Have to say this is one of my favourites pieces you've written – without a doubt never read the word gap so many times in an article. 😂
It’s so true how phones have crept into every gap in the day - waiting for the kettle, eating, travelling... all of it.
And the idea that we’ve trained ourselves to spot every spare second as phone-checking time is bang on - shifting from a conscious choice into something automatic, with the iron wheel spinning in the mind is great.
King of the gaps feels fitting here.
Your point about starting bigger and deliberately leaving the phone alone for a proper stretch, like during a commute, feels realistic.
I like how you turn into something positive too; more control, more awareness, and more chance to actually be present with the people around you.
Yes I must do a word count on the word “gap” for this one! I remember when I first wrote it, it had a different title, and it took my wife to point out my obsession with gaps, and the unbelievably obvious connection with the commuting bit I had written at the start. Gap gap gap.
Man this is a FANTASTIC read. I will probably come back to it again and re-read it. The whole concept of "The gap" is so accurate. Man I have noticed that I will be scrolling away, and when someone comes in the room I'll set the phone down and a wave of shame washes over me. But I'll silently want them to exit so that I can keep going. This shit is a poison
Thank you so much for saying, it’s so lovely to hear!
I’m SO glad you like this one. I always describe this as my favourite piece personally. I am beyond fascinated by the gap, and what is lost when we switch in and out.
I had someone told me they were trying to fight hard now in each gap. Maybe I am too pessimistic in the end of the article about that working. For me it always seemed a recipe for failure and guilt (or fighting an automatic impulse that couldn’t be fought), leading me to believe I needed to set out a clear period in the day to retrain the brain.
However, it could well be one could turn it round in those little gaps if one had better control over one’s phone use than I had!
“Unfortunately, small children have a gap-like quality about them. Despite all the hype, they aren’t THAT interesting.” 🤣🤣
I'm pleased to say my children found that line funny (rather than deeply disturbing).
Have to say this is one of my favourites pieces you've written – without a doubt never read the word gap so many times in an article. 😂
It’s so true how phones have crept into every gap in the day - waiting for the kettle, eating, travelling... all of it.
And the idea that we’ve trained ourselves to spot every spare second as phone-checking time is bang on - shifting from a conscious choice into something automatic, with the iron wheel spinning in the mind is great.
King of the gaps feels fitting here.
Your point about starting bigger and deliberately leaving the phone alone for a proper stretch, like during a commute, feels realistic.
I like how you turn into something positive too; more control, more awareness, and more chance to actually be present with the people around you.
Thank you for reading!
Yes I must do a word count on the word “gap” for this one! I remember when I first wrote it, it had a different title, and it took my wife to point out my obsession with gaps, and the unbelievably obvious connection with the commuting bit I had written at the start. Gap gap gap.
that gap (bank/monument) - I can’t believe in the safety conscious world we live in it’s still like that - it’s huge - lol -
Man this is a FANTASTIC read. I will probably come back to it again and re-read it. The whole concept of "The gap" is so accurate. Man I have noticed that I will be scrolling away, and when someone comes in the room I'll set the phone down and a wave of shame washes over me. But I'll silently want them to exit so that I can keep going. This shit is a poison
Thank you so much for saying, it’s so lovely to hear!
I’m SO glad you like this one. I always describe this as my favourite piece personally. I am beyond fascinated by the gap, and what is lost when we switch in and out.
I had someone told me they were trying to fight hard now in each gap. Maybe I am too pessimistic in the end of the article about that working. For me it always seemed a recipe for failure and guilt (or fighting an automatic impulse that couldn’t be fought), leading me to believe I needed to set out a clear period in the day to retrain the brain.
However, it could well be one could turn it round in those little gaps if one had better control over one’s phone use than I had!