Field Trip is a homebase for the research and references that inform the work and life of designer Lauren Scarlett.
[RESEARCH ©FT]
With nights drawing in fast on these shorter days, it can feel a little heavy, and so we naturally crave comfort. My brain's idea of comfort is listening to the same songs over and over again and watching the same shows I've watched so many times they've become white noise. My mind picks the easy option every time – repetition and familiarity, and with no effort required, I'm free to doom scroll. And doom scroll I do, with the TV on and my laptop open next to me. I amaze myself at this handling of three screens, evidencing my insane ability to multitask. I'm blissful in a loop of numbness; not a single thought or feeling enters. The three glowing screens keep it all at bay. But let me just figure out which one is making that noise because it's kind of annoying me, wait I think it might be all of the—
The WiFi cuts out. Ouch. The screens still glow but silently. My head hurts; there's work to do, there's that deadline, there's laundry, there's that simple task I've been putting off for weeks. My heart hurts; there's that friend I miss, there's that person it feels weird with, there are all the things I could be doing and all the lives I could be living. Overwhelmed by not being overwhelmed by the screens and the noise, I lie there and let it wash over me. I can't keep letting this happen. Is it time to go full zen mode and digitally detox?
Unfortunately, I can't do a digital detox completely because, one, I'm a designer. And two, I'm a girl in my 20s. It's important that I maintain my toxic relationship with Instagram because deep down, I know we love each other, and I think one day we could be at peace... if it would just be more consistent :)
I do need to re-establish my relationship with technology though. Not to brag, but I'm extremely talented in the art of emotional detachment, and all the devices at my disposal make me even better. But when you decide you want to numb something, you lose all the pleasure, joy, and goodness too. Living in a state of detachment does absolutely nothing for anyone. Life still happens, life still hurts; it all waits for you at the end of that series. While adolescent me would give in to the distractions, my adult self wants to fight it. I don't want to submit to easy options and algorithms; I don't want to feel like my life and career will end if I'm not chronically online.
So, I have been on my phone less. Instead of connecting to my speaker to play music all day, I've been listening to records again. I pick up my phone less because I'm not switching songs and then checking socials while I'm at it. I've also been moving a lot. I know everyone says it, but exercise is a huge lifeline for me. I read something recently about the mind-body connection and how if you want your mind to move through things, you have to physically move yourself. As the owner of a busy mind that clutters with stagnancy, I wholeheartedly believe this to be true.
Despite getting my screen time down, the screens are generally inescapable. But they don't always have to act as a numbing agent. I watched Spectre the other night because I thought it was the latest James Bond movie and I hadn't seen it. Turns out it's not the latest one, but I hadn't seen any of them, so it was all good. The reason I watched a Bond movie isn't that I particularly like the franchise, but when I was looking for a movie to watch, I wanted something to actually engross me, something to occupy my mind for long enough that I didn't pick up my phone, for a whole, mighty, two and a half hours.
And it worked. I was engaged throughout and felt great the next day. Because routine works well until it's stifling. Falling into repetitive motions takes a huge toll on my ability to be inspired and be creative. So, I'm currently ignoring all natural instinct and choosing action thrillers every night. If watching ridiculous storylines and high-speed car chases keeps my mind out of autopilot mode and off my phone, then James Bond is what we're watching.
Caution: It’s highly likely I’ll start acting like an international woman of mystery.
[REFERENCES ©FT]
What I Listened To:
What I Watched:
I’m not gonna link all the James Bond movies
It's been a minute since I've read your writing, and it feels so good to have your words wash over me again. It feels like you know the rhythm of my brain waves, but carve out your own unseen pathway through them, and I love that mix of both comfort and novelty. Thank you always for sharing your beautiful brain with the world! ♥️