The Endless Scroll That Felt Harmless
At 20 years old, Sharon never saw herself as unproductive. She was in her second year of university, juggling classes, group projects, and her social life like any other student. But behind the scenes, she was stuck in a cycle — one that had slowly crept into her everyday routine without her even noticing.
It started innocently. A few minutes on TikTok in the morning while lying in bed. A scroll or two between lectures. A “quick check” after dinner that sometimes turned into three hours of mindless swiping. The For You page always had something interesting, funny, or trending. Before she knew it, TikTok wasn’t just an app on her phone. It was a habit, then a dependency. And eventually, a distraction so loud it drowned her goals.
“I Thought I Had Time”
Sharon had dreams. She wanted to be a freelance graphic designer. She’d always been creative — from doodling in notebooks as a kid to making birthday cards for her friends in high school. In her first year at university, she’d even tried learning Canva. But something was always “in the way.”
“I told myself I’ll start seriously learning design when I get free time,” Sharon said. “But the truth is, I was wasting hours every single day. I just didn’t want to admit it.”
She thought she had time. But in reality, social media was stealing it in small, quiet chunks. What made it worse was the emotional impact. After a while, TikTok wasn’t just wasting time — it was messing with her mindset.
“I started comparing myself to everyone. Girls my age were buying cars, starting businesses, or doing aesthetics in Paris. Meanwhile, I couldn’t even finish my assignments on time.”
Breaking Point
Things came to a head one night in her hostel room. Sharon had a deadline the next morning for a group project. Her groupmates had already done their parts and sent them to her to compile. She promised to finish it by 10 p.m.
Instead, she watched TikTok for nearly four hours straight.
“By the time I looked up, it was 1:30 a.m. I panicked. I hadn’t even opened the document.”
She scrambled through the night and sent in a rushed, error-filled submission at 5:00 a.m. The group leader was furious. Her grades were affected. But worse than the marks was the guilt — the feeling that she wasn’t living up to her potential.
“I realized I wasn’t just wasting time. I was betraying my own goals.”
A Tiny Spark
Ironically, the first step toward her transformation also came from TikTok.
“I watched this video of a girl talking about a dopamine detox. She said, ‘You don’t need to quit forever, just take a break long enough to remember what peace feels like.’ That line stuck with me.”
Sharon didn’t go on a full digital cleanse. But she deleted TikTok the next morning and told herself she would try seven days without it. No pressure, just an experiment.
The first two days were miserable.
“I kept reaching for my phone every 10 minutes. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I felt bored, restless, even anxious.”
But by Day 3, something clicked.
“I was sitting on my bed, and for once, there was silence. No noise. No flashing videos. Just space. That’s when I opened my laptop and Googled ‘free design courses for beginners.’”
The Shift Begins
Sharon signed up for two free resources:
- A Canva crash course on YouTube
- A Coursera course on graphic design fundamentals
“I only watched 15 minutes that first day. But when I was done, I felt proud. Like I’d done something for myself.”
Every day that week, she replaced scrolling with learning. It wasn’t always easy. There were times she craved the quick entertainment of TikTok. But the wins were beginning to add up.
- She created her first social media post design.
- She joined a WhatsApp group for beginner creatives.
- She redesigned a poster for a friend’s church event — for free.
“I wasn’t earning money yet, but I was gaining confidence. That felt better than any video I could’ve watched.”
Growth, One Win at a Time
The more Sharon practiced, the more she realized that creativity without distraction is powerful. In her third month off TikTok, she created a basic portfolio using Canva and Google Drive. Nothing fancy — just five designs with short notes explaining her thought process.
One day, a fellow student asked if she could design a flyer for a local bakery that was launching in town. It was her first paid gig.
“They paid me 2,500 shillings. I know that’s not a lot to some people, but for me, it was huge. I finally felt like I had started something real.”
After that, referrals started trickling in. Slowly, but surely.
- A logo for a student podcast.
- Instagram highlight covers for a fashion page.
- A birthday invitation for someone’s kid.
All done while keeping up with school. All because she took her time back.
Mindset Shifts That Made the Difference
Looking back, Sharon doesn’t hate social media. She’s even re-downloaded TikTok — but this time with rules.
“I only go on it after I’ve completed my tasks for the day. It’s no longer my escape. It’s just a tool.”
Here are three powerful mindset shifts she now lives by:
-
“Boredom isn’t bad — it’s space to create.”
The silence she once hated is now where her best ideas come from. -
“One hour a day can change everything.”
Just one hour of focused learning every day helped her build a skill that now earns her money. -
“Discipline feels better than regret.”
On tough days, she reminds herself how it felt to let herself down. That memory keeps her going.
CONCLUSION: Your Scroll Doesn’t Define You
Sharon’s story is not about quitting everything cold turkey. It’s about making a decision. A small one. One that says: “I want better, and I’ll start now — even if it’s uncomfortable.”
Today, Sharon’s still learning. Still growing. Her portfolio is expanding, and she’s saving up to buy a tablet for more advanced design work. But more importantly, she’s proud of the direction she’s taking.
You don’t have to cut off your apps forever. But you do have to ask yourself:
“Is this helping me grow, or keeping me stuck?”
💬 Final Thought from Sharon
“You don’t need 10 hours a day to grow. Just protect one hour. Turn it into something you’ll thank yourself for.”
Ready to Build Your Own Shift?
If you’re tired of watching others live their best lives while you scroll through yours, it’s time to shift.
Explore beginner courses on Shiftshub.com to start your journey today.