'Dear readers, I have been detoxing from social media for the past few months. To my surprise, I feel fine.'
Social media is an enormous part of my life. I have become accustomed to checking social media platforms as soon as I wake up, just like other people do. Reading posts, scrolling through newsfeeds, and watching stories were staples of my daily routine. It was getting monotonous because I realized that I was spending more time online than offline, and the tasks I needed to do were slipping through my fingers, and I was running behind. Especially now, when we are dealing with this pandemic and can't go outside, it made me unproductive. At first, I planned to cut back on social media usage until I decided on a short break. It became obvious to me that I needed to completely unplug from social media since my dependence had gotten worse.
Distracted: The word best describes how I felt!
Initially, I thought it would be tough. But it was less difficult than I anticipated. I never knew I could go through my entire day without opening a social media application. I didn't realize that I had not opened any apps due to being busy living in the moment. Just in case you are wondering how to stop using social media but aren't sure how to, keep reading. Here are my observations and mood swings:
Alright, so I confess, committing to this challenge wasn't easy. But on this specific morning, I didn't even look at my phone and began brewing coffee right away. Though, I find myself checking my phone constantly to see if there are any notifications. In response, I removed most of the apps I hadn't seen in a while. I have pinned apps like Facebook and Instagram to the back of my device, so they are no longer visible. Besides, I turned off all notifications. This way, if I reached that spot while mindlessly pushing my thumb, I wouldn't see the apps there anymore. I then listened to podcasts that day. It's my favorite... but I neglect it constantly.
Lessons I Learned: Know what your priorities are right now, concentrate on those, and make the most of each day. Minimize. Eliminate. Reduce. Prioritize.
Instead of scrolling for hours, I woke up early and worked out. Workouts are my thing. But, I get off track often. To my surprise, I did it for 5 consecutive days. As a result of working out, I realized I had a cheerful mood for the day and more energy. Separating myself from social media has improved my quality of life, and I intend to keep it up.
Lessons I Learned: Some people enjoy driving slowly, while others prefer to speed by. Focus only on the road. Don't compare yourself to others. We all have different destinations.
I discovered a new hobby on this day. To emulate my favorite celebrity, I decided to paint. His art inspires me a lot. I was unable to create anything visually pleasing at the beginning, however. Still, I tried. Eventually, I fell in love. Later that day, as the sun was setting, I went online. Most noteworthy of all, I used it for only an hour and wasn't mindlessly surfing the internet. Instead, I watched TED videos.
Lessons I learned: Be calm when learning new things, keep going regardless of obstacles.
I have already gotten used to not having access to social media. Rather than checking notifications periodically, I focus on my daily tasks instead. Since then, my life has been almost solitary. I meditate, write a daily journal, do my work, take pictures of things that inspire me, read books, eat, and watch television. It was great to be able to watch local dramas with my parents on TV now.
Lessons I Learned: Happiness does not come from the results but the process.
I have met my classmate. We talked and ate together. Social media can never substitute real-life conversations. I didn't even take a picture. I felt like it was already out. I am no longer distracted when I sit down in my working space. Consequently, I am more productive. My work ethic doesn't allow me to pause mid-task to shift to another task.
Lessons I Learned: Less FOMO. Lots of energy. An overall balanced life.
Overall, it helped me regain my confidence. With social media detox, I don't have to worry about maintaining society's "standards" or living in constant fear of being unworthy. This experience has had a life-changing impact on me. It's something I ought to do more frequently.
I want you to scrutinize your social media usage this week. Think about your own experience with social media. Is it a satisfying experience or an unpleasant experience? Love the blog? Leave me a comment!
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Making one impossible possible transformed my life, it was a journey that helped me grow as a person.
