Month: November 2025

Consider, for a second, the value of forcible constraint: the weight of the absent “e” in Georges Perec’s lipogram A Void, or the mysterious vividness of the paper cutouts Henri Matisse made when illness prevented him from painting. Forcible constraint may not be pleasant, but the perspectives it encourages are otherwise unreachable. For example, a concussion in May left me, until quite recently, with several deficiencies of the eye. Unable to read or use screens without difficulty, it was a struggle to learn how to “re-percieve”-to shift away from my primary means of grounding myself in this world. At the same time, I am fascinated by the opportunity I’ve had to picture without seeing, to visualize without my vision, and to lean into the spaces that have opened up when others have closed. While not exactly an enjoyable situation, novelty creates beauty in its own way, and there are several ways to engage with it. In my case, the constraint I was given was darkness. And so, having been dealt my cards, I began to play and to explore. Here are some ways to consume and produce media that don’t rely on the eyes -1. PodcastsPerhaps the most obvious, podcasts have become a go-to; I’ve explored everything from science Q&As to fantasy football analysis with fascination. Interaction may be scarce in isolation, but this medium allows you to enter the headspace of conversation-an extrovert’s fuel or an introvert’s fantasy. Given the reliability of their release, podcasts are a schedulable break from thought, and having regular entertainment to look forward to is a relief, a blessing.(Examples: Dear Hank and John, The Fantasy Footballers, The Penguin Podcast)2. Text-To-Speech and Speech-To-TextOf course, there is much you do that does not revolve around entertainment. There are still essays to turn in, emails and messages to send, and questions to be answered. For assignments that involve writing, I recommend using speech-to-text tools such as voice typing on Google Docs; though some proofreading may be necessary, any way to get thoughts onto the page is effective enough. A screen reader, in turn, can be used to navigate written language, bringing the text to robotic life, or even to complete other class assignments, such as readings. To engage with your phone, make use of your favorite digital assistant wherever possible if you’re trying to avoid screentime, or even if you’re just multitasking. They’ll generously read your notifications, answer texts and emails, make calls, check the weather, and do more than I could’ve possibly known.(Examples: NVDA, Apple’s VoiceOver, the Notes app)3. Voice NotesThe desire for artistic expression does not stop when your eyes are inhibited, and so, consider voice notes as an alternative method for capturing thoughts. While the aforementioned speech-to-text and text-to-speech work well enough for analytical and assignment purposes, they don’t do creativity the same justice. It seems, after all, that these tools don’t share my love for (or understanding of) excessive use of the em dash, semicolon, and ellipses. If you’re a writer, voice notes offer a space to capture and hold onto the emotion of your words and the layers of your thoughts, or, if you’re stuck, a space to rant and brainstorm. It’s useful to listen back to old moments, the same way you might re-read past journal entries or other work. If you’re a musician, I imagine you’ve grown used to voice memos, but they continue to be useful. Record your voice, instrument, and ideas, saving them, perhaps, for a day when you have more energy. If you’re a visual artist and unable to engage with your work, consider voice notes to be your sketch-before-the-sketch, an opportunity to plan out a piece, however possible. Visualize what you can and say it, capturing detail for now with diction rather than with color.(Examples: Voice Memos, Easy Voice Recorder)4. The RadioAs rare as it may be nowadays to tune into FM radio when not in the car, there is a remarkable flexibility to the radio, a currently underrated method of media consumption. While Spotify may give you the option to choose your music, radio-also available on your phone-offers a roulette of stations, a rare variety which brings more excitement and meaning to the songs you love. The banter of a DJ, or the assorted conversations of other radio hosts, is valuable now; any mention of current events is a tether to reality, a reminder of the outside world and the role you play in it. In addition to music, explore other stations such as news, comedy, sports, and more to extend your tether. Reminders of the passage of time in the real world are your guidance through difficulty-a reminder that, with time, things heal. And it’s always nice to know more about the world.(Examples: Hits 1, NPR’s Fresh Air, Laugh Out Loud)Lastly, if/when you feel limited by yourself, do not stop. If you are ill or injured, trust yourself to recover, and in general, make use of not just tools, but also situations. While knowing that for some time the world will be what it will be, take action; push out against the walls that enclose you. Carve scripture into and sculpture out of this concrete, clawing yourself out of this prison and leaving a trail of unimaginable beauty as you escape into relief. And take some deep breaths. It helps.(Honorable Mentions: Audiobooks, Lecture Recordings, Audio Texting, Ambient Noise).