The older I get, the more I think about the fleeting nature of time. Our beautiful sister Alice Walker once said, “time moves slowly, but passes quickly.”  If we’re honest, most of us waste a considerable amount of time.

The older I get, the more I think about the fleeting nature of time. Our beautiful sister Alice Walker once said, “time moves slowly, but passes quickly.”  If we’re honest, most of us waste a considerable amount of time.  One study estimated that “the average person touches their phone 2617 times a day, with each person spending approximately 2.5 hours.”  Another study about smartphone use concluded that “being in the same room as our phones (even if they are turned off) “will reduce someone’s working memory and problem-solving skills.”  

When reading one of my favorite books “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by John Mark Comer talks about Tristan Harris, a Silicon Valley insider who describes the addictive nature of the smartphone and uses the following analogy of slot machines “he points out that slot machines make more money than the film industry and baseball combined, even though they take only a few quarters at a time.  Because the slot machine is addictive.  And those small amounts of money feel inconsequential in the moment.  It’s just a few quarters, right?  Or five bucks, or twenty.  But over time they add up.  In the same way, the phone is addictive.  And small moments-a text here, a scroll through Instagram there, a quick email scan, dinking around online – it all add up to an extraordinary amount of time.”

If you’re like me – you have been trying to figure out how to reduce the weekly hours you spend on social media or on your phone in general.  I scroll when I first wake up, when I’m bored, when I’m anxious, in-between work projects and emails, when I want to relax before bed, when I’m trying to ignore people who are around me.  I don’t need a reason to be on my phone, I just always am.  So, I’ve decided to spend more time doing things I love and trying to learn new things. 

Learning new things is not simply a way to pass the time, but it’s also good for your health.  Allowing yourself to learn new things, keeps our brain healthy by helping to reshape your mind.  It also increases confidence, happiness, motivation and flexibility.  

One thing that brings me joy is writing, so I joined a writing group for women of color and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.  They’ve helped me feel more confident in my writing and have provided so many opportunities for growth and connection.

Cooking & Baking

Take a cooking class.  Sur la table is my go-to recommendation for online cooking (and in person), baking, and mixology classes.  They also have classes in-store and offer cooking classes for private events.  Their classes are really affordable and you can use Afterpay.  Some of their current classes are listed below.

Image:  Black Girl Knit Club, www.blackgirlknitclub.com

When you think of knitting, I’m sure a vision of someone who doesn’t quite look like you comes to mind, but you’d be surprised how popular knitting is becoming among Black women.  I don’t know how to knit, but I can crochet (albeit, not great), but it’s so much fun to do, so I highly recommend – 10/10.    Black women are increasingly picking up knitting as a hobby, a mindfulness practice, and to reduce anxiety and depression. In my search, I’ve seen knitting groups on Eventbrite, there’s a knitting group directory, and a number of knitwear companies curate virtual classes.  I have not vetted any of them, so you will need to do your own research to determine which is a good fit for you.  However, I would like to highlight the work of Black Girl Knit Club, who are championing diversity in craft.  They are based in London, but you can inquire about virtual bookings.

As a writer, I’ve found a home as a member of the Boston Writers of Color group with Grub Street.  If you love writing,  they have groups and classes for writers of all levels and I can’t say enough about how positive my experience has been.  The New York Writers Coalition held a Black Writers pilot program last year.  You can sign up for updates about future programming.  

Rear Image:  Jessamyn Stanley, www.jessamynstanley.com

Front Image:  Chelsea Loves Yoga, @chelsealovesyoga