on a date and reading, and I’m searching for that healing space again. Wishing everybody some good energy and love!
When I was depressed, my screentime was 14 hours per day. I wake up, kill time on my phone, then sleep. I didn't study, didn't go to work, hardly ate and showered. Seeing my screentime was a wakeup call for me. I'm now trying my best to be disciplined. Here are my strategies: 1. Uninstalled twitter and installed app timers for soc med apps I use for work (I'm a soc med manager). 2. Installed instant messaging apps I use for work on my laptop so I can put my phone away for most of my shift. I'll only pick up it up if I need to post using my mobile (mostly for IG stories and reels). 3. Subscribed to FocusMate. Body doubling increased my productivity.
I deleted TikTok about 3 months ago and I feel way better now than I did before. I realised that although my screen time was low, most of that time was spent scrolling through TikTok. I went through a phase in the first month of going on to my phone solely for the purpose of going into TikTok, only to not find it. Now, I have become more aware of upcoming tasks and I have set a work and sleep schedule. I sit my GCSE exams this summer, and going to bed at 9.15pm and waking up at 6.45am has really helped me make my day more structured and my weekends become free for leisure tasks, or instead to revise for about an hour or two per subject per week. Valerie, your videos have inspired me and helped me this past year into becoming a better version of myself and realise the importance of balance. :)
I get excited every time there's a new Valerie upload, because I know I will always be in for treat. It's fun trying to see how you improve with each and every video, and this one was one of your best. It made me notice I've been addicted to my phone and is something that distracts me through the creative process with my art . Starting today, I'm going forward with trying to be more mindful with things and hopefully improvement in my life overall can blossom. Thanks Valerie
Valerie.... Thank you for being open and honest. You are a beautiful soul!! This cell phone addiction dilemma crosses over generations and it is very real. I wish you peace and happiness!
Some time ago I decided to replace mindless phone scrolling with reading a book. This was one of the best decisions i've made in a while. Thanks for sharing your experience.
You always manage to perfectly articulate how I feel. I woke at 6am but spent til 12pm scrolling through my phone! I was so angry with myself when I finally came back to reality and realised how much time I had lost. Your video has given me the kick up the butt that I needed, you are right in saying its not about motivation but in fact about discipline. I need a Coach Valerie in my life, Stat! Love always from England! xx
Hi Valerie! It's incredible how much I feel inspired and somehow related by the subject you bring to us! Every "new" beggining is challenging and until the real discipline comes it's wierd... the transformation of the scenario happens within the whole process instead of thinking of it as the finish line. Thanks for being here sharing your thoughts and making me feel that we are not alone! Lots of kisses from Brazil!
This was a beautiful video, as always Valerie! And it came at a perfect time cuz even I’ve been trying to get away from my phone. Thank you for existing and creating these beautiful videos ❤️❤️
So proud of you! I have been educating the world on this topic for the past 10 years plus. Most are ignorant by choice and continue to spiral down with the inability to truly communicate or enjoy any type of relationship without their number one addiction to their wireless lifestyle. You are indeed a role model for many and an example of intelligence on a higher plane. Thank you for being you.
For me I found distracting myself by reading books occasionally helps but watching a few art documentaries works even better for me because at least if I'm addicted to my phone, I'll be learning on it. 🤣 (Btw, I watch alot of documentaries on the channel Perspective. They have awesome art documentaries and I really recommend the channel. I also recommend the channel David Bull, he's a Canadian living in Japan who owns and runs a Japanese woodblock printing company specializing in Edo-period recreations.)
I really needed the words you said😢Previously, I spent literally half a day on the phone looking for a video that would motivate me, but recently I realized that for the purpose that the heart chooses does not need motivation from the outside. The phone, or rather the Internet is a huge thing that can either help us or destroy us, let the guys love ourselves and spend less time in vain❤️Thank you for the video💞
Oh mann, was für ein Topic. I clicked on this video to motivate myself to put my phone away because It‘s kind of crazy how much I use social media to procrastinate working on my projects for Uni. It‘s absolutely crazy how fast time flies when you are endlessly scrolling… Honestly thank you for talking about such an important topic and sharing this with us! Danke, danke! ❤️
You are such an amazing person Valarie ❤️.. You have the ability to make my mood better. Every single time I watch your video I feel better ... Keep spreading love and peace just the way you do . Wishing you health and happiness ❤️😊
I needed this video so much. Every Sunday I promise myself to keep the use of the phone under 2 hours per day and every week I fail. I'm trying with new things that can keep me away from devices. Great video! ps: I'm Italian and the "ciao" at 5:25 made me smile😁
Was recommended this video and I'm so glad I chose to watch it because funny enough I've been going through a very similar struggle in the past few months with phone addiction. I've made a conscious effort to spend less time scrolling and more time practicing self-discipline (as you mentioned) - it is so important to develop this through practice. I've been reading/meditating more than I ever have and can feel myself becoming a happier more peaceful person as well. Just wanted to say thanks for making this, it's helped me re-affirm my own choice to spend less time on social media.
Thank you, Valerie, for saying what needs to be said. Technology like phones, computers, and many electronic devices do attract too much of our time and attention away from the many better choices for our activities. Now you have said it plainly and it is so true. Thank you for raising our awareness so we can all work on replacing our tech time with more productive activities.
I'm early now! BTW, thank you for this. I've been bothered to myself and getting more and more anxious to think about not writing and not doing arts for a week now but I kept using my phone. This video will be perfect.
You nailed it. This is so true. How much time we waste online! Except by watching a lovely video like yours :) Life is made of little delightful things (besides duties and work of course) like listening to a good music, reading a book, eating something delicious, writing a diary, painting, watching a good movie, trying news things. New sinapses everyday. Thank you Valerie for one more delicious, cozy and meaningful video. Greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷 😘
First of all Valerie, thank you, for bringing up this very important topic! Everything about this video is utterly true, I’m telling ya‘ll. It’s a real thing. I have been struggling the same exact problem ever since I started painting again after a long break for many years full of low self-esteem & procrastination due to the things I constantly see on social media. I completely abused & wasted my time comparing myself to other artists all the time, leaving me at the end of the day totally uninspired with a ton of art blocks along the road instead of finding my own inner voice, improving my skills, and practice a ton. It was like it, for many years, but at some point of time .. I finally realised and asked myself: “ Why am I like this? Do I want to be like this? I should be painting right now, tomorrow and forever more like I always dreamt to be “ So I started using my phone less, day by day & small steps at a time, and at first, it was really tempting and extremely hard ( cause of addiction ) to get rid of it at the first place, and it was the weirdest feeling I’ve ever felt that for the first time ever, i’m starting to go out of that toxic bubble and actually doing the things I used to love again. Not only it feels better but it also calmed me like Valerie said, about having depressions and anxiety stuff like that. Cause truth is that .. Mobile phones are nothing but kind of distraction to us, especially on those times where we seek new ideas & inspirations but we tend to forgot that life outside and around us is more unique and true. The everyday life is a mystery & it’s full of surprises by itself, whether it’s good or bad that we’ll experience, we artists have the ability to turn it to Art with honest depth of feelings. So yeah .. taking a break or better said, making it a habit of using our mobile phones less will extremely improve our quality of life! Stay true to yourself and your craft, you know that your soul’s energy never lies! Just live more & happy creating! :)
Thank you Coach Val for addressing this topic. I suffered from phone addiction not because of TH-cam videos but because of playing mobile games. I played MOBA, Rhythm and Dress up Games a lot for early rewards that sometimes I almost forgot that I have assignments to do. I also forgot my other main task especially practicing sketch at the seashore(I live near the shore), always sleep late(sometimes I sleep like 7 am then woke up 5 pm), late eating lunch @ 5/6 pm, never touch my book that I had to finish(which that should be finish last year), finishing all the movies, anime and some Boys Love series, 3 months skip exercise or go outside of the house.... I lost discipline for myself This is an Eye Opener video to me that I should need to discipline myself more ☺️
You are right! We tend to spend too much time on our phone and we get addicted to it... We all need to find joy and happiness in little things and focus on our daily tasks. There is one thing you said that touched me... motivation comes and goes... thank u so much !
When the pandemic hit, I went into a nosedive that had been coming on for years, and I literally had to check myself into a psych ward. During the week I was there, they took away my phone and my laptop - something I had no idea they would do. I had been artistically blocked for YEARS up to that point, but for some reason I thought to bring some nice drawing paper with me. Thank God I did. That week without screens I became obsessed with drawing with the tiny little pencils they allowed me to have. Turning off the phone really really works. It's keeping it off that's hard. I just found your channel and this is the first video of yours I've seen. I've been so stuck for so long, waiting for motivation to come. I, too have had far too many mornings that begin with scrolling while I have my coffee only to look up to see the clock with the big hand on 12 and the little hand on 2 🙄. That's it. Turning off my phone. Now.
A few things: 1) I love the fact that you showed the reality of how this affects us 2) is that a nose ring in some of the shots?! It looks good! 3) I think my favourite part of the video was the few seconds at the end where you set down the frame pieces. Implying that now that you’ve been refreshed and spent time off your phone, you are ready to create again. Well done! ❤️
Thank you Ashley! Yes, I believe it´s important to be transparent about this topic and how much it can bring us down if we aren´t aware of it. Haha yes, it was a fake nosering :) Glad you enjoyed the video
i feel like the more time you invest in things, hobbies, relationships... make them seem more yours? like they truly do belong to you and i believe it holds more value than temporary relief like endless scrolling through one's phone... you couldn't have ended it better, val. thank you for this
Dearest Valerie l.... Firstly sending all the love❤️ regards from india....myself kania....i've been following up you for a while and fell in love with all your solo lives whisking yourself in art.. And the solitude you enchance to penchant and pour❤.... You ' ve been a great inspiration for me for far and wide..❤️.
You are my new favorite addiction... you are like that mentor that reminds you of the things you already know, but just need that extra push to do better. Thank you for that! As a fellow artist of other fields, I find that technology really is a distraction from our purest selves / art. However; if used correctly, it can definitely help us get our art seen.
A very important message indeed! I really feel like phones have reduced our attention span so bad and now we can barely focus on one task for more than a few minutes. I've turned my notifications off since a few months and it has drastically improved my dependancy. I pick up my phone instead of it calling to me. Still, learning and living. Take care and much love to you 💕
Looking at social media just to be worried. So I try to learn and produce works rather than just looking at other people will only eliminate my identity.
I also love the relative slow pacedness(?) of this video. Social media feeds os stuff so fast and encourages us to also be so fast at producing that videos like these feel like a nice break.
Everyone in the comments section needs to read the book, or listen to the audiobook "Stolen Focus," by Johann Hari. The book is incredible and eye opening, discussing in detail how our technology is stealing our focus and robbing us from the deeper richness of our daily lives, as well as sabotaging our goals and aspirations.
Wow, I have never related phone addiction to art life. But phone addiction actually affects everything in our world. This has definitely encouraged me to be more mindful. Your voice is incredibly pleasant ❤️.
This video is so sweet and special 🥰 This is something I really need to work on and the way you reframed it makes it super appealing to use my phone less.
the issue is, that we individualize the blame and responsibility for this, when IN FACT it is a systemic issue, when tech companies consciously design the systems we use to communicate in a way so we SHOULD GET ADDICTED, to exploit our time and minds for their add revenues and profits. the issue is MUCH bigger than individual addiction and personal choices. YES, we gotta start with ourselves, and put the phone down, but on a societal level we need to march to the head quarters of facebook and tik tok and youtube, and shut shit down. we deserve tech which is designed for our human needs, and not fucking us up to make some super rich people even more super rich. neoliberal capitalism is madness called profit.
‘Motivation comes and go. Your true friend is discipline’. Such wise words Valerie. I have suffered from depression since I was a teenager, I now am 60 years old and, if I have learnt something all these years is that procrastination comes from fear; fear that we are not good enough, fear that people will laugh at our art, fear that we are unable to make whatever we are making, ‘perfect’ and that is when the depression sets in.
You are wise beyond your years Valerie. Thanks for another beautiful and inspirational video, you truly are an artist. Big hugs from Australia 💕🥰
Thank you for sharing your experience Audrey, it´s so true! The day I stopped caring what others think changed so much. Thank you for hanging around with us and warm hugs back from Berlin 🥰☀️💌
I agree. Often people mistake procrastination for laziness but at its core is the fear of failure.
I always thought I‘m just lazy. But if I‘m honest to myself, I just fear to begin cause I‘ve got this diffuse fear of failing. But when I think about how often I really failed in a task or a job, I can’t find a lot of examples. It helps me to think about the worst case scenario and I unusually end up realizing that none of the mistakes I could do will end my life.
Hell true and I really relate to it completely and really don’t know how to stop myself bcuz nobody will be there without any return to enhance your mood and motivates….. it’s hard or most of the time impossible…. No matter how much I have taken sleep but I still feel somewhat exhausted and tired
@@dianeo for me procrastinating doesn’t mean I am lazy but rather undecided. So much to the point I don’t start or finish something because I lose focus. It’s a vicious cycle with anxiety.
Even though this centers around phone addiction, I gotta say I can relate to this in the way that I'm addicted to my "bubble".
Sometimes I spend whole days daydreaming while listening to music, reading or watching videos, thinking about all the stuff that I need and like to do, without doing anything and looking at the time fleeting before my eyes. My brain does this because he thinks it's comfortable. And it is, but, it's toxic.
I end up spaced out and unfocused, I can't concentrate on my friends or my surroundings, it's like I'm not even there, almost like I'm in a drunken state.
Recently, I finally decided to start something on a whim. It was a small project that required more than what I'm used to. As in, not only drawing, but thinking about printing, material, price etc. So I ended up discovering SO MANY things that were just a few blocks away from me. Now I know more places where I can print, where I can post mail, new ways to sell online and IRL etc.
That boost of energy made me take a train to my hometown, without telling my family, just to wander in the old streets, and then come back home. I never did such a thing. And it was so freeing.
And I did *all* of that, just by starting something. Sometimes, it's just all it takes. Even if doesn't go far, the hardest step is *starting*.
Very true!
Beautiful!! That's true
Literally me right now! Phone and daydreaming is destroying me
omg thank you i really needed this, that 'bubble' is exactly the same for me.. i'm gonna stand up now and just do something!!
For me, I start a lot of things, that’s the easy part. For me, completing is the problem, not because of my phone, but some new shiny project instead. Even sneaking on my yt channel would tell you that 😂 I can never decide or committ on something that takes too long time
With algorithms designed to keep the user addicted, and everything being specified for the user, its hard not to. But yes the user IS in control and needs to take responsibility! Thank you for this and definitely a sign to be more mindful this weekend. 💕 much love for Houston, TX
The word “Users” are only used to describe addicts
@@ThePathOfLeastResistanc LINDNEY SHUT UP ITS NOT
💘 😍
when valerie says "i didn't know it's so easy to feel peaceful. it's just reading a book" i genuinely got a little emotional. it reminded me of my book worm days in grade school, when i had fun reading through books and wasn't spending time scrolling on a device. i miss those days of being able to be in a genuine, calm state. it's been a week of my dopamine detox (youtube was the exception, however im watching creators that i can learn from so im not too disappointed) and i can feel myself feeling just a little bit better.
Cómo yo pude, tu también seguro lo puedo lograr. Yo no leía libros como vos, pero si dedicaba tiempo a entrenar fútbol, tocar la guitarra y dibujar.
El hábito de la lectura lo implementé ahora de adulta, retome aprender nuevamente las clases de guitarra y entrenar fútbol, como también volví a dibujar. Esos eran mis lugares de paz y donde quiero estar, por lo tanto espero y te sirva mí experiencia.
Una vez que vuelves a dónde era feliz, sentís tranquilidad, quieres quedarte siempre ahí :)
@@WMAW23 thank you for sharing, I am always working on it:)
"You can't rely on motivation, motivation comes and goes. Your true friend is discipline." -Valerie 2022
as i’ve been healing from severe mental illness i’ve found myself naturally wanting to spend less and less time online, and being more focused whenever i do use social media. the algorithms are literally designed to keep you angry, sad, and feeling like you’re missing something-people who feel fulfilled don’t spend multiple hours a day on social media! it helps me to keep in mind the emotions that apps want you to feel when you use them, and close them as soon as i start to feel annoyed, sad, or stop being mindful. and i feel so much grief for the effect this is having on our generation.
exactly.
!! “people who feel fulfilled don’t spend multiple hours a day on social media.” WOW that hit me. so true and makes me think how i can spend my time and attention in a more fulfilling way.
I agree. There needs to be so much more talk on the effect it can have on us. It’s so detrimental if used without a conscious and aware mind of what it has the power to do. I also am *trying* to heal from severe mental illness (although mental illness could just be the result of core needs not being met over and over and our brains trying to make sense of things that happen and keep us safe in the form of this) and it’s extremely hard.
@@GeorgiaPeck wow, i think the same about mental illness--that they're the result of the brain trying to cope with a stressful environment or with core needs not being met. it's hard, i'm right there with you!
@@kimmyayoga it's really interesting to see that that is the way mental illness comes about and that it's not actually anything 'wrong' with you in some sense. But nonetheless suuuper hard to navigate. I'm with you too :)
so true. I'm on the phone way too much when I'm stressed or anxious. Leading me to be more anxious and more stressed. it's a vicious cycle.
I needed this so much. Watching your videos always had a therapeutic effect on me, but this video specifically gave me that push I needed to actively try and change my routine. As an artist myself I NEED to follow into your steps and see if I can get back my joy to create more art.
I believe in you! 🤍☀️
i am a student who has been going through a lot recently, especially since my parents went abroad I'm alone and addicted to social media, I realized I lose focus a lot, don't study, stay up till 3 am, I didn't really pay much attention, your video made me feel so peaceful and motivated to do other things, thank you
Hey Justin, we are in the same situation. This video motivated me too... Anyway Iʼll try to not disappoint my parents!
im at my 4 year of animation and my passion has always been drawing or creating but recently i havent been enjoying it and now i realised im addicted to my phone with the excuse of "finding inspiration" now i see that its only a way to escape and not face failure but in those seven hours i spend looking for inspiration it only makes me more depressed and insecure about my art, i see others and i compare myself, thank you for you video since you also create art its nice to hear the opinion of someone who is doing something similar, i will try harder to stay away from my phone and find that "inspiration" outside and in real things from the present
Damn you took my words out of my mouth. I think the reason social media makes us so addicted to it is because some how the world expect us to behave like this. My friends on Instagram keep posting about how great their life is yet I know how much they're in debt, asking their parents for money all the time just to show off ( my parents are friends with my friends parents so they told me ).
Honestly social media is destroying today's generation with fake stuffs including beauty standards, unrealistic lifestyle, toxic positivity, hustle culture, depression, anxiety including cyber crimes and so much more.
Just reading the title hit me. It’s so hard, especially because most of my friends are online but something’s gotta give, I want more than screens and scrolling.
omg that ad transition was perfect
This is some real talk. Thank you!
Last week I studied approximetly 7 hours a day and really enjoyed it, I didnt enjoy it in such a long time. Then I told myself "wow how peaceful is this now? My conscience isnt stabbing me when I lay to sleep!" I started to notice my surroundings more, I am an artist too and I think thats really a good skill to have, to observe and notice your surroundings and I was so happy once again I claimed it because I had it when I was a child. Thank you for yout content again it makes me reaally happy 💙
True words Azra! Happy to hear this! Isn ´t it great to just lay in bed and listen to the rain :`) sending you a warm hug ❤️
@@valerielin yupp it gives just the right amount of coziness if you snuggle up with a good smelling blanket while listening. Whenever I do that I unintentionally smile. Love yo so much 💙💙
wow, I'm experiencing the same thing!
I have noticed the negative effects of too much phone/ technology use too. Something I try to say to myself is to focus on creating or being productive and not just consuming. I hope to teach this to my children too. We need to create and not just consume.
Thank you for this! I've been addicted to my phone. Online shopping, browsing to different social media app, etc. At the end, I wasn't able to do art.
Yes, I had the exact same problem. So I thought why not making a video about this. I really hope it helps 🙏🏼 take care 💝
Me too 😫
I feel this I feel like my brain shut off completely 😭
There was a time when I loved reading and wanted to become an artist, but then this phone took these from me, thanks a ton for rekindling my forgotten passion!
Same i was a writer before not until i developed the social media addiction, but the irony part is i sometimes get my inspiration through them
@@ignoreme1078 I agree with the inspiration part. I think following the right type of people that provides positive vibes and some sort of value is pretty good. I learned a lot about painting through some great artist I follow on Instagram although I stay conscious enough to not open my reels, explore page which is the major cause of "Over consumption of information at once and make us depressed and anxious".
I simply like the post of my fav artist/creators, post my own painting photos and then I just log out. That's all I do.
I'm a sufferer of chronic depression. I rely on my phone for music and DDG for research and youtube video for art. But I realised I spend more time now on my phone than actually get better at art.
It's a great topic you're covering since this addiction has become a societal problem. I hope more people sees your video!
Stay safe out there!
This video is amazing! Some things I had been thinking about lately, you capture phone addiction, the depression/anxiety it can bring, and enjoying the simple, yet amazing things in life so perfectly :) Also, thank you for learning English and choosing to speak English in your videos too
This is so real, I also think as creators and artists who use the internet to power our creativity, learn and share with the world, we need to be perhaps even more aware and vigilant over the negative side of screen addiction... going after short term gratification from youtube views or insta likes is simply a waste of our time - Thanks for sharing the actual things you did to deal with your own phone addiction! It's real guys!!
Your voice is so beautiful and peaceful
Watching you is so grounding, thank you for this video! I agree with everything you said, I experienced this myself, at one point for 5 months I didn’t have a phone or internet at my house so only time I could use it was at the public library, I got so much art done, and tbh I thrived without my phone, then I forgot all that and got a phone, so now I have to put alarms on my iPad when I hit 6 hours and it shuts everything down basically
Ditto..(your vids) the soft pastel ly focus is soothingly sumptuous and nurturingly wholesome ..it's like staring at colour charts all day and feeling nourishingly hungry 💗💗💗
It's great hearing others thankyou.
What apps do you use that shut down ur phone?
Good for you! You're very aware. I'm 68 and feel badly how much time young people waste on their phones instead of experiencing their own lives.
i got most of my art inspirations from my phone, seeing other ppl's drawings motivates me to want to draw too. when I'm by myself i lose my drawing interests because i don't really need to draw (i have depression so automatically i come to think everything i do is pointless and I'm gonna die before i reach the age of 20 anyway so i tend to need motivation), but i see the internet of people's drawings and i would think to myself "woah i think i can draw something like this too, I'm gonna try". i guess i can only do things when I'm challenged by my own beliefs, not by discipline I'm not strict with myself as much. so my phone's good for me.
That's amazing! Wish we all had that positive view towards phone but unfortunately we're all so different as a person.
Valerie I am so glad you addressed this topic. I also have been feeling myself become more addicted to scrolling on my phone. Honestly your videos over the past 5 months have been the one thing motivating me to begin painting and doing other creative things! When I am feeling uninspired, I rewatch one of your videos. You are so inspiring, and it is humbling and comforting to see you also struggle with this.
You mentioned that you have some favourite creators who inspire you. Who are they?
I want to know that too! Valerie, let us in on the creators who positively influence you! :-)
Oh man, thus is making me cry. I'm right there with it...too much time just looking at things which mean NOTHING. ugh. I'm going to intervene on myself. It's just too sad...
A few days I was so tense why my skill is not improving, I just watched this video and I have the answer I am phone addicted but now I promise my self I will try my level best to overcome
Thanks a lot Valerie ❤
I love your art, your channel, and you help me as an artist and as a person. 💜 Thank you.
Very serious issue! I struggle with this too. I thought of doing a detox to start fresh, but I can't , I have online courses to take and I need to stay available for job applications, so I feel stuck with screens, laptop and phone, and the temptation of scrolling is very hard to resist.
I feel your pain. I’m trying deleting the apps I waste time on but do I have the willpower to not just download them again? I don’t know but it’s worth trying.
maybe you could only let certain numbers(from your job) come through?
I know that the temptation is super big, when you are surrounded by all those screens. But I believe your willpower is stronger and you can train it too 🌱 i heavily reduced eating chocolate because I got soooo many pimples on my face. Maybe you can find something that bothers you too when you spend too much time on screen
@@valerielin my main scrolling sites are youtube and Google news. It sounds so random but I can't remove Google news from my phone and even thought I don't need youtube, technically it's hard to not fall in the rabbit hole. I even use an exercising app for fitness so I have no excuses it's purely an addiction issue. 😅 I shlould plan something to change my habbits I think.
@@sourgreendolly7685 it's so easy to go back! I don't have social media anymore and I really don't miss it, every personn who needs to contact me have my number. But youtube is a hole other addiction issue on itself for me.
Try Cold Turkey Blocker. It will prevent you from using unnecessary websites or even your computer at all during certain times, and when a block is active it's basically impossible to turn off.
this is so true. for the last two years ive had my fair share of shocks and downs which eventually caused me to go into this deep spiral of scrolling through social media.this is when i realized i was depressed. everything just triggered more, i became lazy, stopped doing art, stopped studying, even till the point where i didnt care about my college applications, i stayed up late doing nothing but phone and woke up late. everything just felt so scattered and numb. thanks so much for this video it helped knowing someone is going through same struggles
Valerie, thank you for posting this. I think it is rare to find someone who is not experiencing what you are discussing. I also believe creatives are more susceptible to this kind of addiction for a couple of reasons. #1. it is a uniquely visual focused addiction. #2. We live in a world that is NOT structured for our brains to begin with. We are, without knowing it, under more stress because we are forced more than others, to go against our grain in order to put food on the table. I am not complaining. I think, as you said, discipline is the key to success (or at least one of them), but I find it SO discouraging as it dawns on me more and more, that we cannot just get rid of these devices. Eventually they find their way back in. We can never fully heal from the addiction. It is like saying to an alcoholic "you have to stop this addiction to alcohol but you also have to drink a little alcohol everyday to do your job." It feels hopeless and some days I don't know what to do. Again, thanks for the vid.
I can understand your POV however it's definitely possible to make a Genuine and positive connection with social media. Everyone uses social media nowadays however successful youtubers or artist also know what's their true purpose which is "CREATING ART and CONTENTS".
In simple words: it's upto you whether you'll let social media control your life or you would rather be the main character of your own life and focusing on things that are beneficial as well as enjoyable to you from over 40/50 years from now.
Famous writers like "James Clear" wouldn't have been successful today if he spent his entire life on social media.
You are so Inspiring and relatable ❤️ it's like whenever I don't feel motivated enough or I need a push but I can't give that to myself your videos help so much ❤️
So glad to hear this from you radhika :‘) ❤️
You are a very special person. This channel is very helpful. I would like to thank you for that.
It's so fascinating to think that we're all human beings, everyone lives their own lives but at some point we feel the same things, and I feel so connected to this video right now. These days I struggle a lot with stress and procrastinating and you're completly right about discipline, it's what we need. I want to thank you for sharing it, you spread such authentic vibes and I'm grateful to have found you. Have a nice day Valerie, sending love.
This really helped me think that I can break my addiction too. I'll try again and I'll follow your steps. Say good luck to me I hope this time I win. I'm so glad I found your channel your context is extremely relatable, peaceful, calming! And I love how u speak and how peaceful your voice is. Plus you're actually very pretty. Thank you for existing!🥺♥️
This is so relatable. I try to spend my free day painting (the one that i was waiting for ages) but whole day passes in using just my phone. Thanks for this video! Love you as always
This is wonderful, I too find myself addicted to my phone. It's been two years since I dropped out of grad school and since then I've been struggling emotionally to try and find new paths. However, I have hesitations and social media only exacerbates these insecurities I feel. If anything I notice social media is almost entirely about the self, the ego, what others think of you, of how you are functioning in this illusion of virtual society. But in reality, when you're offline you don't think much about what you are in the sense of how people view you but rather who you are as a person. I would scroll mindlessly through my phone, trying to distract myself from the pain, apathy, or anxiety when really I should be out in nature or better yet making art out of these difficult experiences. Anyway, thank you for these valuable and sober reminders
Knowing that someone like you who loves art, drinks the alley bubble tea and cooks spring rolls on the other side of the world is so calming to me. We live very similar lifestyles yet in different countries makes me feel like everything is gonna be okay
thank u, such a great and peaceful video ☁️
You always talk about subjects that hit home you’re my fav
This past 2 months i had my finals in uni, i was so stressed out bc i hadn´t prepared myself properly that i spent most days in christmas just on my phone and computer, trying to avoid thinking about the exams. Technology has always been my escape mechanism , it still is, this entire week i've been playing a videogame just so i could forget about the exams (once again). I used to read and draw a lot, but with time i've become a much more stressed out person and i've just forgotten to spend time on the things that i love. Lately, i've bought a bunch of books and retaken my sketchbook.. mayb i'll slowly get back to these little thing that i love. Abyway, thank you for the wonderful videos u make, they always inspire me to draw again!!
PS: Valerie always read with a light on!! its very important or you'll start losing sight.
OMG, vermicelli!
I'm so happy that you feel comfortable opening up about these things. I think the most important thing is to recognize what makes you feel bad and confronting it. I too feel like I'm glued to my phone sometimes. I struggle to be gentle and kind to myself while fostering self-discipline. Thank you for making this video and making us feel we're not alone.
this might end up in the bench, but its ok.
You are an amazing soul, really special really thoughtful, and really unique. Kind, warm, and cute. Elegant, humble and sweet. I didn't expect to see a person thriving to be so real the wat you do. In times i lose hope in finding wise people. But things like this video make me really happy when they prove me wrong.
Wish you all the happiness.
So many gems in this video. Thank you for enlightening solutions to artistic procrastinations and unresolved stress. Escapism is always the easy solution, the dopamin fix that never fixes anything. I am 50 years old and had given up on all my artistic dreams out of frustration with the artistic process, but you have opened the door for me and rekindled the dream with concrete steps. You are a beautiful being that brings light to others. Please continue your channel, you are highly inspiring.
Coach Valerie I want you to know that I'm really grateful for all the content you make, it is so inspiring to watch you paint and get emersed through the day! This video was so much helpful and relatable you have no idea😊👍👌💐 Xoxoxo love love love Valerie
Happy to hear this Sara 💝 Sending you a hug! 💌
@@valerielin thank you so much! I'm flipping over😍🙏💖
Thank you for talking about this issue since it is so close to home for most of us but no one ever seems to talk about it
I feel the same way about this addiction, it is like a trance, like time stops and I do it whenever I need to stop thinking (switch my brain off). One of these days, something unexpected happened - my phone fell in water and ultimately broke. I was actually relieved. Now I am using a phone with buttons and this is THE BEST thing that happened to me. I am using my laptop to now think of my future and to make a career as an artist. I knitted winter gloves and I am constantly thinking of new things to do with my time. Honestly I wish to you all that your smartphone breaks! (with the best intentions)
Today I am sorting my closet and going to list 4-5 bags of clothes for sale. This is such a huge step. Remind me to update results :D
@@Yonniejoy any updates?
@@lila310 I made myself a dress, painted a booklet for my cousin, some tote bags and I have plans for more things when I get home. I was in Sicily on erasmus + and it was amazing. My cousin gave me his phone, but I dont use it as often as I did before. I am finding value in myself and I hope it continues
i dont even have a phone and ive been in a trance
@@girlbossincorporated just takes a laptop and youtube...no phone here either...I find the laptop and internet bad enough
I would love to write a comment that makes sense, but my mind is complete chaos right now so... Just want to deeply thank you, you truly are gifted person, not only your art is beautiful, but also your soul. I'm only one of thousands of your viewers, but I feel like you know me, my problems, my struggles and my joys and you are here just for me. You bring calmness and so many other positive feelings I desperately need right now. Thank you for just being you. 🌸🌸
FINALLY a quality video that focuses on this issue with regards to creativity, all while not shaming people for “not having self control”. Thanks!! ❤
Thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤️ Valerie. I have just found your video and I think I was meant to find you, you so eloquently and artistically described exactly what I have been feeling the past few months, that I have become a slave to my phone. You have given me the motivation to stop and start finding joy in the small things again, how I miss reading a good book and getting lost in it! Thank you eternally, I had tears in my eyes as this is something no one very verbalises, but I think so many people suffer a very real addiction to technology but it’s not taken as a serious problem. All the best, and sending you lots of positive vibes xxx
Congratulations 🎊 for 300k Valerie
Honestly, I feel like I needed this. I always knew that I am not the only one suffering from a phone addiction, but to have someone speak out about it is different than just knowing. Moreover, to see that someone is growing out of this addiction and is getting rid of it is really motivating.
Phones are basically essentials to our lives now, and it is hard to not spend time on them. I feel like we very literally use them to connect to the world nowadays, whether it being in the form of messaging your friends, or just going on solely to see if anything that interests you (news about this and that, content by people you follow, etc.) will be on your homepage. Then comes with the games offered by phones that can get you addicted.
For me, I have always struggled with scrolling through short videos for an excessive amount of time, and the likelihood of me getting on an application that features short videos for me to scroll over has increased as short videos slowly become more common among other apps after the popularization of Tiktok. With something like Instagram, making their own version of these short videos (Instagram reels), this problem became way harder to get rid of because I don't use Instagram only for reels, I use it to communicate with everyone I know (my best friends, peers, etc.) as well. I can't just delete it.
and there is the game addictions. There were periods of times where I would play 5 hours of games on my phone per day, whether it being when I was playing the MOBA game Arena Of Valor, or when I got into Genshin Impact. Frankly, I wasn't happy playing these games for extensive amounts of times either, I just played and played. For a MOBA like Arena Of Valor, it was the belief that maybe in the next round, I would be able to win, just like how gamblers may believe that as long as they give it one more shot, then they'll win as well. For a gatcha game like Genshin Impact, I wanted the characters, so I grinded hard (and probablyyyyyy also to satisfy my gatcha/gambling addiction which grew in me after starting Genshin).
Whether it being going through short videos that do not stick around in my memory, and are not nearly as informative as longer, more detailed ones, or playing games, it is so hard to just put the phone down once I start on one of the two, or simply anything that could get me hooked. After these long sessions on the phone, I'd really just lose a lot of the energy that I started the day with. I was always sure to become brunt out.
Coming back to today, I've really gotten better with managing how I spend time on my phone, or at least I'd like to think I have 😂😂 I've definitely had less of those sessions where I would just be playing games or mindlessly scrolling on Instagram for a long period of time. I still hate how I would still go back to it from time to time though, especially with the nature of how I use Instagram.
I am not saying that we should never go on our phones for short videos or games. A moderate amount of them is probably fine, and even if you spend too much time on them once or twice, don't beat yourself up too hard for that because that is just gonna make you feel rubbish for the rest of the day ^^
I just love the way how you're simplifying the things, you can't imagine how much you're helping me to discover new ways to enjoy my life and how to make it more special than it sounds, I love you so much Valerie, keep creating 💙!
thank you for telling me :`) love you too ❤️
I’m so glad I found your videos! This one in particular hits home! I spend soooo much time on my phone procrastinating in fear so that I don’t do the things I truly want to do. This video was such a good reminder to embrace discipline….and put the phone down 🐞
Ich bin so froh deinen Kanal gefunden zu haben...war in einem tiefen Loch was meine Kunst angeht und deine Videos haben mich zT neu inspiriert. Ich liebe die Art wie du editierst und Dinge einfängst. Bitte mach unbedingt weiter. Ich freu mich echt über jedes neue Video. Das hier im Besonderen spricht gerade sehr direkt an womit ich zur Zeit struggle. Procastination wie es so schön heißt. Selbstdisziplin ist hart. Ich bewundere Leute, die wirklich welche haben...
I’m so excited about school ending and being able to enjoy the things outside of technology. October of last year I was in that space of so much taking myself on a date and reading, and I’m searching for that healing space again. Wishing everybody some good energy and love!
Valerie Lin is just as soothing and regenerative to my spirit as my two art girl lovers.
Such mystical presence is a gift.
this video has surfaced on my fyp at the most perfect time. Thank u for this video xx
When I was depressed, my screentime was 14 hours per day. I wake up, kill time on my phone, then sleep. I didn't study, didn't go to work, hardly ate and showered. Seeing my screentime was a wakeup call for me. I'm now trying my best to be disciplined. Here are my strategies:
1. Uninstalled twitter and installed app timers for soc med apps I use for work (I'm a soc med manager).
2. Installed instant messaging apps I use for work on my laptop so I can put my phone away for most of my shift. I'll only pick up it up if I need to post using my mobile (mostly for IG stories and reels).
3. Subscribed to FocusMate. Body doubling increased my productivity.
I deleted TikTok about 3 months ago and I feel way better now than I did before. I realised that although my screen time was low, most of that time was spent scrolling through TikTok. I went through a phase in the first month of going on to my phone solely for the purpose of going into TikTok, only to not find it. Now, I have become more aware of upcoming tasks and I have set a work and sleep schedule. I sit my GCSE exams this summer, and going to bed at 9.15pm and waking up at 6.45am has really helped me make my day more structured and my weekends become free for leisure tasks, or instead to revise for about an hour or two per subject per week. Valerie, your videos have inspired me and helped me this past year into becoming a better version of myself and realise the importance of balance. :)
This is what I exactly need right now. Thanks for this, Valerie!
I get excited every time there's a new Valerie upload, because I know I will always be in for treat. It's fun trying to see how you improve with each and every video, and this one was one of your best. It made me notice I've been addicted to my phone and is something that distracts me through the creative process with my art . Starting today, I'm going forward with trying to be more mindful with things and hopefully improvement in my life overall can blossom. Thanks Valerie
Valerie.... Thank you for being open and honest. You are a beautiful soul!! This cell phone addiction dilemma crosses over generations and it is very real. I wish you peace and happiness!
Some time ago I decided to replace mindless phone scrolling with reading a book.
This was one of the best decisions i've made in a while.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
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You always manage to perfectly articulate how I feel. I woke at 6am but spent til 12pm scrolling through my phone! I was so angry with myself when I finally came back to reality and realised how much time I had lost. Your video has given me the kick up the butt that I needed, you are right in saying its not about motivation but in fact about discipline. I need a Coach Valerie in my life, Stat! Love always from England! xx
Hi Valerie! It's incredible how much I feel inspired and somehow related by the subject you bring to us! Every "new" beggining is challenging and until the real discipline comes it's wierd... the transformation of the scenario happens within the whole process instead of thinking of it as the finish line.
Thanks for being here sharing your thoughts and making me feel that we are not alone!
Lots of kisses from Brazil!
Hey Francis, you are right!
And thank you too, you guys make me feel less alone too! Sending you a hug 💘
I love watching your videos rather than the other stuff that won't add any lessons in my life like random scrolling in tiktok
This was a beautiful video, as always Valerie! And it came at a perfect time cuz even I’ve been trying to get away from my phone. Thank you for existing and creating these beautiful videos ❤️❤️
I´m so glad it helps :`)
So proud of you! I have been educating the world on this topic for the past 10 years plus. Most are ignorant by choice and continue to spiral down with the inability to truly communicate or enjoy any type of relationship without their number one addiction to their wireless lifestyle. You are indeed a role model for many and an example of intelligence on a higher plane. Thank you for being you.
For me I found distracting myself by reading books occasionally helps but watching a few art documentaries works even better for me because at least if I'm addicted to my phone, I'll be learning on it. 🤣 (Btw, I watch alot of documentaries on the channel Perspective. They have awesome art documentaries and I really recommend the channel. I also recommend the channel David Bull, he's a Canadian living in Japan who owns and runs a Japanese woodblock printing company specializing in Edo-period recreations.)
I really needed the words you said😢Previously, I spent literally half a day on the phone looking for a video that would motivate me, but recently I realized that for the purpose that the heart chooses does not need motivation from the outside. The phone, or rather the Internet is a huge thing that can either help us or destroy us, let the guys love ourselves and spend less time in vain❤️Thank you for the video💞
Oh mann, was für ein Topic.
I clicked on this video to motivate myself to put my phone away because It‘s kind of crazy how much I use social media to procrastinate working on my projects for Uni. It‘s absolutely crazy how fast time flies when you are endlessly scrolling… Honestly thank you for talking about such an important topic and sharing this with us! Danke, danke! ❤️
You are such an amazing person Valarie ❤️.. You have the ability to make my mood better. Every single time I watch your video I feel better ... Keep spreading love and peace just the way you do . Wishing you health and happiness ❤️😊
I needed this video so much. Every Sunday I promise myself to keep the use of the phone under 2 hours per day and every week I fail. I'm trying with new things that can keep me away from devices. Great video!
ps: I'm Italian and the "ciao" at 5:25 made me smile😁
Thank you so much Valerie. This is unlike your usual content but this is exactly what I needed! Can’t wait to see more experimental stuff. Good luck!
Thanks Ilsa! Happy you enjoyed this kind of video too 🙏🏼
Was recommended this video and I'm so glad I chose to watch it because funny enough I've been going through a very similar struggle in the past few months with phone addiction. I've made a conscious effort to spend less time scrolling and more time practicing self-discipline (as you mentioned) - it is so important to develop this through practice. I've been reading/meditating more than I ever have and can feel myself becoming a happier more peaceful person as well. Just wanted to say thanks for making this, it's helped me re-affirm my own choice to spend less time on social media.
Thank you, Valerie, for saying what needs to be said. Technology like phones,
computers, and many electronic devices do attract too much of our time and attention away from the many better choices for our activities. Now you have said it plainly and it is so true. Thank you for raising our awareness so we can all work on replacing our tech time with more productive activities.
I wasn´t sure if I should talk about this, but super super glad it could help in some kind of way
i suffer from depression anxiety disorder and you make me sooo happy!! WE LOVE YOUU
I'm early now! BTW, thank you for this. I've been bothered to myself and getting more and more anxious to think about not writing and not doing arts for a week now but I kept using my phone. This video will be perfect.
You nailed it. This is so true. How much time we waste online! Except by watching a lovely video like yours :) Life is made of little delightful things (besides duties and work of course) like listening to a good music, reading a book, eating something delicious, writing a diary, painting, watching a good movie, trying news things. New sinapses everyday. Thank you Valerie for one more delicious, cozy and meaningful video. Greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷 😘
First of all Valerie, thank you,
for bringing up this very important topic!
Everything about this video is utterly true,
I’m telling ya‘ll. It’s a real thing.
I have been struggling the same exact problem ever since I started painting again after a long break for many years full of low self-esteem & procrastination due to the things I constantly see on social media.
I completely abused & wasted my time comparing myself to other artists all the time, leaving me at the end of the day totally uninspired with a ton of art blocks along the road instead of finding my own inner voice, improving my skills, and practice a ton.
It was like it, for many years, but
at some point of time ..
I finally realised and asked myself:
“ Why am I like this? Do I want to be like this?
I should be painting right now, tomorrow and forever more like I always dreamt to be “
So I started using my phone less, day by day &
small steps at a time, and at first, it was really tempting and extremely hard ( cause of addiction ) to get rid of it at the first place, and it was the weirdest feeling I’ve ever felt that for the first time ever, i’m starting to go out of that toxic bubble and actually doing the things I used to love again.
Not only it feels better but it also calmed me
like Valerie said, about having depressions and anxiety stuff like that.
Cause truth is that ..
Mobile phones are nothing but kind of distraction to us, especially on those times where we seek new ideas & inspirations but we tend to forgot that life outside and around us is more unique and true.
The everyday life is a mystery & it’s full of surprises by itself, whether it’s good or bad that we’ll experience, we artists have the ability to turn it to Art with honest depth of feelings.
So yeah .. taking a break or better said, making it a habit of using our mobile phones less will extremely improve our quality of life!
Stay true to yourself and your craft, you know that your soul’s energy never lies!
Just live more & happy creating! :)
Beautiful words! Thank you Lee! :)
Thank you Coach Val for addressing this topic. I suffered from phone addiction not because of TH-cam videos but because of playing mobile games. I played MOBA, Rhythm and Dress up Games a lot for early rewards that sometimes I almost forgot that I have assignments to do. I also forgot my other main task especially practicing sketch at the seashore(I live near the shore), always sleep late(sometimes I sleep like 7 am then woke up 5 pm), late eating lunch @ 5/6 pm, never touch my book that I had to finish(which that should be finish last year), finishing all the movies, anime and some Boys Love series, 3 months skip exercise or go outside of the house.... I lost discipline for myself
This is an Eye Opener video to me that I should need to discipline myself more ☺️
4 minutes ago! road to 300k, Valerie! I love your art + content, Valerie!! So inspiring 💙
You are right! We tend to spend too much time on our phone and we get addicted to it... We all need to find joy and happiness in little things and focus on our daily tasks. There is one thing you said that touched me... motivation comes and goes... thank u so much !
When the pandemic hit, I went into a nosedive that had been coming on for years, and I literally had to check myself into a psych ward. During the week I was there, they took away my phone and my laptop - something I had no idea they would do. I had been artistically blocked for YEARS up to that point, but for some reason I thought to bring some nice drawing paper with me. Thank God I did. That week without screens I became obsessed with drawing with the tiny little pencils they allowed me to have. Turning off the phone really really works. It's keeping it off that's hard.
I just found your channel and this is the first video of yours I've seen. I've been so stuck for so long, waiting for motivation to come. I, too have had far too many mornings that begin with scrolling while I have my coffee only to look up to see the clock with the big hand on 12 and the little hand on 2 🙄.
That's it. Turning off my phone. Now.
Last Sunday my time watched at TH-cam was 8 hours. That's scares me a lot.I really need this video. Thanks a lot valarie
A few things:
1) I love the fact that you showed the reality of how this affects us
2) is that a nose ring in some of the shots?! It looks good!
3) I think my favourite part of the video was the few seconds at the end where you set down the frame pieces. Implying that now that you’ve been refreshed and spent time off your phone, you are ready to create again. Well done! ❤️
Thank you Ashley! Yes, I believe it´s important to be transparent about this topic and how much it can bring us down if we aren´t aware of it. Haha yes, it was a fake nosering :)
Glad you enjoyed the video
i feel like the more time you invest in things, hobbies, relationships... make them seem more yours? like they truly do belong to you and i believe it holds more value than temporary relief like endless scrolling through one's phone... you couldn't have ended it better, val. thank you for this
Thank you for raising my awareness and giving me peace.Take care of yourself.💗
I find peace whenever I see your videos an your voice is really soothing, God bless your soul Valerie
Dearest Valerie l....
Firstly sending all the love❤️ regards from india....myself kania....i've been following up you for a while and fell in love with all your solo lives whisking yourself in art.. And the solitude you enchance to penchant and pour❤....
You ' ve been a great inspiration for me for far and wide..❤️.
❤️❤️❤️
You are my new favorite addiction... you are like that mentor that reminds you of the things you already know, but just need that extra push to do better. Thank you for that! As a fellow artist of other fields, I find that technology really is a distraction from our purest selves / art. However; if used correctly, it can definitely help us get our art seen.
Gracias por los videos, me inspiran mucho! Además, gracias por los subtitulos, se aprecian esos detalles. Cuidate ❤
Thank you Lyan! And take care too ❣️
A very important message indeed! I really feel like phones have reduced our attention span so bad and now we can barely focus on one task for more than a few minutes. I've turned my notifications off since a few months and it has drastically improved my dependancy. I pick up my phone instead of it calling to me. Still, learning and living. Take care and much love to you 💕
Looking at social media just to be worried. So I try to learn and produce works rather than just looking at other people will only eliminate my identity.
I also love the relative slow pacedness(?) of this video. Social media feeds os stuff so fast and encourages us to also be so fast at producing that videos like these feel like a nice break.
Everyone in the comments section needs to read the book, or listen to the audiobook "Stolen Focus," by Johann Hari. The book is incredible and eye opening, discussing in detail how our technology is stealing our focus and robbing us from the deeper richness of our daily lives, as well as sabotaging our goals and aspirations.
Wow, I have never related phone addiction to art life. But phone addiction actually affects everything in our world. This has definitely encouraged me to be more mindful. Your voice is incredibly pleasant ❤️.
This is true our phones are ruining our creativity 😞 to much screen time ☹️
This video is so sweet and special 🥰 This is something I really need to work on and the way you reframed it makes it super appealing to use my phone less.
the issue is, that we individualize the blame and responsibility for this, when IN FACT it is a systemic issue, when tech companies consciously design the systems we use to communicate in a way so we SHOULD GET ADDICTED, to exploit our time and minds for their add revenues and profits. the issue is MUCH bigger than individual addiction and personal choices.
YES, we gotta start with ourselves, and put the phone down, but on a societal level we need to march to the head quarters of facebook and tik tok and youtube, and shut shit down.
we deserve tech which is designed for our human needs, and not fucking us up to make some super rich people even more super rich. neoliberal capitalism is madness called profit.