What I learnt while on this self inflicted ban is that Facebook, twitter, what'sapp, we chat and emails are sometimes a major hindrance to living in the real world and that I place too much importance on what's happening in cyberspace instead of what's happening around me in the real world.
Years and years ago I did Johnny Clegg's PR and I spent a lot of time with him. I remember him telling me that every day for two hours he switches his cell phone off. He would go to gym, read, relax, veg out and just have 'him' time. At the time I thought what a techno peasant! Who would choose to disconnect when there's so much happening around them. But lately I've realised that's exactly the problem. There's too much happening around me. Us. It's information overload. All the time.
It's reading tweets from people living the perfect 'social platform life'. It's statuses showing perfect families and perfect worlds. And when your life's not feeling all that perfect it gets a little overwhelming. A little claustrophobic. A little yuck!
So I chose not to buy a data bundle for my phone. I couldn't go on twitter or Facebook. I couldn't scroll through Pinterest because I was 'bored'. I couldn't download emails and then panic because I hadn't responded to someone. The only time I 'connected' would be if I was on my laptop and even then I gave myself a time limit.
And in all honesty it's the best thing I've done for myself in a long time. A subconscious stress lifted. One I didn't even realise was there. For a week I didn't feel the urge to respond to a tweet or weigh in on someone else's argument. I didn't feel as though my life was less than because of someone else's portrayed one.
Because I had no access to any of these platforms I spent more time WITH Emma and Ben. I wasn't only physically there, I was completely there. I wasn't tweeting about our moments together because I was living them. Loving them.
So moving forward every now and then you might get a 'please call me' or a refreshing silence because I haven't bought airtime or data bundles.
Not a week goes by that I don't have an overwhelming urge to unplug.
ReplyDeleteNot a week goes by that I don't have an overwhelming urge to unplug.
ReplyDeleteI love doing this. I'm too focused on my phone when I'm with Kade and I worry that I'm sending him the wrong message, that my phone and the life inside it is more than him...
ReplyDeletexxx
I've also unplugged for the most part, I'm not quite sure if I want to ever get back into it like I used to be. Loved this post.
ReplyDeleteI have not quite all social media, but I did find that quitting Twitter was the most freeing feeling, it put too much pressure on me and made me judge myself and others all the time, stopped me from thinking for myself, I always had to know what everyone else thought about something, it was just too much noise in my head. It is more peaceful for me without it.
ReplyDeleteI hear you and commend you! I try to put my phone away at night and log off even if it's just for a little while. My biggest problem with the world of social media is the need to be perfect because there are the Little Miss Judgers...
ReplyDeleteA little unplugging can go a long way.
ReplyDeleteI'm in need of one, that's for sure!