My experience giving up social media for lent.
Social media is a great way of sharing our lives with one another but when does it become too much? This is the question I pondered on, especially after watching Social Dilemma. A must see film to understand the affect these apps can have on us.
What did my experience entail?
- 40 days & 40 nights with no Facebook or Instagram
- Drawing closer to God
- Becoming more present
- No interacting or keeping up with others (as easily)
- No fear of missing out
- No playing the comparison game
I realized how much time is spent thinking about posts – everything from captions, filters, etc. I tend to overthink which makes this process 10x longer than it should be! It’s also so easy to mindlessly consume – falling into a social media spiral of scrolling.
Without these distractions, I became aware of how much more present I could be in social settings. When around others, if someone grabbed their phone to capture a photo to post – it wouldn’t bother me. It just made me more mindful of the impact these devices have on our natural actions. I often witnessed scrolling taking place instead of engaging in conversation. I’ve always been a fan of putting cell phones in the middle of the table at dinner. Highly recommend trying this!
No social media pushed me to connect with others through more traditional ways – I caught up with friends and family offline!
I didn’t compare my life to anyone else’s, just lived it!
As I rejoin the social network, I yearn to limit my time or take periodic breaks. It’s good to disconnect at times. This time away from all the noise allowed me to reconnect to my purpose and Creator.
I feel refreshed and refocused as I press forward to what’s next.
Key Takeaways:
- Take time to detox your mind, body & spirit
- Out of site, out of mind
Running to the Stars 