Time waits for no man … or zombie as the case may be

They say time is money, but what if instead of trading time for money, we traded time for — well, more time? That is the idea behind a company called TimeRepublik, created in 2012 and self-described as a “timebank for the internet era.” For one example of timebanking, after spending 10 years as a Buddhist nun, Coral Sunone was seeking fashion advice upon her return to the outside world. Through TimeRepublik, she connected with fashion consultant Cherish Cullison, who lent time in helping Sunone pick out clothing that suited her. In exchange, Sunone spent an equal amount of time giving Cullison meditation lessons.

Timebanking is not a new concept; TimeRepublik has just taken steps to formalize it and connect an online network of people. TimeRepublik users offer their services and for every 15 minutes served, they receive a TimeCoin credit. They can then “spend” that credit to get 15 minutes of assistance from someone else. The skills being offered range anywhere from music lessons to proofreading, from graphic design to tutoring or haircutting. There are more than 100,000 users worldwide. The idea is to also build friendships and trust among people by helping them connect over similar interests.

A similar organization, Timebanking UK, has helped to engage people in volunteering who otherwise perhaps wouldn’t get involved. Time-banked hours count towards jobseekers’ hours of looking for paid employment when applying for benefits through the UK’s Department for Work and Pensions.

TimeRepublik’s website is quick to point out that time banking isn’t meant to replace the traditional monetary system; rather it’s meant to complement it, and serve as a way to level the playing field for people who might not have the money to pay for a specific service but probably have some type of skill they can offer in exchange.

It’s an intriguing idea and a reminder what a valuable resource time is. As a wise preacher said recently, “Attention adds quality to time.” I would add to that and say attention and intention add quality to time. Whether we spend it wisely or poorly, the time will pass all the same, so the only thing up to us is how we spend it.

Just don’t spend too much of it zombie scrolling. What’s that? You ask. Well, according to an article from Newport Institute, a mental health clinic with treatment centers in California, Minnesota, Connecticut and Virginia, “zombie scrolling” refers to the habit of mindlessly scrolling through content online, with no real destination or benefit. The term was coined by McAfee security company in 2016, but I just heard about it. Maybe I’m late to the party. Oh, well. At any rate, Newport Institute reports that the average person scrolls through 300 feet of content every day, which is the height of the Statue of Liberty. That is a mind-numbing amount of information.

It’s no secret that cell phone use, and especially social media use, can easily become an addiction. According to Dr. Don Grant, Newport director of outpatient services in Santa Monica, Calif., the reason social media is so addicting is it’s a variable reward system.

“Like mice in a lab, constantly pulling a lever in hopes of receiving a treat that appears unpredictably, we keep scrolling in search of an online experience that will trigger a pleasurable release of dopamine. It’s the random nature of these rewards—whether they take the form of likes, positive feedback, or an ad or post that grabs us—that catalyzes the habitual behavior,” the article states.

I watched the documentary “The Social Dilemma” when it came out a few years ago and it described the phenomenon of frequently refreshing your social media feed like a slot machine — you’re hoping that the next time you refresh it, you’ll “win” by seeing something interesting.

“The thought process that went into building these applications, Facebook being the first of them, ... was all about: ‘How do we consume as much of your time and conscious attention as possible?’” said former Facebook president Sean Parker in an interview with Axios.

We are more likely to gravitate toward zombie scrolling in times that are uncomfortable, socially awkward, lonely or boring, looking for something to distract us. The downside is that reaching for your phone in those moments prevents you from experiencing what is happening in the world around you or connecting to the people around you. And don’t get me wrong — I’ve been guilty of this more often than I’d like to admit. The negative consequences of zombie scrolling are many, including eye strain, brain fatigue, difficulty focusing and feeling disconnected. Plus doing it late at night can lead to sleep deprivation and poorer mental health overall. Another new term I ran across in researching was “doomscrolling,” which means spending an excessive amount of time reading large quantities of negative news online. Not surprisingly, doomscrolling can increase levels of stress hormones, make it harder to see the positive and exacerbate any existing mental health issues a person may have. I would venture to say the same effects apply to watching too many hours of negative news on TV.

So, how to stop the mindless scrolling (or content consumption)? Newport Institute offers four tips: 1) Become aware of how much you’re time spending online, and on which platforms. 2) Identify what situations cause you to want to start zombie scrolling. Are you procrastinating or trying to avoid a certain situation? 3) Decide what to change and make a plan to reach your goals. Set time limits or substitute a different activity when you would usually pick up your phone. 4) Assess your plan, what worked and didn’t work, and how it affected your health. Then refine your plan.

When it comes to being more intentional with our time, there’s always the opportunity to change and take a different path.

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” – Michael Altshuler

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