Logging out

In today's blog, I want to share a personal experiment I've been trying since I returned from my summer break – taking regular breaks from social media.

It's been a bit of an eye-opening journey, and I thought it might help a few of my readers who perhaps feel their use of social media is not as healthy as it could be if I shared my experience.

So here it is:-

**Getting Real with "Doomscrolling": The Starting Point**

As someone who's been no stranger to endless scrolling, I reached a point where I felt I needed to recalibrate my digital habits. I realised how easily hours could slip away while I mindlessly swiped through my feeds, reading content that ultimately wound me up and added little value to my life. So and I decided it was time to regain control over my time and attention.

**The Digital Detox Approach: Weeks 1, 2 and 3**

With this intention in mind, I started with a simple strategy – two days each week (Saturday and Sunday), I would log out of my social media apps and avoid any social media engagement and, on the other days, nothing after 6 pm.

During the first week, I observed how often I reached for my phone on the days I was supposed to be off social and realised just how ingrained this habit had become. It was like breaking an addiction.

In the second week, something interesting happened. As I consciously detached from social media, I found myself reconnecting with activities I'd neglected – reading, sorting little jobs in the house, and spending quality time with actual people. The extra space in my day and week, previously consumed by endless scrolling, allowed me to engage more deeply with life offline.

By the third week, I was on a roll. I started to leave my phone in the house, even when I was allowed to be online and guess what I missed? Nothing!

I realised I do not need to respond to messages and emails instantly or be on call 24/7, and the universe does not implode if I am more than 6 feet away from my phone. This felt very liberating indeed.

**The Gift of Presence: Rediscovering Genuine Connections**

One of the most significant shifts I noticed was my interactions with people. During my days off social media, I felt more present in conversations, genuinely engaged in the moment. I rediscovered the joy of face-to-face interactions and the authenticity that comes with them. These connections felt richer and more fulfilling than any virtual exchange.

**Unearthing Personal Growth: Time for Me**

With a couple of social media-free days in my week, I suddenly had more time on my hands. This newfound time was an opportunity to invest in personal growth. I did a lot more reading and exercise, and I finally picked up the guitar I'd been meaning to practice and really got into it. I can now play four Oasis songs, and they sound great. My singing, not so much.

**Clarity Amidst the Noise: Mental Space**

A surprising benefit emerged as I distanced myself from the digital buzz – mental clarity. Without the constant stream of information, my mind felt quieter, allowing me to reflect more deeply and make decisions with greater clarity. This space for contemplation was something I hadn't anticipated, and it was genuinely refreshing.

**Embracing the Joy of Disconnecting: FOMO to JOMO**

My battle with the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) gradually transformed into a celebration of the Joy of Missing Out (JOMO). Rather than anxiously keeping up with every online update, I began to cherish the moments of real connection, personal growth, and mindful living that my digital breaks afforded me.

**Stepping Back, Stepping Forward: A Fresh Perspective**

As I reentered the digital realm after each break, I became more mindful of what I engaged with. I was no longer mindlessly scrolling; I was purposefully choosing content that resonated with my values and interests.

This newfound perspective brought a sense of intentionality to my online presence. I unfollowed a lot of pages, came out of groups, silenced some people and replaced them with pages that help me grow, groups that I can learn from, and now only follow people who post content that makes me feel good.

And my guitar playing, which had previously been confined to "when I had time on a weekend, " has become a 20-minute daily practice.

**Closing Thoughts: The Journey Continues**

These past three weeks have taught me that intentionally disconnecting from social media isn't about missing out; it's about gaining so much more. It's about reclaiming time, fostering genuine connections, nurturing personal growth, and finding mental clarity amidst the digital noise.

I intend to continue this experiment and maybe even add another social media-free day midweek to see how it continues shaping my relationship with technology and the world around me.

**Little Warning**

If you have a go at this, be aware, like me, you might find yourself feeling somewhat pissed off with yourself for all the time you used to waste online, but this is no time to "look back in anger," simply "Roll with it" follow "The Masterplan," and feel "Supersonic."

LOL, See what I did there?

Right, I am off for a bit of a strum.

Take Care

GB