Planning your personal curriculum: The urge to be “disgustingly overeducated”
We’ve all had that moment of realisation that we are children in an adult body. We stay on our parents’ Netflix, phone plan, and insurance for as long as possible, hoping they never notice. We still call our parents when we are sick, asking our mammy’s how to make their signature chicken noodle soup. And don’t even get me started on how you’ll slip in a “Can you call the doctor to set up an appointment for me?” when you’re on the phone to your parents. And while there will be some who are commendably independent and deserve the highest respect. Maybe for some of us, the trick is to mother your inner child.
With so much of the “brainrot epidemic” hitting our generation, a popular defence has manifested into a desire to be “disgustingly overeducated”. So with these two phrases landing on your page, how have people been balancing them? Or are we replacing one with the other?
The “brainrot epidemic” has been a slow but escalating phenomenon, specifically on TikTok or Instagram reels. With quick minute videos, it is no surprise that watching a couple of 5 minute videos sounds good on paper; however, these minutes begin to pile up, and half your day has passed. According to Oxford University Press (OUP), which awarded their “Word of the Year” as “Brainrot”, brings us back to Henry Thoreau, the first record of the word, in 1854. OUP kindly gave us a development of the definition of the word, where “Thoreau criticises society’s tendency to devalue complex ideas, or those that can be interpreted in multiple ways, in favour of simple ones, and sees this as indicative of a general decline in mental and intellectual effort” (OUP, 2024).
But as OUP not only gave us various definitions, the president Casper Grathwohl did not shy away from the fact that he stated, “I find it fascinating that the term ‘brain rot’ has been adopted by Gen Z and Gen Alpha, those communities largely responsible for the use and creation of the digital content the term refers to”. Which explains the recent “planning your personal curriculum”. So if you’re a victim of brainrot, let’s channel the urge to be “disgustingly overeducated” together.
We’ve seen countless videos circulating on the internet, where people are essentially “mothering” themselves into a wellness routine. From assigning a book a month, only buying vegetables as snacks, to watching just philosophical films. In order to combat our urge to doomscroll, we are essentially assigning ourselves homework and not keeping track of our nutrition, just as our caring mothers did.
When you look up “become disgustingly…”, the first suggested search is “overeducated”. So what do these videos typically advise? The first TikTok video seen is by a creator under the name @sedodiaries, who puts an emphasis on classic literature and reading further essays on the themes of the book. This is where the “disgusting” aspect comes in, to know more than what is necessary. In her video, she clarifies that she is “in no way an art snob” when it comes to the promotion of studying art as part of your daily routine. So if the goal is not to be a snob but still be considered “disgusting” in an exceptional way, how does one with a busy schedule achieve this?
As a young adult, your time is limited, balancing college, work, and a social life. But in these pockets of time, there are small things you can add to your routine to make yourself “disgustingly overeducated” without being a snob. And once these become beloved habits, you’ll not only start to see a change in your lifestyle but also inspire others to do the same. Let’s find strength in numbers and start to combat the “brainrot epidemic”.
First things first is fixing your sleep schedule. Unfortunately, this is when we crave “brainrot” media the most. However, waking up late is probably the reason you keep telling yourself, “you don't have time”. So getting yourself to bed by 10:30/11:00 pm and waking up around 7am leaves you plenty of time to get in a good podcast as you make your breakfast. Trading 5-minute videos for a built-up 30-minute podcast will not only counteract disordered time but will also give your brain a good exercise in the morning by absorbing information and critically thinking about this content.
To get yourself on a routine, you can start with a lighter themed podcast, such as Anything Goes by Emma Chamberlain. Emma discusses fashion, culture, and social aspects that force you to take a moment and notice the world around you. If you want to look more within, The Psychology of your 20s, hosted by Jemma Sbeg, is a great way to learn about the human experience in your 20s, through science and psychology. Ranging from culture, science, history, and philosophy. Podcasts are a great thing to listen to and enjoy while you're cooking breakfast and preparing for the day.
Carrying a book around each month, to read and annotate while you have those pockets of time. In between classes, while you are eating lunch, or on public transport. Replacing these moments where you’d usually be glued to your phone with literature is useful for improving vocabulary, focus, and critical thinking. One of the main things, socially noticeable in brainrot, is the vocabulary one uses.
But being “disgustingly overeducated” does not have to be lonely. Going out for drinks with friends on Friday night? Host a film night with pre-drinks, and pick a film that has some philosophical or moral themes. Once the film is finished and you're having drinks, the group will naturally discuss themes in the film, leaving you and your friends to spend time together, practice debating and social skills, while using critical thinking. Each week, have each person pick a film, where you perhaps change the genre of film. Becoming “disgustingly overeducated” is learning about people and cultures that make up the world, so get podcasting, reading, researching, and trust you’ll always have an answer to, “Do you know any good films?”
Writer: Sophia Arceo (@Sophiearceo)
Copyeditor: Alex Kelleher (@alex_kelleher_)
