It's been a week since I began my Facebook fast by deactivating and deleting Facebook for a period of no less than 30 days and I have to admit that it has been every bit as difficult as I thought it was going to be. I have wondered what I'm missing out on, felt "out of the loop", a little depressed and in the most dramatic moments, a bit like Tom Hanks in Castaway :-).
I have thought about and wondered what the friends that I don't keep in contact with through other means are up to. Did their kids say anything funny? What about the little girl and boy that I follow that are waiting for heart transplants - are they still waiting?
And then there are those times throughout the day when I have even a momentary lull in my schedule that I think about and realize that that simple but tempting little blue icon with the white "f" in it is no longer there to entertain me. I don't have time to spend consecutive hours on Facebook - this meme that my sister in-law sent me kind of sums up my habit best.
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| Image source: brobible.com |
Before beginning the fast, I had to be clear about my why. My reasons were really very simple - I felt that I was just using Facebook too much. While I enjoyed keeping in touch with family and friends, I realized that scrolling through newsfeeds aimlessly was precious time spent that resulted in nothing but significant time wasted. I watched a movie a few years ago called In Time where the ultimate currency was time. I thought it was a brilliant concept and want to "spend" my time wisely.
While my Facebook sessions could and sometimes did positively affect my mood, I found that other times I didn't feel great after I logged out. Huffpost's Kick Your Facebook Habit in 7 Steps states that "the longer you are on it (Facebook), the worse you may feel. We log in to make a social connection, and yet research is finding that our passive news feed browsing leads to increased feelings of loneliness, envy, and overall unhappiness."
Despite the struggle, I am already able to identify in one week that I am more present and available. My mind is quieter and not constantly seeking that source of instant gratification or entertainment. I have found other things to do in those moments of free time that I have, things that will bring me closer to accomplishing my goals.
I think it's great that most of my friends and and family use Facebook responsibly and casually for both social and business purposes. A Facebook fast isn't necessary or beneficial for everyone but I really felt that it would be a beneficial experience for me. One day at a time but so far it's accomplishing its intended purposes.
"Time is a coin that you can spend only once, use it, invest it and make it count." iliketoquote.com
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