From green juice fasting, goat milk cleanse, to other food and liquid cleanses, I’ve heard all the types of cleanses people do for their body. Are we doing anything for our minds though?
Social media has been such a blessing since it was introduced to my life; it has helped me stay connected with old friends, introduced me to new friends, brought Instagram dog accounts into my life, and more. But it’s also a curse: I started comparing myself to others and felt lesser about myself and my life. It took a toll on my mental health.
Additionally, it also served as a method of procrastination. I’d refresh my social media page instead of doing things of more importance, even if it’s of high priority with a time restriction. The reality was that I was in touch with internet news and other people’s lives but out of touch with my own.
A Social Experiment on Myself
Since October, I’ve been tracking the time I spent everyday on my phone through an app called Moments. According to them, the national average is 3-4 hrs; but my usage is around 7-8 hrs daily- that’s twice as much. The number was solid proof for me that I had a problem and needed to make some changes in my habit.
I’ve always hesitated to delete social media off my phone because of how big of a part of my life it has become, and I hate the feeling of being disconnected. In the back of my mind, I knew I could care less about the content I’m seeing and that it wouldn’t impact my life in any significant way; all of it is like consming junk food, empty calories. It was a mental block that was holding me back from taking the final step. Then on Black Friday, I was in a slump and didn’t care about anything. It was then that I decided to delete all social media off my phone and felt determined to detox for a week.
Here’s how I predict this upcoming week looking.
A. I spend time over-thinking and watching lots of Hulu, while feeling constant FOMO.
B. I get it together and become weirdly productive, which leads to my life improving by 1000%.
C. A mix of A and B, but with a heavier emphasis on 1.
Daily Statistics (pre-detox)
- 7-8 hrs screen time
- 40-50 (phone) pickups
My detox began on Friday night at 10PM and will last until 10PM next Friday. In this upcoming week, I’ll be keeping a journal to jot down thoughts and feelings; and next Saturday, my post will be regarding how my detox week went and if I’ve seen positive changes. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers, as I’m about to go through a very difficult time.
FOR MORE UPDATES ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA DETOX, OR FOR TICKETS TO THE JOINT EFFORT, SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW RESPECT MY REGION ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER.
