My 24-hour Media Usage

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For 24 hours, my professor asked that I detail my media usage and discuss my findings. I decided to document January 9, 2024, because it was one of my most consuming media days. Below is my typical Tuesday routine:

3:00 a.m. – When I wake up, I glance at my phone to see if I have any notifications before I head to the shower or get dressed for work, to note that I need to read them during breakfast.

3:15 a.m. – I read my emails, Canvas, and GroupMe messages during breakfast. Afterward, I view my scheduling work app to remind myself when I start and end my shift for the day. When I finish scrolling through vital information, I turn to Webtoon for 20 minutes and catch up on any comic updates I couldn’t complete the night before.

3:35 a.m. – As I drive to work, I listen to Spotify, indulging in the Christian artist Phil Wickham, the “Slow Stim Music” or “Piano Favorites” playlists I created, or the German band AnnenMayKantereit. For this day, specifically, I played Phil Wickham on the way because his music always reminds me of happiness, love, and childhood. 

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When I finally arrive in the parking lot, I turn off my music, sit for a few minutes in my car, and read the Blue Letter Bible app. At the moment, I’m reading 1 Corinthians. After reading the Bible, I look at my scheduling work app again in case I misread my shift duration earlier.

4:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. – At these times, I’m working at a coffee shop where I listen to Spotify from our cafe speakers and occasionally go onto our computer to use the internet for resources related to my job. However, on my break, I will check my emails, Canvas, GroupMe messages, and Instagram to be informed about school, work, and my community.

9:10 a.m. – I again turn on Spotify as I head back home, usually listening to the “Upbeat Stim Music” playlist I created to sing out my stress, set myself into a happier mood, and free my mind from the interactions I had for the day. The playlist consists of rock, dance, electronic, and alternative/indie.

9:30 a.m. – Before I start my homework, I have a snack and relax in the living room with my mom to watch an episode of Bones on Hulu. I started rewatching the show last Summer; I’m on season nine and still haven’t gotten sick of watching it every day. 

10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – My most consistent media usage is during my study period, where I use my iPad to take notes on OneNote while I watch videos off Canvas and YouTube through my Laptop. When I need to read articles, I download them as PDFs onto my iPad through Adobe Acrobat, take notes within the document, and save them to my OneDrive. As I read, I listen to my “Piano Favorites” playlist I created on Spotify to encourage me to move forward, stay alert, and remain happily stimulated.

1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. – As I do my chores, I enjoy listening to audiobooks through Hoopla, a library streaming service. Recently, I’ve been listening to The Hunger Games, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins. The emotions I have had throughout the book have been astounding. I’m trying to finish the book before I see the new movie.

2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. – While I exercise, I listen to my Spotify playlist I created, “Storytelling.” The songs range from folk, classical, country, blues, and alternative/indie. I usually play this playlist during my writing sessions, but I love to feel inspired by new plotlines during a workout. Here is a picture of how the songs make me feel:

Photo by Sapan Patel on Unsplash

4:00 p.m. to 7:40 p.m. – Because I can’t resist, I watch another Bones episode on Hulu. I relate to Brennan’s many struggles and views of the world, and I want a similar friendship and love between Brennan and Booth. When seven hits, I turn on Disney Plus to watch Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which has been amazing so far!

8:00 p.m. to 8:40 p.m. – As I lay in bed, waiting to fall asleep, I catch up with the romance and fantasy comics I’m subscribed to on Webtoon, such as Serena by Ina, The Tyrant Wants to Be Good by Ramguel/KAKON, and I Am the Villain by Sejji.

After documenting my media usage, I’ve discovered that I listen to more music than I thought, which explains why I have over 120 created playlists on Spotify. My television usage was what I expected and disappointing. I watch too much TV, and if I shave time off Bones, I’d probably finish listening to The Hunger Games, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. 

The most credible media sources I use are Spotify and Canvas. Spotify, because they verify artists, making it easier to find the original songs. Canvas is reliable and effective in helping teach students, and as a student, I have loved the system since the beginning. I can quickly contact a professor, student, or help desk and rely on the system while taking exams.