This is a new post for April’s series: R.A.W. (Real.Authentic.Wrecked.)
After about a 5 week hiatus, I am back on my personal social media accounts this month. There was so much that I gained during this time that I actually started to enjoy being on the low-key side of things. But what led me to starting a social media fast or break was not Lent season, but something else.
In February I was overworked and overwhelmed. Despite the noise God got through to me and weighed heavy on my heart to go on a break from social media for the month of March. Now this seems easy to some, but I was going to have some conflict because I use social media for work and blogging. So I logged off my personal Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat accounts and focused on the work and blog accounts. I realized that I needed this more than I thought.
Do you feel like you may need to take a social media break or fast?
To help you find out the answer if you’re unsure, here’s my personal 10 reasons why it would be a good idea for you:
You’ve made social media an idol: It happens to the best of us. We get in the habit of checking our phones so much that it becomes one of the first things that we do in the day, and the very last thing we check at night. That was me! I still fight that urge to check the ‘gram or Facebook feed first.
You’re overstressed and spent: That was me all of February this year. Being pulled in several different directions, plus the habit of using social media was adding to my distractions from real work, time with God, and maintaining peace.
You keep comparing yourself to others: This is a huge one that affects most people we know on social media. It’s hard sometimes when you know God has a plan for your personal life and you see it pan out for other people. You may feel jealousy, resentment, confusion, etc.
If you find yourself miserable after a social media session, there’s a good chance you need a break from it ASAP.
You’re not hearing from God like you’d like to: Following godly or Christian social media accounts can only do so much. You need to have one on one time with Him yourself and hear for yourself what He is saying to you outside of technology. He has so much to show us without the help of social media.
The thought of not having social media is a challenge to you: So what are you supposed to do without checking your Facebook? I’ve had an account since 2005, it was definitely a challenge to not use my personal accounts because the habit was going on for so long. If you say you don’t need to fast, ask yourself why? Is it soberness or hesitation?
You stay on your mobile device(s) too much: Addicted to selfies, checking in, snapping and posting? My own family called me out on it before. I was zoned out in the interwebs when I could have been in the present with them.
You want to refresh your profile: We grow, we become wiser, and we want to remove the old stuff from our profiles. It’s a good way to let go of the past and welcome the new you that you’re becoming. I deleted over 400 images from my personal Instagram account for a refresh and it was tempting when it came to removing several of them!
You’re tired of seeing and posting the same old stuff: Same folks, same issues with nothing changing. You’re getting bored with seeing the same cycle of posts, memes, fake stories, rants, essays, video, etc. To be honest, you may be bored with your own posts. Maybe it’s time for a break to let people work out some things in their lives as you do yours.
You’re too concerned about likes and followers: You’re worried if you go on a social media fast that you’ll lose your numbers and following. Spoiler alert: you will!
If you’re concerned about your status and not the content, you’re focusing on the wrong things.
You only talk to your friends on social media: The phone is made for calling and texting too. Get out the DMs and have a hang out with your friends or in face to face moments with the people you are able to see. We don’t have to use social media as the communication glue that keeps our relationships together.
So if you answered yes to most of these statements or even simply feel convicted about this post, congrats my friend, you should definitely go on a social media break! Start off with a weekend or a few days, then move up to weeks and even a month or longer. It’s time to break the toxic cycles we choose for ourselves when we log onto these apps. Log out and plug in to what’s going on with you, and you’ll discover some major benefits, which I’ll share in the next post.
Share your thoughts—have you ever been on a social media fast? Would you try it?
