What app eats up most of your screen time — and do you even feel bad about it?

My Screen Time Report Needs to Mind Its Own Business

Every now and then my phone has the audacity to send me one of those little notifications that says:

“Your screen time was up this week.”

Excuse me? First of all… who asked you?

Second of all… why are you judging me?

Do I know what app eats up the most of my screen time?

ALL OF THEM.

Every. Single. One.

Travel apps. Shopping apps. Boutique apps. Designer apps. Airline apps. Hotel apps. Jewelry apps. Shoe apps. Purse apps. Sunglasses apps. If it can help me plan an adventure or convince me I absolutely need another pair of shoes… congratulations, you’ve earned yourself a front-row seat on my home screen.

Listen… I have priorities.

Some people doomscroll.

I dream-scroll.

There’s a difference.

I’m not wasting time. I’m researching. Very expensive research.

One minute I’m comparing flights.

The next minute I’m looking at boutique hotels.

Five minutes later I’m trying to decide if I really need another purse.

The answer is…

…probably not.

But Spirit Water whispers, “Girl… imagine that purse in Santorini.”

And suddenly we’re checking out.

Spirit Water is absolutely no help whatsoever.

Matter of fact, I think Spirit Water has my passwords.

I go to sleep, wake up the next morning, and somehow there are seventeen tabs open with dresses, shoes, jewelry, swimsuits, luggage, oversized sunglasses, and a hotel overlooking crystal-blue water.

I’m convinced Spirit Water works the night shift while I’m asleep.

She’s over there saying, “Christy… this outfit would look fabulous stepping off a plane.”

Then…

“This one would be perfect walking onto a cruise ship.”

“Ooooo… this one screams sipping wine in Italy.”

“And don’t forget Hawaii.”

She’s exhausting.

But she’s usually right.

When we travel, we don’t just throw random clothes into a suitcase.

Oh no.

This is a production.

Every outfit has a purpose.

Airport outfit.

Cruise embarkation outfit.

Pool outfit.

Dinner outfit.

Excursion outfit.

“What if we accidentally meet celebrities?” outfit.

“What if somebody takes our picture?” outfit.

“What if there’s a sunset?” outfit.

There are outfits for events that don’t even exist.

Meanwhile my phone is over there waving a little digital finger saying…

“You’ve spent 9 hours shopping.”

No…

I’ve spent 9 hours preparing for memories.

There’s a difference.

Because here’s the thing…

I’ve got a bucket list that’s longer than my Amazon wish list… and that’s saying something.

I want to see the world.

Walk the streets of Paris.

Drink wine in Italy.

Stand on the beaches of Greece.

Watch the sunrise from a balcony somewhere tropical.

Run with the bulls in Spain.

And yes…

Climb into a shark cage while a gorgeous great white swims by looking at me like I’m the appetizer.

If that’s how I leave this world…

Well…

Heavens to Betsy Ross in the Revolutionary War…

At least I’ll have fabulous sunglasses on.

I’m a Scorpio.

I’ve always been drawn to water.

The ocean calms me.

The river feels like home.

The beach resets my soul.

Adventure fills my heart.

So if my screen time is full of travel apps and shopping apps, I honestly don’t feel guilty about it.

Because eventually…

The phone gets put away.

The boarding pass gets scanned.

The suitcase gets rolled.

The memories begin.

And that’s the whole point.

Life wasn’t meant to be measured by screen-time reports.

It was meant to be measured by passport stamps, sunsets, laughter, adventures, stories, and maybe one slightly overpacked suitcase.

So no…

I don’t feel bad about my screen time.

I feel bad for the people who don’t have a bucket list.

Now if you’ll excuse me…

Spirit Water just found another pair of shoes that apparently are “absolutely essential” for a trip I haven’t even booked yet.

And honestly…

She’s probably right.

Carpe Diem… because memories last a whole lot longer than your battery percentage.