I just finished numb-scrolling through TikTok again – every few seconds swiping away and getting increasingly smaller hits of dopamine. There are some phrases that TikTok creators use in some of their ads to buy a new planner, exercise program, or other productivity hack. The are “Disappear for a year,” “you won’t recognize yourself,” “dopamine fast,” “dopamine cleanse,” “dopamine detox,” etc.

It’s funny when the app that is the problem tells you that you need to stop using it. I am ready to disappear from the attention economy.

I’ve had a rough personal July 2024, but I don’t really want to get into it. I don’t owe you an explanation anyway. Social media has not helped me feel more connected, but has done the opposite. This time, instead of just deleting, I’m going to put them on hold. If I ever run for office or need it for a brand or something, the names will be saved, but, they just gonna sit there. I’m changing and storing the passwords, which I will not have memorized. I’m tired of having my attention mined.

I am dealing with a lot of shame about this internal obsession of owing people total attention and coming short on it all the time. I owe everyone my kindness, respect, and care, but only for acute, present amounts of time. Outside of the time I am with them (physically, telephonically, or otherwise), I owe another person, project, or myself that attention. Usually I am giving my attention to the scroll page, rather than the person in front of me.

I’ve been learning a lot from Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now.” In short, he argues that now is all we have, it’s all that matters, and that before and after are thoughts. Our only reality is now. I highly recommend the book, and, if you have apple music, listen to “Gateways to Now,” to learn about how being present in your body, attending silence, and surrendering to the now can be therapeutic.

Work requires posting on facebook, instagram, and linkedin. The Chamber has contracts and responsibilities to create content to get your attention. I will work with my team to make sure that we are giving you high-quality, hyper local, interesting content.

As for my personal facebook, twitter, tiktok, instagram, etc, etc, etc, please just email me at hello@vancebryce.com, or use my phone number if you have it. I’m ready for the dopamine detox promised to me on TikTok. I’m ready to disappear.