Why I left Instagram
In 2008, I didn’t have a smartphone yet, but I had a huge thirst for knowledge. After three years of intensive research (see photo), I wrote my thesis When the light learned to walk about the physics of light and the history of the universe as a design student in 2011/2012. The work originally comprised nine books with a total of 1108 pages and was supervised by Prof. Dr. Harald Lesch.
I remember that time very well: at that time I could write for three to four hours a day at a stretch – without interruption, without distraction, with a lot of inspiration and leisure, without any fatigue and with a lot of joy. In one to two weeks, I had completed the first draft of one of the seven chapters (each of which became an entire book). The subsequent design phase was just as concentrated.
The book was published shortly afterwards by Penguin Random House. I merged the “chapter books”, the content and the appendix into one book, shortened it to 864 pages and completely reset everything. I also proofread the texts myself, first reading them forwards and then backwards word by word. This was also very easy for me, as I was able to focus very well – despite a wisdom tooth operation.
Back then.
86,400 seconds per day
It was twelve years ago now and I was shocked to realize: Somewhere along the way, I lost my once strong ability to concentrate.
But that’s not all. Since owning a smartphone and signing up to Instagram, my inner peace has increasingly given way to an extremely erratic thought life. Reading or writing for three to four hours at a time has become unthinkable. I no longer wanted to put up with that. That’s why I decided to stop letting an algorithm determine what I should think, feel or buy and how I spend my time.
I left Instagram. And I never want to go back!
I notice how much my mind and body are recovering. I get inspiration from looking at nature and from real encounters with people. Or by simply doing nothing!
Our time is too valuable to be wasted under algorithmic control.
86,400 seconds a day – none of which comes back.
In any case, I have decided to make the best use of the time.
For my creativity.
For my concentration.
And for the love of life.
