Redefining My Relationship with Notifications on Medium
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Chapter 1: The Allure of Notifications
The tiny green dot that appears on a Medium page or the vibrant red and blue icons from other applications can feel like precious gems. There's a certain joy in receiving, seeing, and collecting them—they spark hope and excitement within us. However, as I find Medium notifications slipping away from my feed, I often find myself refreshing the page in futility.
This frustrating situation has prompted me to reflect: Am I writing for the applause? The claps, highlights, and comments serve as instant feedback, offering a gratifying response to my work. They encourage me to rethink my writing and incorporate what I learn into future pieces. Yet, why do I feel so unsettled when feedback doesn't come as quickly as it once did?
Is my desire for these notifications becoming my primary focus? Much like a dog eagerly chases after a thrown ball or a kitten leaps at a piece of yarn, am I simply waiting for the next notification to pop up? This behavior reminds me of the Nifflers from "Fantastic Beasts," who are obsessed with shiny objects, and the Yahoos from "Gulliver's Travels," who exhibit similar tendencies.
The disruption of notifications on Medium has prompted me to reassess my goals and priorities. It serves as a wake-up call, urging me to determine whether I'm on the right path. I've distanced myself from other social media platforms when their drawbacks became more apparent than their benefits, and this situation feels like another warning to realign my focus.
Instead of relying on external validation, I need to set expectations for myself. Each time I experience disappointment, I can revise my plans and tasks accordingly. With that in mind, I've established three primary objectives:
- Publish at least 10 posts each week.
- Write three stories weekly, each ranging from 500 to 1000 words.
- Follow a curated list of topics that pique my interest.
I plan to expand this checklist in the future, and I welcome any suggestions. Please feel free to share your thoughts on the disruption of notifications as well.
By the way, I recently reached my 100th follower, but I didn't receive any notification about it—how ironic! Thank you to everyone who has supported my writing journey!
You can explore more of my work through the following link.