My Phone-Friend or Foe

8/22/23-This past Friday I watched a documentary on Netflix called The Social Project. Without getting too detailed the documentary talks about the physical and phycological effects social media has on a human.

The next morning, with some hesitation-I'll admit, I deleted the Instagram, Words with Friends, and Facebook apps off my phone. I also stopped notifications from my Gmail account. I felt a little anxious and alone at first. Then I looked around my home—really looked—and thought, Hmm, I think I’ll dust and vacuum. It was a task I’d been putting off for weeks.

Throughout the day I found myself checking my phone and then remembering there was nothing to check. I felt free and in control of my own day, my own time. Later that night I watch a movie. I wasn't scrolling through Facebook while the movie was playing in the background. I actually engaged and focused on the world in front of my face. My phone became what it first started out as, a telephone.

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Sunday morning I took a walk with my husband in our woods. It's fall and the leaves are just starting to peak. I regretted not bringing my camera but it seamed unnecessary since photos weren't being taken to share on my media sights.

That is when I decided just to take it in with my eyes and save it to my own memory bank inside my head.

It was well into the late morning on Monday when I thought to check my Facebook page. There was nothing pressing on the feed that didn't wait for me.

Tuesday I deleted my LinkedIn page.

One less thing I have to check.

One less request I have to confirm

One less thing I feel I should "like"

One less message I have to answer.

I feel more at peace. I feel more present and in control with my time and my thoughts. Although it is the world we live in and being a business owner, social media sights are undeniably important; it just feels great having some control over it.

Post Update: I've reinstalled Facebook and Instagram on my phone for business reasons, but I still feel good about having reduced most of my distracting apps. I'm a work in progress!