Over the years we have seen the difference in what screens cause for our mental and physical health. That has been no exception for me. This situation has made it hard for me to put my focus where it needs to be. I have stayed glued to screens more than necessary. I haven’t seen the value of my investments in Cable TV, the Daily Newspaper, and Magazines that often lie around. I realize I must take advantage of these things. I should avoid becoming as addicted to screens as many are.

Digital devices give comfort. They offer regulation in the right time and circumstances for me to withstand life as an autistic person. But when they stop you from doing necessary tasks, it becomes an issue. Living an independent life requires completing these tasks. Like anything with an addictive quality, breaking away can be difficult. It’s hard to detach from things you think you need. These things can be quite distracting and addictive in nature because they bring the endorphins that make you happy. I had to learn that I needed to keep busy in healthier ways. I realized I needed something better than what I was earlier doing to fulfill my time.

I find comfort in knowing that I receive my town’s newspaper in the mail five days a week. This is something that isn’t always common. I have had the paper for over seven years now. It is part of a town-wide promotion. This promotion includes a digital access portal at a lower rate. I scan the paper on the computer before heading out in the mornings. Then, when I go home at night, I use the hard copy to play a game called Wonderword. This was a game that my grandmother often played every evening. I once hated word searches. Now, I have begun to see their value. They make me a little brighter each day. They also help hone in on those necessary skills to stay well.

Over time, it means reading those magazines that come in the mail shortly after they arrive. This prevents them from laying around the house and collecting dust. It means recognizing that something more valuable exists than endlessly exploring digital content. It’s knowing when stopping is beneficial for me to understand when enough is just enough. Knowing there is a world outside of what we see on our screens helps us get through the day. We don’t always have to go somewhere that is a brick and mortar location. Through digital access, we find our way to where we need to be. We get regulated by slowly detoxing from the digital screens.

It is maybe because there it is can better rank my needs beyond those on the screens. Granted, those will always be there. I have been working on finding healthier ways to make them happen. I approach them as I have in the past. I am moving beyond what I once thought was impossible. I initially refused to believe a healthy balance can be achieved. Still, like other things I doubted in the past, I proved them wrong. I overcame this struggle, just as I have with many others in my life.