“Social media is an amazing tool, but it’s really the face-to-face interaction that makes a long-term impact.” ~ Felicia Day
As a writer and budding entrepreneur it is hard to dislodge yourself from the world of social media. I even wrote an article and post month ago about what a great and much needed marketing tool it is. Agents and publishers put stock and value in followers and your presence on social media. Many employers stalk the pages to gage your personality as well as what you put out there to the rest of the cyber world.
As much as I hate to admit it, it is a necessity. Over the past few years, I have many a time debated deleting Facebook. Up until recently, I didn’t use Twitter unless it was to do snarky commentary on sporting events. Even now, I admit, that the sync button connecting, Instagram, WordPress, Facebook, and Twitter, (amongst other sites) makes the use of all the accounts much easier. I hit post on one account, and like waving a magic wand, it appears across the internet sphere. It is truly magical and a quick fix, considering if it wasn’t set up like this, I would need my own social media secretary to handle all these sites.
As a whole, social media can sucker you into its vortex and refuse to let you out until hours later when your eyes are blood shot and you have lost all feeling in your derriere from sitting to much.
It is why every year in September, and some times in the spring, I do a detox. I suspend my Facebook account. I post less on Instagram. I don’t even blog as much. Some times it is just a week. Other times it is longer.
The drama of social media melts away. I find, I have a ton more time. Instead of surfing Facebook or Instagram on my morning commute, I read a book, challenge myself to learn something new. Heck sometimes I even start a conversation with a stranger.
I become more PRESENT.
I have more clarity as I start new classes and summer gives way to fall.
It isn’t that I hate social media. It has its benefits which extend beyond business and marketing. As someone who has friends and family from all over, it makes it much easier to stay virtually connected. Let’s be honest. A like on Instagram or comment on Facebook is much easier then sending a text or a phone call. Yet this detox forces me to interact with them in different ways. Better ways. On a more personal level. In a world where we are always connected to an electronic device, I think that is incredibly important. It is one of the reasons why I never installed the Facebook Messenger. I felt it was one more way to virtually distance yourself from physical relationships.
So I start September with my annual detox. It isn’t to become a hermit, or diss social media. But to create balance. To connect a little bit more. Regain clarity that loses itself in the bullshit. To be present in a reality that is real and not virtual. Because when we are real, when we are connected, that is when we are our most authentic and everyone wants to be a part of that.
Do you ever detox from social media?
As a writer and budding entrepreneur it is hard to dislodge yourself from the world of social media. I even wrote an article and post month ago about what a great and much needed marketing tool it is. Agents and publishers put stock and value in followers and your presence on social media. Many employers stalk the pages to gage your personality as well as what you put out there to the rest of the cyber world.
As much as I hate to admit it, it is a necessity. Over the past few years, I have many a time debated deleting Facebook. Up until recently, I didn’t use Twitter unless it was to do snarky commentary on sporting events. Even now, I admit, that the sync button connecting, Instagram, WordPress, Facebook, and Twitter, (amongst other sites) makes the use of all the accounts much easier. I hit post on one account, and like waving a magic wand, it appears across the internet sphere. It is truly magical and a quick fix, considering if it wasn’t set up like this, I would need my own social media secretary to handle all these sites.
As a whole, social media can sucker you into its vortex and refuse to let you out until hours later when your eyes are blood shot and you have lost all feeling in your derriere from sitting to much.
It is why every year in September, and some times in the spring, I do a detox. I suspend my Facebook account. I post less on Instagram. I don’t even blog as much. Some times it is just a week. Other times it is longer.
The drama of social media melts away. I find, I have a ton more time. Instead of surfing Facebook or Instagram on my morning commute, I read a book, challenge myself to learn something new. Heck sometimes I even start a conversation with a stranger.
I become more PRESENT.
I have more clarity as I start new classes and summer gives way to fall.
It isn’t that I hate social media. It has its benefits which extend beyond business and marketing. As someone who has friends and family from all over, it makes it much easier to stay virtually connected. Let’s be honest. A like on Instagram or comment on Facebook is much easier then sending a text or a phone call. Yet this detox forces me to interact with them in different ways. Better ways. On a more personal level. In a world where we are always connected to an electronic device, I think that is incredibly important. It is one of the reasons why I never installed the Facebook Messenger. I felt it was one more way to virtually distance yourself from physical relationships.
So I start September with my annual detox. It isn’t to become a hermit, or diss social media. But to create balance. To connect a little bit more. Regain clarity that loses itself in the bullshit. To be present in a reality that is real and not virtual. Because when we are real, when we are connected, that is when we are our most authentic and everyone wants to be a part of that.
Do you ever detox from social media?
