24 Reasons to Take a Social Media Break
1 – 24: You get 24 hours of your life, mind, and emotions back!
This weekend I made the commitment to my wonder women friends (a.k.a. mastermind group) that from now until Easter I was going to take a weekly 24-hour break from social media. I also agreed to a penalty/punishment if I didn’t stick to my commitment. It was my thoughts from my last blog post that inspired this. I don’t know about you, but my nervous system can’t handle all the bad news 24/7. I need to find ways to recharge, this is how I am attempting to recharge
I started my first 24-hour break at 9pm last night when I deleted the Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram apps from my phone. Isn’t ironic that I post to my social media profiles while talking about taking a break from social media? Now I’ve got the Alanis Morrissette song in my head. Speaking of that have you heard her new version of Ironic?
Here’s how my day went…
9pm-10pm: Texted a friend who isn’t on social media just to say hi and let them know I was thinking about them. Purged my closet, got rid of most of my shoes (11 pairs!) per the recommendation of my podiatrist and my wife (a story for another day).
10pm – 6am: Slept for 8 luxurious hours. No waking up in the middle of the night and checking my phone.
This morning, I enjoyed my morning coffee, watched the birds (got a visit from a Northern Flicker), and cleaned up my backyard. Then I listened to, and almost finished two audiobooks (yay! my book club won’t kick me out now). I went grocery shopping, prepared meals for the next few days, did laundry, went to the store and bought one practical, fashionable (according to one of my cool daughters) pair of shoes that I will wear on most days. I have got to take better care of these almost 50 year old feet that have struggled their whole lives.
While out, I got my phone screen cover protector replaced. I’ve been looking through a cracked one for months. My brand new (overpriced) phone looked old and broken. (By the way, the glass phone screen covers are cheaper at the kiosk than the Apple store and I don’t care if Apples are “better” quality because mine broke the first week I had it.) Now my overpriced phone looks new again.
I sat in a cool cafe and slowly enjoyed a latte while spacing out and people watching (not looking at my phone, as I usually would.)
I came home and cleaned the house.
I intentionally communicated directly (one on one) with four different friends today! I wrote a birthday card to another. I paid bills, took a walk and visited with my cool neighbors for a few hours and enjoyed the amazing view of Mt. Tam from their home.
And, their creative dining room table decorations.
Now I am here writing this on the 23rd hour while listening to a French Cafe playlist on Spotify.
Today was a very good day.
I look forward to my next 24 hour sabbatical from social media.
When was the last time you took a break from social media?
One more ironic thing… if I don’t share this on social media, nobody is going to read it. I will wait to share until 9pm when my break is over.
Good night.
Enjoyed the social media break and my part in it :°)
Thank you! <3