I’ve participated in social media fasts before, and I found them to be really helpful. At the time, it allowed me to focus on some important things without distraction. It was amazing how much I felt aware of myself and the world around me. I’ve also been trying to cut down how and when I use my phone as a crutch or distraction.
So between Christmas and New Year’s I decided to give myself a little respite from social media and connectedness and put away my phone. I would take the opportunity to be present with the people I was with (thinking back I wonder if anyone even noticed?) But the plan was to take myself off Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, other people’s blogs and my blog for ten days. I would only look at my email twice a day in the morning and in the evening. I would text only when necessary and not feel like I have to respond immediately if someone texted me.
I just wanted a little space. My track record wasn’t perfect over the ten days but overall I wasn’t feeling that drawn to my phone.
And that’s because of The Goldfinch a book I received as a Christmas gift. I haven’t really lost myself in a good chunk of fiction in awhile (and by the way I loved it). And once I started, it was very difficult for me to stop. I spent all day plotting. How am I going to get back to my book?
I guess I’m not one for moderation.
So the book is the new phone? Not sure that’s going to catch on.
Basically I cut out my phone habit only to replace it with an 800 page novel that I finished in four days. But this is where I’m cutting myself some slack.
My phone is a true habit. Sometimes I pick it up to check the weather or do something specific and before I even realize what’s happening I’m checking Facebook. It’s like the split second after I enter my password my brain goes on autopilot and the muscle memory in my thumb takes me directly to social media. And then when nothing has changed since it’s only been a matter of minutes since my last check, I put my phone down and only then realize that’s not why I picked up my phone in the first place. That is pure habit.
But reading. Reading is my first true love. Reading is my passion. For my whole life, for as long as I can remember, I’ve had my face buried in a book. Fiction, non-fiction, biography – I love them all. I’ve always been drawn to stories. For me reading is being immersed in another person’s world. Watching them struggle and prevail. Traveling through time and across the globe. Learning new things. Seeing things differently. While that might be a little escapist, it’s not a habit. It’s just who I am.
So I put down my phone and got to be my bookworm self for a few days. Totally worth it.
It took me about eight minutes to catch up on ten days of Facebook. Just sayin.
Of course the other downside to putting down my phone is that I have exactly one picture from Christmas (see above). I didn’t even think to use my actual camera.
If I didn’t capture it on my phone, did it really happen?
Yes, it did. It did indeed.
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