As you may know, I left social media in the summer of 2023. It’s not the only time sucker I have eliminated, but one of the major ones. Here are some things I’ve learned since leaving social media. Read through to the end because there’s a question for you. (No cheating or jumping to the end.)
I’M NOT MISSING ANYTHING. What did we do before Facebook, texting, nearly 2,000 TV channels, and smartphones? We talked to each other, wrote cards and letters, and engaged in things that caused growth. Today, the average user spends 2 1/2 hours each day on social media. That’s 912 1/2 hours — or 38 days — per year. So I stopped posting, commenting, and scrolling nearly three months ago, and it’s created an enormous margin and freed up a lot of time. You may experience some FOMO initially, but it’s like any change you make that goes away quickly.
QUIET IS HARD. You should try it sometime. Could you put your phone in another room, turn off the TV, and shut down your computer? No music or background noise, please. That’s scary, no? But we aren’t designed for a 24/7 cacophony of noise, turmoil, and commotion. Even a plane lands after flying at 30,000 feet to refuel and get a break. You can, too. As Ann Lamott says, “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”Take the challenge.
TIGHTEN YOUR CIRCLE. Communication is still important, but you can be more intentional. Jesus had 12 in his circle, but he spent most of his time with three — Peter, James, and John. That makes communication more intentional and meaningful. I’ve begun to write 10-15 cards per week. That has never happened in 64 years. Do you need to make adjustments in your circle? Read Your Fab 5.
MORE TIME IS A GOOD THING. In most cases, less is more. But when it comes to time, more is better. Some people call it margin, but it’s almost like I have more hours in the day in just a few short months. The “margin” has allowed me to read seven books in the past three months, not work on Saturday, block off Friday afternoons, plan multiple events for the fall, and even plan into 2024. By the way, my book-read total pales to Teddy Roosevelt, who is said to have read a book a day — while he was president!
If you want to change your life, you must change something you do daily. It’s the action response to the insanity rule (you know, do the same thing and expect a different result).
Would you like to create some margin in your life? Do you need some sanity?
What time suckers are stealing your happiness and productivity? What can you change — as in give up or stop — so that you can lower stress, worry, and tension? That’s the question: Peace doesn’t come without a battle. And sanity doesn’t happen without intentionality.
For me, it started with giving up social media. For you?
Pick one thing. Start there. You may find out, like I did, that you don’t miss out on anything, and you’ll have made time for important things.