Thinking in Metaphors: How I designed a visual exercise
One element I feel doesn't get enough attention is visual metaphors.
There's something about them that captures the essence of a message in a way words alone can't. They can paint a vivid scene, simplify a complex concept, and even inspire action.
PUTTING IT TO WORK:
We've all read stories about how too much media consumption can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Whether you believe in it or not, it is a big topic today (without even mentioning AI and what it means for our future).
As somebody who loves metaphors, I had an aha moment when I came across the metaphor referring to our regular media consumption as a "media diet".
Everybody knows what diet means as much as we know how media is so ingrained in our lives today. So putting the two together is no guesswork.
It's a flawless metaphor in my opinion. It latches onto our existing schema about food:
Like food, media is something we consume daily.
Like food, we can choose what media to consume and what not to.
Like food, we don't use all our waking hours consuming media. We also need to work, sleep, socialize, and do other human things.
And so a visual metaphorical thinking exercise was born:
This is where mindfulness begins. Sure, there are apps that help us track our media use but this visual representation creates an immediate visceral understanding in a way apps can't.
It's intuitive and forces us to think a certain way.
The goal here is not to force yourself to stop consuming certain content, but to be aware of where you spend your attention and brainpower.
As a result, it gives a sense of control instead of letting the algorithms sweep you up in addictive patterns of rabbit hole scrolling and clicking.
I use this on days when I feel so much happening in my life is influenced by my media use.
Like a decision I made based on a blog post.
Or how I feel based on what I saw on YouTube.
Or the buyer's remorse I got for something I didn't need but purchased anyway because hey, 60% off.
It lets me step back and ask myself:
If media has the power to shape how I think and feel, which among these options are good for me?
Also knowing that I only have limited time every day forces me to reflect on my consumption and make mindful choices.