Practicing a Pause
I was in the habit of mindlessly scrolling social media. And how was that serving you, Eileen? I must admit, it hasn’t been the most constructive use of my time. My phone is typically by my side and/or within my line of sight at all times. When I awake each morning it’s the first thing I grab from the nightstand. I can easily lose half an hour skimming social media before I’ve even gotten out of bed. That’s an unscheduled time suck. Not to mention, it isn’t always full of hearts, unicorns, and rainbows.
More often than not these past few years, the world is a lot. These are turbulent times and that’s reflected in social posts and commentary. I don’t want to sound hypocritical; I know I do this every so often as well. Occasionally you come across items maybe you wish you hadn’t. I suppose how all this affects your psyche depends on how permeable your skin is. I’d recently reached a point where it had broken through that thickness, or maybe it’s the thinness, of the skin I’m in. I suppose that discernment depends on your perspective. Since I’m the only one inhabiting my body, I think I have good authority to know what my threshold is and reflect on my own experience.
What to do, what to do? I decided to embark on a social media sabbatical for a couple of weeks to detox. More specifically, I curbed my use of Facebook. I continued to occasionally check out Instagram as everything I follow there is positive and uplifting. Even the witch feeds I follow are empowering. The first several days it was challenging to cut off that desire to check in. So I removed the app from my phone’s home screen. I continued to use the messenger app as that’s how some people regularly communicate with me. I obviously took liberties with this experiment, but it was a start.
I soon ascertained I’d have to replace mindless scrolling with some healthier alternatives. I developed some strategies on the fly to combat the psychological need to check in. I started taking my dog for early morning walks. That instantly buoyed both our spirits. I binge watched some shows I’d been meaning to get to on Netflix. That’s always a guaranteed source of escapism. I organized my closet. It needed it, plus once everything was neat and tidy it helped me consider new clothing combinations. One of my favorite routine self-care activities is selecting ensembles of clothes, accessories, and shoes to wear for the day. Now I can do that more efficiently since my closet’s not impeding those efforts with disarray.
I also attempted a few more endeavors to distract myself - I cleaned up my email, listened to podcasts and played music to sing along with. Usually loudly. With and without the influence of alcohol. And not surprisingly, there were mixed results. But there was an aha moment as well. I happily discovered the best spot to catch the sunrise every morning was from the window over my kitchen sink. Clearly, hopping out of bed earlier has some perks.
But the most productive use of my attention, and thus intention, was writing. It has always helped unpack my thoughts, and in so doing, myself. The best way out is always through wrote Poet Robert Frost. I guess the modern equivalent is sit with it, sit with it, sit with it. I process best and determine the most fortuitous way to handle challenges when I turn inward.
You cannot grow by burying your head in the sand, no matter how much you may want to. Damn, it’s not good for your soul or a healthy way to lead your life. Confront yourself and you’ll grow from it, I promise. Since the new year I’ve written an average of one piece each month. Thanks to this experiment I’ve completed two writing pieces in the past two weeks. That’s called progress, kids. I’m hoping to keep up this pace.
So, what am I taking away from this temporary social media abstention? Everything works better once it’s been reset. I want to be more intentional about the things I give my limited energy and resources to. I will continue to share my heart, ideas, and my always dependable sarcastic wit because that’s who I am. But moving forward, I will be more judicious with my time. It’s important, and more impactful, that I continue to read, write, explore, and immerse myself with the world that’s right in front of me. Aimlessly meandering doesn’t serve me anymore.