Reels 2 Real originated from a personal commitment for Lent: a forty-day break from social networking. I initially viewed it as a simple experiment to see if I could live without Instagram, but the trial proved far more demanding than anticipated. The constant urge to refresh my feed, respond to dings, and scroll through videos during study time was a wake-up call. This struggle revealed a deep-seated dependency that had been quietly draining my productivity.

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I soon found my break from this through my sport, rowing. I used my time on the water and on the machines to reconnect with myself, and what I am capable of outside of my screen. I used every practice to focus on improvement and development in the sport, rather than just watching everyone else be successful online.

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Once I broke free, my focus and efficiency soared, I was able to improve my sports and studies.  This sparked a realization that many others my age are likely trapped in the same digital loop. This epiphany inspired the creation of Reels 2 Real, an initiative dedicated to empowering young people to reclaim their time from addictive platforms. We are on a mission to help Gen Z clear the digital fog so they can step into their potential as the next generation of innovators and leaders. Let us start focused.