I Forgot How to Spell 'Souvenirs' and It Broke Something in Me
A small moment that made me realize how much I've outsourced to autocorrect, and what I'm doing to take it back.
Are we all forgetting how to spell?
The other day, I was texting a friend who is currently vacationing in Sri Lanka. I wanted to tell her to bring back "souvenirs," but I completely froze. I had no idea how to spell it. Honestly, I still can’t remember.
There was a time when I would memorize—or as we say in Indian slang, muggofy—every spelling. But ever since smart keyboards entered my life, I’ve stopped even trying. What is happening to my brain? I wasn’t a child prodigy, but I was always a hardworking kid. Learning new things, memorizing answers, and mastering spellings gave me a real dopamine kick. Now, I struggle to read a single paragraph without getting distracted.
I get it. Technology has evolved alongside us. But we had tech back then, too. Computers were fascinating, and don’t even get me started on the early craze of Facebook. Typing out each letter carefully and hearing that notification chime felt like winning tickets to Coachella.
And now? I can’t even text a friend without relying on tech. Tools are constantly working in the background, completing my thoughts, fixing my grammar, or suggesting ways to polish my writing. And it feels free. I don’t have to pay my keyboard or Gemini a dime.
But is it really free? Or am I paying with my own intelligence?
When I stopped to think about it, I realized I’ve gradually let my brain go soft. I don’t think deeply anymore. I lack concentration (which my keyboard just autocompleted), and the moment I pick up a task, I lose interest (autocorrect saved me on that spelling, too).
So, I’ve decided to make two practical changes. They sound simple, but they’re going to take a lot of willpower. The goal is to bring back the version of myself who loved learning—not for grades or social validation, but just for the joy of it.
1. Reading for Pleasure
I recently read that reading for pleasure has dropped significantly over the last two decades. People might argue we read less now because we have smartphones for instant information, and that’s fair. But reading a book uses brain muscles that quick web searches just don’t touch. Lately, I catch myself skimming through text or copying and pasting chats without really digesting them.
Even worse, reading has become performative. I see so many people carrying books at airports (including me), but rarely see anyone actually reading them. Reading isn’t just a way to cut down screen time; it’s a workout for the brain. Starting today, I’m committing to reading just 10 pages a day. It doesn’t have to be a book—a Substack post, a Medium article, or a short essay works, too. And if something piques my interest, I’ll dive deeper into it until I’m satisfied.
2. Setting Fixed Social Media Hours
If I can schedule breakfast, lunch, and dinner, why can’t I schedule my social media time? It’s meant to be entertainment. To be honest, I’m not an influencer, and I’m not making money off Instagram or YouTube. I’m just a consumer. Yet lately, I open these apps as if I run Meta, and it’s draining my mental energy. No wonder I often feel lazy, brain-fogged, and tired; I spend half my day lying down scrolling through Instagram, learning nothing.
Starting small with these two habits is enough for now. I know I’ll go through withdrawals. Quitting endless scrolling feels a lot like breaking an addiction. But hopefully, the next time someone asks me to bring back souvenirs (yes, autocorrect helped again), I’ll not only know how to spell it, but I’ll also know exactly what to buy because I actually read about it.