Well, I am about to do a “Thing”. I am going to remove myself from Social Media starting today through the end of June. I’ll be back on July 1. That is actually about a week I believe. And when I say social media, I am specifically referring to Facebook, Instant Messenger, Instagram, and Twitter. Those are mainly the ones I’ve been using. Honestly rarely on Twitter. I’m going to see if I miss it or if my mood improves.
I will remain on WordPress (blog) and YouTube (vlog and watching others videos as I know they bring me joy). Any posting from the blog or YouTube that automatically posts to Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts will continue to do so – as that is something that is set up to occur for me and that will continue.
Why am I removing myself from Social Media for a week?
Well, for several reasons, but primarily there are TWO main reasons.
- I suspect that social media is the main culprit in altering my mood and my mindset, which I am set out to change.
- I could really use some more productive time toward my own agendas and to do’s.
So to break some of that down……
Is Social Media a Mood Altering Source?
I suspect so. I have been feeling an array of emotions lately and I suspect that most of them are related to things I’ve seen or read on Facebook and other social media sites. I believe that is where most of my negative energy is coming from of late. And energy, positive or negative, transfers into others. You are what you read, you are who you hang out with, you are what you fill your mind with.
The COVID-19, the racial ________ (I don’t even know what to call it so I’ll let you fill in the blank), the political fiascos. All of these things have now all melted into one – it’s all viewed in a political light and has become very confusing to know who to trust, who to believe, and what the facts are. Then on top of that, add in all the Know It All factors (I call them KIA’s) into that and their quickness to attack and step on their fellow human kind as if they were dirty trash on a sidewalk. I’m just not ok with that. I have been so mad coming off of facebook lately, thinking how rude people are. I’ve been sad, that our human race is actually like this. I think how disappointed God must be with the likes of peoples actions, words, twisting. It’s horrifying. And it makes me sad knowing people are so full of hate and for what reason? How sad to have missed out on a life of love. They do not have love. They do not have God, most certainly. They follow the Prince of this World. And we all know what will happen to this world, if you believe The Book.
While Instagram is mainly a positive experience for me with lovely pics and a bit of humor, I still will refrain from spending time there over the next week – from a time standpoint.
There are some other factors that have played into my mood of late, but unfortunately can’t really shed those factors out as easily. There are just a few you come in contact with that well, you’d rather not, as they are judgmental or in some way make you feel inadequate, or just in general make you feel bad or not worthy. And Lord have mercy none of us need that right now. But some things in life you just can’t shed so easily. So you learn to cope, ignore, park it, forget it.
I also want to enjoy having my own ideas and not filled with the ideas that others are trying to cast upon me. I don’t want to be filled with hate, judgment, and people’s views on this or that. Quite frankly, I want my head to focus on everything and anything OTHER than COVID-19, racism, violence, hate, differences of opinion. I don’t want to put my thoughts on there and have it be attacked. They are my thoughts -“just go away – you go post on your page” and “give it up I’m not changing my opinion so just go away”! I want to just flick them off with a finger. And I can. I am flicking them off with a button. The off button. Well sort of.
Is Social Media a Time Suck?
I think we already know the answer to that one. And I do need some more time back. I want to get into God’s word as I need God to be the center of my life and not Facebook or other Social Media accounts.
I want to work on my to do lists.
I want to do and enjoy things that make me happy.
I want to spend my time on things that give me positive energy.
I want to spend my time on people that I trust.
I want to spend time with people and things that emit joy and happiness and freedom.
Being in the Know
I do think it’s important for us to “Be in the Know”. So I have NOT eliminated the News. I have to have some connectivity to the world to be able to have some knowledge to know how to protect myself on a daily basis. I mean if there is riot in a certain area of town, you need to avoid that area. If a tornado or earthquake or traffic mishaps and knowing where the crime is and if our president is still alive and all that kind of thing. And when the dust storm is coming! So I’m not eliminating the news from my experiment either.
I Will Let You Know How it Goes
I’ll let you know in a week or so how it goes. I do plan on getting on Facebook, my main Social Media source, and letting everyone know that I will be gone as there is a certain expectation we have of one another now to see our posts and comments within a day or two, particular instant messenger. But IM, once a quick convenient messaging service, is now filled with various videos with everyone’s agendas for or against their views.
I’ve been angry, sad, depressed overall this past few weeks. I am turning my focus to other things over the next week. So let’s see how it goes. Will I be happier? Will I get more done? I am hoping for a better and more loving attitude, getting more reading done, more time with God, less fear over the state of our _____(everything) and a cleaner house!
It makes my day when I hear from you…