The 8-hour identity crisis we're all ignoring

Last week, I realized something uncomfortable:

I spend roughly 8 hours a day staring at screens.

Some days I wish it were lower. Other days, I'm genuinely happy with how I spent that time.

Because through this journey I’ve learned something important:

Not all screen time is created equal.

What Kind of Digital Identity Are You Creating?

The average adult now spends over 8 hours a day on screens: computers, phones, tablets, TVs.

That’s a third of your waking life in a world that barely existed a few decades ago.

We talk a lot about screen time limits, digital detoxes, and finding ‘balance.’ But we’re missing a deeper question:

What kind of person are you becoming during those 8 hours?

Because it’s not just time passing.

It’s identity forming.

Same Time. Different Identity.

Let’s look at two people spending the same 8 hours on screens, but with drastically different outcomes.

Version A

• 2 hrs: Mindless scrolling through social feeds

• 1.5 hrs: Jumping between 15+ tabs, finishing nothing

• 2 hrs: Reacting to notifications as they pop up

• 1 hr: Getting pulled into online arguments over nothing

• 1.5 hrs: Watching “educational” videos they’ll never apply

🔻 Outcome: Drained. Scattered. Slightly ashamed.

Version B

• 3 hrs: Deep, focused work on meaningful goals

• 1 hr: Intentional learning

• 2 hrs: Real connection with colleagues, family, etc…

• 1 hr: Creating: writing, building, sharing ideas

• 1 hr: Strategic consumption tied to a goal or project

🔺 Outcome: Energized. Focused. Proud of what they’ve accomplished.

→ Same 8 hours. Completely different digital identities.

Version A builds a person who is reactive and overwhelmed.
Version B builds a person who is intentional and aligned.

And here’s the uncomfortable truth: Your digital identity is your real identity.

Of course, we all swing between these two versions. No one is perfectly intentional every day.

But the version you reinforce more often becomes your default. That’s the version that shapes your digital ID.

The Digital Check-In

Here’s a simple set of questions you can ask yourself before opening your laptop or unlocking your phone:

These 4 questions can help you shift from autopilot to intentional.

Make It Count

You're not just spending time online. You're training your mind. Reinforcing habits. Shaping a digital legacy.

So ask yourself:

If someone could only see your screen time breakdown,
what kind of person would they say you are?

I will leave you with this quote:

Make it count.

See you next week,
George