Tales of my Social Media Fast

About a week ago I returned from a 5 day long Social Media fast. I decided to turn off the computer, delete the apps from my phone, and totally unplug from Facebook, InstaGram, Vine, Twitter, and all the rest. It was not an easy thing to do, over the past several years I've built the habit of checking all of those outlets almost obsessively, to the point that I would frequently get comments like, "wow you're always on Facebook", or my wife and I would oft times sit on the couch both too engrossed in "being social" to actually socialize with each other. Then sitting in the living room of my mentor as he read a slam poem about Social Media and its effect on our modern lives, I realized that I was guilty of showing my son my face lit by that tiny screen more than lit with a smile at his youth and exuberance.

I knew that it was time to make a change, that I needed to step back, so upon the suggestion of that same mentor I embarked on this 5 day journey.

At first, I felt lonely, cut-off from the world and lost, like I didn't know what was happening in life. I struggled with not typing "www.facebook.com" in the address bar of my browser at work. I would pick up my phone, intending to check out all the newest tweets, and realize that I wasn't doing that this week. It slowly dawned on me that in my effort to be "social" I was only substituting digital socialization for real interaction.

Day 2 & 3 it got progressively easier to not check my social media outlets, and the feeling of being alone in the darkness began to recede, and instead of focusing on what I was not able to do, I found myself with more time. More time to talk to others, to build new relationships, and even establish some new ones. I found that by focusing on not being socially connected at all times, I was able to connect more deeply with those that I socialize with.

Day 4 & 5 with my eyes open, I started to notice those around me and their addictions to the virtual world. I noticed that like babies they couldn't go very long without a suckle on the virtual teat. I noticed the couples sitting at lunch, not talking to each other but both feverishly punching away on tiny buttons on a device to connect with others, all the while missing the connection right in front of them. I noticed the parents tripping over there children as they pounded out a text. The co-workers out to dinner that barely said three words to each other, but seemed to be having a delightful time with their iPads.

They say that America is where dreams are made, this used to mean that you could come here, work hard, grow an amazing family, have some great friends and live a good life. Today it seems to mean owning the newest device from Apple and having the most friends on Facebook. For me stepping back for a few days and really examining what part of my life Social Media occupies, and being able to lift my eyes from my phone screen to actually look at the world around me was an incredible experience. While I am now back on Social media, you will find my posts more infrequent, my responses not as quick, and when I'm with my family at home, that special time I have to spend with my lovely wife and incredible son, you'll probably find my phone turned off, in another room.

I want my son to be able to describe my face, not the back of my phone. I want my wife to remember the sweetness that I whisper to her, not that I post on her wall. I want my friends to remember my vibrant laugh and loyal nature, not how many mayorships I have on 4Square.

I encourage all of you, take the time out of your life, take a fast from Social Media, take some time out t out to build your relationships with your non-virtual "friends", take a moment to enjoy the things that you really "like", and "share" time with loved ones.

Learning to Unplug in the Modern Era.

You've probably already realized this as you read this electronic Blog post, but we are in the "information era", and technology is everywhere. The human race is capable of accomplishing more today than we ever have been in our history. The cell phones that we carry in our pockets today have more computing power than NASA did when they sent astronauts to the moon. While this allows us to accomplish more in our daily lives we are also so inundated with technology that sometimes it's hard to unplug. If technology has taken over your life, make sure that you are taking a few moments each day to unplug, and find moments that allow you to have "quiet time", time without having to worry about the next e-mail, or status update. There are a few simple ways to work in some "mental health moments" into your daily life.

Take Time to Collect Your Thoughts:

If you’re serious about becoming a wealthy, powerful, sophisticated, healthy, influential, cultured and unique individual, keep a journal.” -Jim Rohn

Taking the time to keep a journal, which I learned the art of from my mentor Jim Rohn, can be a integral part of maintaining a healthy mindset. One of the best ways to organize the sometimes fractured and chaotic thoughts in your head can be putting them on paper to allow you the time to sort them out. Writing your journal can become a healthy and relaxing habit to add into your daily life.

Reexamine Your Technology Habits:



 One of the most important aspects of introducing a little bit of mental clarity into your daily life is stepping away from your technology. When you step away, take some time to make a genuine and honest evaluation of your use of that technology. Honesty with yourself is key here, fudging something is going to hurt no one but yourself. Evaluate your habits with technology and determine whether or not you NEED to spend the amount of time with technology that you are, or if it simply has become a habit. Brainstorm on ways to increase your productivity  could you be getting more done in less time? Do you NEED to check your Facebook, or can you shut it down at the end of the day? Are emails that come in after business hours important, or could they be handled in the morning? These are questions that only you can answer.

Get in Touch With Your REAL Interests:

As you are taking your time away from your technology, in addition to examining your patterns, decide what is most important in your life and commit more time to those activities. Consider taking a vacation, this doesn't have to even be a physical vacation where you leave town, but simply a vacation from your technology. Turning off all of your devices for the weekend can be an amazingly freeing experience. Most of all though concentrate on revitalizing and rejuvenating yourself in what ever manner is most productive for you.

"Men cannot see their reflection in running water, but only in still water. Only that which is itself still can still the seekers of stillness. . . . If water derives lucidity from stillness, how much more the faculties of the mind? The mind of the sage, being in repose, becomes the mirror of the universe."Chuang Tzu


"To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders." Lao Tzu


Technology isn't going anywhere, so to avoid burning out it is vital that you put into motion a plan to balance your technology usage with mental health and sanity time. While productivity is the most frequent argument against spending time away from technology the plain and simple truth is that if you do not take care of yourself, you won't be able to take care of your responsibilities.

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