Reflections on being social media free
There’s more to it than just deleting apps off my phone!
So, it’s almost two weeks into my social media fast. And I love it! Here are some things that have changed…
- I don’t scroll for “2 minutes” which then turns into an hour. Instead, I do something I actually want or need to do such as read a book, I talk to someone, or I go to sleep!
- I am reading a lot. I’ve always been a reader, but I am making more time for non-fiction reading which I didn’t before. (More on what I’ve been reading in a bit).
- I am thinking more deeply about some things that I really need to think about because I am much less distracted.
- I like to think I am living more present and available in general.
- I am writing more. Ok, this one I am really still working on! I have writing projects of different kinds in my mind, carving out the time to write productively and meaningfully has been tough, but it certainly is a goal of this time and one that I wasn’t even remotely close to before because of wasted time and fractured thinking.
- My children have noticed. I asked them if they have noticed that I haven’t been on my phone as much. “Yes” Wow, ok! What have I been doing instead? “Reading. And we noticed you deleted YouTube off your phone!”
I’m sure there are other benefits that will unfold as I reflect more and as time passes. I’ll keep you updated!
The book I am reading currently is called Deep Work: Rules for focused success in a distracted world. by Cal Newport. It is challenging, fascinating and incredibly helpful to read in this particular time for me. I can highly recommend it if you’re feeling unfulfilled in what you’re doing, and perhaps you need to reflect on some of the ways that you’re living life. He focuses a lot on productivity in the workplace, but I believe it’s applicable through all aspects of life.
Deep work: Professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit. These efforts create new value, improve your skill, and are hard to replicate.
On the same lines, I can recommend the work of John Mark Comer who wrote a book called The ruthless elimination of hurry: How to stay emotionally healthy and spiritually alive in the chaos of the modern world. He has also spoken on this topic a lot, here is a link to a talk of his. (Yes, a social media link! No scrolling was undertaken in this process!)
I also want to share this short interview between Happily Family and Rachel Macy Stafford on bringing balance to parenting, all around trying to eliminate distraction and engage in real connection.
I think we can all agree, something has to change. The world is not getting any slower. But we can make decisions to help us slow down in it, and enjoy it. We can’t change everything at once, but perhaps we can change just one thing. Mine has been stopping social media (perhaps forever, watch this space), what could yours be?
