I took a little break from social media for the past week and a half. I’m no stranger to leaving my blog along for a week or two (or three or four)…but social media is a different story, and while it was tough at first, I actually found it refreshing in the end! I read 5.5 books, attended the temple, did manicures with my oldest girls, kept up my running streak, pulled everything from the garden, co-hosted a fun wedding shower for my wonderful Stake RS President, had fun with my Fidus kids at school, the first of my nephews came home from his mission, and I got pedicures with a good friend because we finished the Book of Mormon before General Conference (and now we started again).
What did I learn from my little break? Here are 3 things I’ve learned:
- I learned I can become distracted no matter if I have these apps or not. I might have deleted “social media apps” such as Instagram and Facebook, but I found myself opening up the news app on my phone way more than normal! One thing I read that helps with screen times and phone addictions is to move your apps around. I found I would absently mindedly open my phone, open my social media app and try to click on an app that wasn’t even there anymore! My hope is that by moving the apps around now that I have them back will help me think twice about it before I scroll through a feed. I updated my phone this morning too – and now I can totally see and understand my screen time and setup limits! I’ve had my phone set to do-no-disturb between 3-5pm for the past couple years, which really helps me put my phone down and focus when the kids all come home from school, but I am curious to see how this new setting can help! I love that phones come with these settings now too.
Distraction can come from phones, video games, TV, even books! I tell my kids, that books are not allowed at the dinner table. I don’t mind so much during breakfast or lunch (expect when they are so busy reading they aren’t getting ready for school), but dinner is our time. Phones, and books are not allowed at the table during dinner.
2. That happiness doesn’t come from likes or hearts, but from us! Making memories, having fun and being present. Friday my husband took a set of national boards, after any 4 hour test, naturally we wanted to go out to celebrate. We invited another couple to go with us and we had SO much fun. We laughed about how horrible or service was and then I showed off my skills (or lack there of) of air hockey. I laughed so hard. We didn’t have our phones out the whole night. Date night happened and I didn’t document a single part of it! Can you believe it? I also learned a powerful lesson from one of my sisters about this too. The first of her 3 missionaries came home while she was fasting social media. I talked with her about what she was going to do – break her fast and post that he was home, or wait till she was done? This felt like a tough one. And then she pointed out to me the best thing I heard about this fast…being able to post about our missionary coming home won’t change how happy we are that he is home. Can I get an AMEN?!
3. Honestly though, I missed the good I see on social media as well. The third thing I learned is that social media can be a wonderful tool! I truly believe as a woman and mother my influence can be felt for good (or bad) in my home and on those around me. It’s my job to make sure it’s the best influence it can be! President Thomas S. Monson once said, “There is no limit to your influence for good.” That’s my goal. It’s what I always tell my kids; Look for the good, be the good. I love this article I read this morning, 7 Ways to Make Social Media a Positive Influence in Your Life. I need to use social media to share the good in the world and uplift others around me.
Did you participate in the 10 day social media fast? Have you ever done one before? I would love to hear about your experience!
