Remember when we had Nintendos and Gameboys and the game would get sticky so you’d blow into the slot so it would clear out? I’m the sticky Gameboy and the universe is blowing life (and clarity) into my crevices.
There are times when I realize I’ve been consuming more than I’ve been creating, and I start to feel the effects in all these sneaky, interesting ways.
For example:– I scroll through comment sections instead of forming my own opinion– I hop on IG when I’m idle as a boredom fix– I feel sluggish– I drink lots of coffee and eat a lot less– I suddenly want to shop… a lot– My conversations reference more things I’ve seen online than things I’ve felt or experienced– I read less, move less– I start eating whatever gives me a quick dopamine hit instead of actual nourishment– I feel drained, ungrounded, and scattered
The thing is: it never happens overnight. It builds. Slowly. Quietly. Until you’re fully in it. Then you catch a glimpse of yourself and think, “This isn’t really me.” or “This isn’t the me I want to be.”
What’s interesting is that instead of coming back to ourselves gently, we often overcorrect. We try to leap to the other extreme, to the highest self, the favorite self, the perfectly balanced version of us.
That’s when we really mess ourselves up. We shame ourselves for how we’ve been showing up and try to compensate by becoming perfectionists at being human.
I truly believe if we don’t tailor that return, we end up doing more damage than the overconsumption ever did. So I created my own personal Overconsumption Reset.
It starts with reflection: writing down everything that’s been off, like the list above.Then I ask myself:What are a few things you’d actually be proud of doing right now?
This time, my list looked like this:– Meditate + move + write daily– Read and learn something weekly– Create something monthly
In the past, I would’ve written an 8-foot-long list. A full human makeover, but every time I’ve tried to wake up and be someone totally new overnight, it’s ended in burnout, self-judgment, and running right back to the comfort of easy dopamine.
This list made me proud.Not because it was perfect, but because it was honest.It wasn’t about changing who I was. Just realigning how I wanted to feel.
I started with a short meditation and as I turned inward, I saw a version of me who already lived those habits. She had more clarity, more joy, more space. It felt like an invitation into that timeline. Honestly, that was enough to keep going.
Next I wrote, nothing structured or profound, just brain-clearing thoughts with a pen and a page. I slowed down. Stayed off social media. When boredom hit, I swapped IG for the NYT Games app: Wordle, a little crossword, or I’d read an article.
Even on the first day, I noticed how much better I felt. Less agitation. Less escapism. More presence.
And no, I haven’t been “perfect.”I haven’t meditated every morning like I envisioned, but I’ve meditated before bed, focusing on my breath and checking in before I sleep. I haven’t done hard workouts, but I’ve gone for walks, played tag with my little one. I’ve swapped some coffee for dirty chais, tried to eat more nourishing meals (with a few sweets in there because… balance). I haven’t filled pages in my journal, but I’ve kept a pocket notebook where I jot down thoughts, ideas, and moments.
And that, to me, is the win, because when I reflect on these steps, I feel proud. I’m for choosing to take care of myself in small, meaningful ways.
It reminds me of a video where someone said, “If you’re trying to love yourself, you already do.” That line has stuck with me.
This reset gave me momentum. What’s next for me is deeper embodiment, not performance, just presence.
So if you ever find yourself stuck in the scroll, consuming more than you’re creating, try a gentle reset. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Pick a few things and commit to showing up for them, but not for a specific how. Let them show up the way they want to. Trust yourself to follow through. Let the journey shape your habits instead of trying to shape them to fit some imagined version of success.
Give yourself time.Count every effort.Trust your process.And if you slip, just catch yourself tenderly and start wherever you are, because it’s never from the ground up.
You’re never starting over.You’re just… returning.
xxmarr(squared)