Since I have been back on social media, I have noticed many changes in my routine. Last week, I interacted more with my family. Even the first day I was back to the Pinterest world, I was more disconnected with those around me. Only did I recognize the strength of this disconnection when I returned to social media. I had grown used to the idea of being aware of those around me, but it was almost too easy to revert back to my old habits. As a result, I have resolved to use social media for its original purpose; therefore, I will try to only access social media in a way that does not distract from the moment.
This challenge has been good for me. I have enjoyed taking a social media fast in order to experience the joy of simply living. I was able to attend an event without worrying about taking a perfect picture for Instagram or for my Snapchat story.
On a similar note, the first Instagram post I made after this challenge was complete was a "Senior Sunday" post. I found myself checking my notifications every thirty seconds to see if any one new liked my post yet.
"Isn't this exact behavior the reason I did that challenge?" I asked myself.
"Why, it is indeed!" I responded.
What was the point of this whole challenge? If I only don't care about my social media for a week, what good does it do?
I would like to encourage everyone, myself included, to take this journey to the next level. No, I'm not going to completely fast from social media again for at least a little while, but that doesn't mean I can't live out the purpose of this challenge.
When I make a post, I will try to not worry about how many likes it gets. I won't stress myself over taking an amazing selfie to share with my friends. My identity is not found in social media. Your identity is not found in social media.
Take a deep breath. It's okay to have a less than perfect Snapchat story, or even not have one at all. Just relax and have fun with it. Use it to deepen your existing relationships. Social media can be fun when used correctly. It is unfortunate that so many people choose to use it incorrectly these days.
What are some ways you will experience life rather than your what social media tells you is life? Leave a comment to share your thoughts.
If you have enjoyed learning more about how the internet is affecting its users or have further questions, check out these links! :)
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/306868/
This article was written in order to bring to light the problem our culture faces with the internet. The author argues that reading is declining in popularity.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2008/feb/07/internet.literacy
This article gives the counterargument to the previous article. Very interesting read.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/05/style/modern-love-my-so-called-instagram-life.html
This article inspired me to check how my social media life differs from my "real" life. It is very inspiring and hits close to home to others who face similar problems.
With a JSTOR account and a free, easy download, you can read these articles, as well.
http://ezproxy.missouriwestern.edu:2100/stable/10.7249/j.ctt4cgd90.15?
This is insightful to how other countries are affected by the internet.
http://ezproxy.missouriwestern.edu:2100/stable/j.ctt1qnw88r.8?
This work offers insight into how prevalent social media has become in the world and how it will continue to persist as the younger generations continue to use this form of communication.
I read each of these before I began work on my blog, and they have been very beneficial throughout this entire journey.
That sure was a fun ride! I am very glad I had the opportunity to cut social media out of my life this past week. I hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did.
One thing I noticed is that I have been in a more positive and productive mood. Those of you who have followed my posts from the beginning have seen a lot of what I've accomplished and the adventures I've had (this blog being an adventure itself). The biggest achievement of this week would be that I was able to carve for myself an identity exclusive of my social media accounts. We as a society put too much effort into making our Instagram accounts "perfect."
Time is an important aspect of our lives. Without time, we could not exist. We desire more of it, but we waste so much on social media. Since I started this challenge, I noticed I wasted less time on meaningless activities. The bulk of my time was spent with friends and family, and I completed several important tasks.
I got the chance to catch up on my reading. Books take us on adventures we could never encounter in this world. They help us escape and put our minds at peace. If all our time was wasted on social media, we would never experience the magic of reading a novel.
In a previous post, I listed five replacements to social media. I'm going to provide five more because I can. :)
1. Clean/organize. When you have an extra ten or fifteen minutes, you can spend your time tidying up your desk or reorganizing your sock drawer.
2. Play with a pet. This is a great way to relieve stress. Plus, it's good for your pet (chances are he'll sleep better, too!).
3. Start a journal. As someone who loves to write, a journal (or any piece of paper) is a staple in my life. You don't have to carry around a notebook everywhere you go, but it's nice to put your thoughts on paper, even if it's just on a napkin.
4. Watch a sunset/sunrise. Or any part of creation, for that matter. As cliche as this may sound, nature is beautiful. We as humans are amazed by nature and science. Sunsets and sunrises exist for our enjoyment.
5. Exercise or play a sport. I personally do not do much of this, but I probably should. A lot of my friends like playing sports and jogging laps at a gym.
Can you think of other ways to spend your time that don't revolve around your screen? Comment below! :):)
I can hardly believe this is my final day without social media. It sure has been an adventure! Today has been full of excitement with a lot of family in town. When we all get together, our time is more enjoyable without social media being at the center of conversation. I wasn't distracted by Instagram or Snapchat notifications and was able to simply appreciate their company.
The funny thing about life is that an adventure can happen without going anywhere. Celebrating my cousin's graduation today can be considered an adventure. Cleaning your house can be an adventure, as well as shopping for a Christmas present or even simply picking up a book.
We as humans always dream about going on adventures to far away places, but we miss the adventures we encounter every day.
Disney Pixar's movie Up is a great example of adventure. Ellie always wanted to go to Paradise Falls, but she was never able to. However, she never felt adventure-deprived. She wrote as a final note to her husband, "Thanks for the adventure-now go have a new one!"
I am going to provide a list of five adventures I've had this week.
1. Baking cookies. I made a double batch to bring to my friends. Baking is always an adventure because you have to be prepared for the unexpected. You could forget to set the timer and the cookies could burn, or you could add a cup of salt instead of sugar. (No, I didn't do this, but I know people who have. We bakers must be careful.)
2. Math class. Oh, my math class is always an adventure, especially as we prepare for finals next week. As we review, we've run into many problems we have been unable to solve as a group, but we manage to figure them out in the end.
3. Cotillion meeting. As I mentioned in a previous post, I had the honor of attending an event to be recognized for achievement with many other young people in the community. This was definitely an adventure as I got to meet new people and enjoy their company.
4. My family. All week, my family has been going on an adventure together. I would like to call this adventure life. Whatever happens, through all the ups and downs, the good days and the bad, we are in it together. I am so grateful to be able to say that my family members are my adventure companions, especially as many extended family members have been in town.
5. Giving up social media. Boy, has this been an adventure. I am very glad I went through this adventure, and I appreciate all the support from friends and family. I believe this adventure has truly brought be closer to them and given me a deeper appreciation of life.
These five things (especially the last one) would not have been as exciting with social media. I was able to enjoy the moments for what they were rather than worrying about what to post on my Snapchat story. Life is beautiful, and social media can distract from that beauty.
What are some adventures you've had? Share your thoughts below. :)
Wow, I can hardly believe it's already been six days since I started my social media fast! Today was rather productive. I went to the gas station, I helped my mom pick out a graduation gift for my cousin, I made supper, I got to hold a little baby, and I played with my dog. The last two of that list (baby and dog) have caused me to think about the importance of life. The world is an amazing place filled with beautiful things. Babies only care about receiving love. They know little about the social media community, yet they don't miss it. Animals, too, do not have access to social media, and they often seem to be more content with their lives than we are.
What about the people who lived before social media was invented? They didn't sit around all day hoping someone would like their photo. They spent their free time with their family and friends. I read in my psychology textbook that depression is now more of an issue than ever before. Many psychologists believe this to be a result of a disconnection with family and friends that didn't exist before. I believe that disconnection to be a result of social media.
As I mentioned in previous posts, I have noticed myself spending more time my family since I gave up social media. The little things around me have become the things that are most important. A rose in your own backyard may be overlooked, but it can brighten your day when you allow for the beauty of creation to leave you in awe. Living life to the fullest entails that you appreciate what some take for granted.
How are you going to live today to the fullest extent? Comment below to share your ideas!
Since I have been back on social media, I have noticed many changes in my routine. Last week, I interacted more with my family. Even the first day I was back to the Pinterest world, I was more disconnected with those around me. Only did I recognize the strength of this disconnection when I returned to social media. I had grown used to the idea of being aware of those around me, but it was almost too easy to revert back to my old habits. As a result, I have resolved to use social media for its original purpose; therefore, I will try to only access social media in a way that does not distract from the moment. 
