Is there a benefit for me to unplugged from Instagram and my iPhone in general
Yes, absolutely—there can be significant benefits for someone like you, especially as a thoughtful, legacy-minded artist, to unplug from Instagram and your iPhone, even for a defined period. Here are several reasons why it could be valuable, both creatively and personally:
1. Reclaim Deep Attention
Instagram and smartphones fragment attention. Stepping away gives you access to deep focus—the kind that allows for breakthroughs in your creative work. This is especially important for someone exploring memory, abstraction, and emotional resonance.
“In solitude the mind gains strength and learns to lean upon itself.” — Laurence Sterne
2. Return to Embodied Presence
Without a phone constantly buzzing or demanding interaction, you may find yourself more grounded in your senses, noticing texture, light, sound, and emotion in a richer way. This can amplify the intuitive, sensory-driven quality of your artwork.
3. Escape Algorithmic Influence
Platforms like Instagram subtly shape your visual vocabulary and priorities. Going offline allows you to reclaim your visual autonomy and reduce the pull of external validation, trends, and metrics that don’t align with your long-term vision.
4. Strengthen Inner Voice
When you’re not constantly consuming others’ thoughts, aesthetics, or opinions, you can hear your own voice more clearly. This is crucial if you’re exploring “Constructed Realism,” memory distortion, and the disintegration of perceived history.
5. Heal Nervous System + Reduce Anxiety
The phone—especially apps like Instagram—can keep your nervous system in a sympathetic (fight/flight) state, even if subtly. Unplugging supports parasympathetic recovery, especially important given your prior mentions of tinnitus, TMJ, and stress-related conditions.
6. Cultivate Word-of-Mouth and Intimacy
Stepping back from digital exposure can actually increase the sense of mystery and value around your work. You may develop deeper, more intentional relationships through studio visits, letters, or even slow email correspondence with collectors or curators.
7. Foster Legacy Through Physical Artifacts
Without the digital noise, your energy can shift toward making physical objects, writings, and ideas that will endure beyond your lifetime—offering real legacy to your daughter and others who find meaning in your practice.
If you’re intrigued by this idea, we could define a low-interruption artist protocol: a creative routine and communication flow that prioritizes depth, while still allowing essential touchpoints for opportunity and community.
Would you like help outlining what that could look like practically—daily rhythm, minimal tech touchpoints, physical alternatives to digital engagement, etc.?