Okay, here’s my attempt at a blog post about creating a “block 2024” list, written in the style of a casual, experienced blogger:
So, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately. Like, really overwhelmed. Too many emails, too many notifications, too many things vying for my attention. It’s like my brain is constantly buzzing, and I can’t focus on anything properly. Sound familiar? I figured I needed to do something drastic, so I decided to make a “block 2024” list. Basically, a list of everything I’m going to actively avoid for the rest of the year to try and regain some sanity.
Step 1: The Brain Dump
First, I just grabbed a piece of paper and a pen (yeah, old school, I know) and started writing down everything that was stressing me out or distracting me. No filter, just a massive brain dump. This included stuff like:
- Certain news websites (you know the ones)
- Endless scrolling on social media (looking at you, Instagram)
- Replying to emails instantly (unless it’s actually urgent)
- Saying “yes” to every request (gotta protect my time!)
- Checking my phone first thing in the morning.
It felt good to get it all out. Just seeing it all on paper made me realize how much mental clutter I was carrying around.
Step 2: Categorizing the Chaos
Next, I looked at my messy list and started to group things together. I realized some things were related to technology, others were about work habits, and some were just plain old bad habits. Making these categories helped me see patterns. For instance I have a group of words: doomscrolling, negativity, instant gratification, and comparison.
Step 3: The “Block” Action Plan
This is where the rubber meets the road. For each item on my list, I figured out a specific way to “block” it. Here’s what I came up with for a few of them:
- Certain News Websites:I used a website blocker extension to block specific time-wasting news sites.
- Social Media Scrolling:I set a daily limit and only allow myself to enter a few social media in specific time.
- Instant Email Replies: I turned off notifications for my email and set specific times to check and respond.
- Saying “Yes” to Everything: I drafted a polite “no” template that I can use for requests that aren’t a priority.
- Morning Phone Check: I bought an old-fashioned alarm clock and started leaving my phone in another room at night.
It wasn’t about completely eliminating these things (except maybe the doomscrolling), but about being more intentional about how I interact with them.
Step 4: Sticking With It (Mostly)
Look, I’m not perfect. I’ve definitely slipped up a few times. But having this list, and having a plan, has made a huge difference. I feel less stressed, more focused, and generally more in control of my time and attention. It’s an ongoing process, and I’m sure I’ll need to tweak it as I go, but for now, it’s working. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, I highly recommend giving it a try. You might be surprised at how much of a difference it makes.
