There was a point, a couple of months ago, when I felt that social media had become a drain on my emotions. People post their opinions in a dichotomous manner, where their truth is the only truth. I tend to avoid these types of posts myself because I live in a world where I often see many shades of grey. Watching people verbally abuse each other was getting a little taxing on me...so I decided it was time for a break. I also decided to unplug from television and movies during this time...mostly because I saw all of these things as time-wasters and wondered what my life would be like with more time.
Here's what I learned...
IF I DIDN'T POST IT, DID IT REALLY HAPPEN?
The first few days weren't really all that hard, but there would be thoughts or moments that became status updates in my head. Talking to one of my best friends, I said it was like that saying..."If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" Guess what...my life still went on without posting my every waking thought to Facebook. Even now, having been back in the world of social media for the last three days, the only thing I have posted is an updated profile pic on FB and a few of the projects I completed while away have been posted on Insta.
I SHOULDN'T RELY ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR CURRENT AFFAIRS
A lot happened in our world during the month of July. I found out that I was depending on my newsfeed for updates on current affairs. This quickly became something I remedied by checking online news sources in the mornings before work. I wanted to be unplugged, not uninformed.
RELATIONSHIPS NEED TO MOVE BEYOND THE SCREEN
When a thought came to me that was clever or interesting (we all know that happens frequently), instead of posting to social media, I reached out to a family member or friend who I thought would appreciate my meanderings. I think my poor brother got the brunt of my social media hiatus (but I don't think he minded...much). We need to take a step away from the computer and reach out to connect with those we love in a real and meaningful way. My family and friends don't live nearby, so I sent a text, or picked up the phone. One of the most valuable lessons I learned.
I SPEND TOO MUCH TIME WASTING TIME
This was the most easily recognized lesson. I deep cleaned my apartment (shampooed carpets, wiped down baseboards, etc.), finished some projects I had wanted to do for a while, and read nine books! For the first two weeks, I went through a rather real Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) period, but then once I realized that life goes on...I really focused on living and not worrying about capturing every moment for the masses.
So...you may be asking...WHAT NOW?
So glad you asked...I have decided to not download the Facebook app back to my phone. I'll check it on my computer at home, but otherwise, I refuse to fall back into the routine of checking FB every ten to fifteen minutes to see who liked or commented on my insignificant (or even significant) moments.
I have also created a list of things I think are important to do every day (make sure the apartment is clean, read for at least an hour, workout) that all have to be done before I watch any type of television.
You may be wondering how I plan on keeping this up...how will I stay accountable? I learned, through this last month, that I am stronger than I give myself credit for...so I am going to do the best I can...understanding there will be days that aren't that great...but now that I realize I am beyond the need for approval...I guess it doesn't really matter.
FAVORITE LESSON: I am only accountable to me!
