We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on. Even during those few hours of sleep, you likely have your phone within easy reach. A small screen is the last thing you see before you go to sleep and the first thing you wake up with. Incentives are everywhere, constant. This digital addiction has taken hold of us, and many – myself included – feel an urgent need to catch their breath. Refocusing on what’s really important in a constantly online world. The digital number may be in the name of my position, but only for a week Out of network coverage Possible (especially with my best team). My goal: no Instagram and Facebook for a week.
No social media for a week
Why no social media for a week? To partially disconnect myself from the constant flow of information, so I can focus on one thing at a time. As I’ve written before, sometimes it feels like you’re stuck in the digital web of social media. This comes at the expense of communication with the real world, with the people around us and with ourselves. Don’t scroll when your mom is talking to you, have a good conversation without being interrupted by cat videos, watch a movie from start to finish, and no alarm clocks right before bed so you can sleep peacefully.
Then another crucial element: it FOMO (fear of missing out) feeling. Exposure to the most important events in other people’s lives can lead to feelings of dissatisfaction and uncertainty about our own existence. By not comparing yourself you focus more on your own life. Your highs may not be as high as others at first glance, but they are high enough if you don’t compare.
Social detox for balance
I think the lack of these constant comparisons brings peace. A social detox doesn’t mean I want to completely isolate myself from the digital world, but I do find some balance. Seeing as the world continues to spin without Instagram and Facebook, you’re probably not missing out on much. In short: a conscious choice to regain control of our attention.
Okay let’s go. I’m going to deactivate my Instagram account to avoid the temptation of sneak peeks and I’m going to log out of Facebook (which I don’t actually have on my mobile phone). I don’t have TikTok, so it’s just WhatsApp. This kind of social media is still a step too far (and not so much about unnecessary cat videos). Next week: my results.
Best Regards,
Mart de Jong
Digital content manager
