How I Cut Screentime by 27% in a Week: Dogs, Pottery & Meal Prep Wins
Welcome to this week’s lifestyle recap! I managed to pull off something miraculous — my screentime dropped by 27%. That’s right, I touched grass, played with dogs, threw (and trimmed) clay, and meal-prepped like a boss. Let’s break it down day by day.
Sunday: Dog Walk Gone Wrong, Screentime Gone High
The week kicked off with a squirrel-led disaster. Goose and I were mid-walk when a rogue squirrel darted across the path like it was auditioning for Fast & Furious: Woodland Drift. One enthusiastic leash yank later, I had a sprained pinky and a 3-hour stay in urgent care.
Here’s the real kicker: I didn’t know what to do with myself in the waiting room without scrolling. It hit me how often I default to screen time in public — in lines, in lobbies, at crosswalks, wherever. No wonder my average screentime was sky-high.
🕒 Screentime: 6 hours and 26 minutes (ouch).
💡 Wake-up call: I needed to find screen-free things to do while waiting around.
✅ Action: I made a list of non-scrolling activities to try in public — journaling, sketching, reading physical books, and yes, people-watching without judgment.
🔗 Here’s my list of non-scrolling ideas for public downtime
Monday: Meal Prep Magic & My Domestic Era
Enter meal prep mode. I started freezing food in sous vide-ready portions, which felt like unlocking a futuristic domestic cheat code. My leftovers are lasting longer, I’m wasting less, and for the first time in months, I didn’t order takeout by Thursday. See my meal prep tips here.
Tuesday: Biking, Freezing, and Tacos
I braved the cold for a bike ride to Gravelly Point Park with my boyfriend. We had the whole park to ourselves to watch planes land, and then biked home to — wait for it — taco night. Past Me really came through with that meal prep.
Wednesday: Clay Chaos at Pottery Class
It was pottery night. My pinky wasn’t throw ready, so I focused on trimming. I practiced trimming oil cruets using a chuck for the first time. The results? Wobbly. Unhinged. Absolutely orbital. But they made it out minimally harmed. Let’s hope they survive the kiln!
Want to start pottery too? I share tips for beginners here.
Thursday: Dog Training Trials
Dog training class! Goose was a very good boy — except for enthusiastically launching himself at strangers like he's crowd-surfing at a concert. He’s working on it. We love a king who’s trying.
Friday: Cozy Movie Night Vibes
It rained. It was cold. And we were soaked from our evening walk. So, naturally, it was time for a cozy movie night. We curled up with Land of the Lost and a giant bowl of popcorn. Not cinema greatness, but absolute hygge vibes.
Saturday: Farmer’s Market Wins
Saturday was for the farmer’s market. I grabbed a breakfast sandwich and a coffee; Goose made out with a pup cup, chicken treats, and a cookie. We’ve now entered our “farmer’s market duo” era.
The Verdict: A 27% Screentime Glow-Up
Here’s the chart: screentime down and to the right, just how we like it. YouTube still claimed top app honors, but most of it was hobby research and blog inspo. Sure, there was some scrolling — but less of it.
Key Wins:
Screentime down 27%
More time outdoors and offline
Tried new hobbies (pottery, meal prep)
This isn’t a sprint, it’s a scroll-free marathon. Onward!
