About a month ago, on December 20, 2025, I caught myself mindlessly scrolling on TikTok, stalking my own reposts (and my friends’, lol). A sudden wave of guilt hit me: What am I really doing with my life? I had been wasting more than 4 hours per day on TikTok. When you do the math, that’s 28 hours a week, 112 hours a month, and a whopping 1,344 hours a year!
With that much time, I realized there had to be something more I could do with my life. It felt like I had suddenly gained consciousness of my addiction to short-form content. This epiphany explained why I could not concentrate on anything for long periods of time, including two-hour classes. During the first 30 minutes, my mind would wander. It turns out that these apps "fried" my attention span.
Why Short-Form Content Is the Problem
After that wake-up call, I went down a rabbit hole on the internet, trying to figure out if TikTok and Instagram were the cause of my inability to focus—and how I could overcome what I began to see as an addiction. Turns out, this isn’t just my problem. Many people have fallen into the trap of what some refer to as the "TikTok Brain."
Short-form content creates a cycle of cheap dopamine hits. This constant bombardment makes it hard for us to enjoy—or even sit through—anything long-form, like books, articles, or even YouTube videos longer than five minutes. The moment a video doesn’t deliver that immediate rush of dopamine, we’re ready to swipe to the next one.
Taking Control
Going into 2025, I decided I wasn’t going to let my attention span deteriorate any further. Something had to change. I started by limiting my screen time to less than two hours on TikTok and one hour on Instagram. While this helped somewhat, I realized I lacked the confidence in my self-control to maintain it. That is when I made one of my New Year's resolutions: to replace all short-form content with activities that aligned with my goals.
On January 1, I deleted TikTok and Instagram from my phone. I now only access Instagram through my laptop, which has drastically reduced my usage. On days when I’m less busy; I visit Instagram maybe three times a day or less, which is a huge improvement. Eliminating the apps from your phone makes them much less appealing, so I strongly suggest this tactic if you are having trouble with excessive social media use.
The Progress So Far
Now, on January 13, I can’t say I have seen any significant improvements. Sometimes I reach for my phone to scroll. But since I’ve removed the apps that used to hook me, my phone feels... boring. When I scroll through X, I am inspired by the accomplishments of others, reminding me to focus on creating something meaningful for myself rather than wasting time.
One habit I’ve adopted to replace doomscrolling is writing—this blog is proof of that! I’ve also found renewed energy to restart my self-study in machine learning, starting with the math. I might even turn that journey into a blog series, which will help me stay consistent. Additionally, I’ve begun journaling digitally—a habit I want to maintain for the rest of my life. Journaling has helped me unload thoughts and process my feelings more clearly.
And let’s not forget about the gym! While I was already working out on a regular basis, it has become a more intentional part of my routine now that I have more free time.
Takeaway
If you’ve made it this far, I hope my story inspires you to evaluate how you consume content, especially short-form content. If you’ve noticed that your attention span isn’t where you want it to be, consider tracking your screen time and reflecting on your habits. Short-form content could be the cause of your inability to focus.
Let this be the start of your journey toward regaining control over your time and attention. You’ll be surprised by how much you can accomplish when you cut out distractions. See you in my next blog, maybe in a month!
Ian