Tune Out & Turn On
Well, what do you know? It turns out, that tuning out of social media has made an impression on me. Almost suddenly I became conscious of my own thoughts. (Conscious being the key word there.) I’ve had plenty of time to think my own thoughts, and have new ideas, now that I’m not spending more time on Facebook and Instagram then I prefer to admit.
It turns out boredom is important. I was picking up my phone and mindlessly scrolling social media the second I felt bored. Its easier for me to be disciplined when I remove temptation. So the first thing I did was delete my FB and Instagram phone apps. That made a big difference. Now, I had to go in the house to my office and get on my computer if I wanted to engage. I soon found that when I had to sit with my thoughts, with nothing pressing to do, and nothing distracting my mind, creative thoughts started to envelop my mind. After a few days of creative thoughts I took action. It took a few days because I was wondering what would I do with what I create? Why bother if there isn’t a future for it? But it got to the point where the creative energy needed release. So here I am.
I’ve started creating again. I’m using photos I’ve taken with my phone and coupling them with quotes, inspirations, and mantras, and printing cards from them. I’ve had some ideas about what I will do with them. Could I monetize them. I have an entrepreneurial spirit, left over from my professional photographer career. Whenever I get a creative idea, whether it’s baking bread, making cookies, or painting stick figure chickens, whatever it is, I start to consider how I would market and sell my creations.
But the thing is, I don’t need to. I’m not sure I want to. I’m not sure I don’t want to. And that’s okay. I’m giving myself permission to follow the path wherever it leads. Without expectation of some type of commercial reward. The reward is in the creating. (As I type that, my thoughts are rebelling and whispering; “You’ll think of something to do with it.” ) I hear those thoughts. Loud and clear. I will use my power of mindfulness to continue on this path and not let that distraction trip me up, or stop me from creating even though it’s for no foreseeable reason.
I know myself well enough to know this could be a phase, and I could jump right back on the algorithm train any minute. After two weeks of absolutely no social media, I now give myself 10 minutes a week, usually on Friday, to log onto FB. There are some redeeming qualities of social media that I enjoy. Which is, seeing what family and friends near and far are up to. 10 minutes a week seems to be the right amount of time to enjoy and comment on their posts, without giving into the bait of a pop up FB knows I’d be interested in.
It was last November when I wrote the previous post on this blog about whether FB was “junk food for the brain”. It took 5 months but I belatedly reduced my social media intake 2.5 weeks ago. I’m finally posting on my blog. Writing instead of scrolling. Not only this blog post. I’ve been writing every morning. It’s taken the place of scrolling time, while I’m enjoying my coffee. I’m writing just for me. Again, no pressure or expectations. No one else has to read it for me to be a writer.
I see the irony of writing a blog and at the same time saying limit online social media. They aren’t the same thing. I will use social media to link to the blog, and for staying connected with family and friends. But I’m committed to not mindlessly scroll. I’ll use it with purpose, and as a tool.
So the answer to my last post is yes. Not all, but much of FB was junk food for my brain. Finding balance is key. I couldn’t have found it without going off entirely, and giving myself time to recognize what I was, and wasn’t getting from it. With that I’ve created a new normal that includes creativity for creative sake.