Cleaning Out the Stuff that Bogs Us Down. | elephant journal

Cleaning Out the Stuff that Bogs Us Down. | elephant journal

Insights from a 30-day social media cleanse:

"I recently took a 30-day cleanse from social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) after laying in bed on a lazy Sunday morning for five hours looking at acquaintances that are classified as friends, friends of friends and then diving into 'people you may know.' Really?

"Those five hours did nothing to serve me, make me feel purposeful, useful or even happy. I was angrier with myself for wasting precious time instead of using it productively. With a lengthy to-do list awaiting me, I decided this was a habit I needed to confront and deal with!

"When we get caught in traps where we find ourselves engaged in mindless activity that leaves us feeling empty, it's time to 'pause' and discover what life can be like without that activity for 30 days. This was an experiment for me with social media, but I challenge you to replace it with anything that is a time sucker, energy waster or emotional depleter. Keep your mind open to the new opportunities, possibilities, and self-discoveries that emerge from letting go....

"I didn't realize how dependent I was upon social media to serve as a numbing mix. It is like getting a hit of mild anesthesia where the mind doesn't have to think, but just function. I realized that feeling anxiety is a trigger for me to numb out and social media is just one of my many 'fix-its.' Releasing the need to use social media, I became aware, took pause and asked, 'is this serving me to learn and grow?' Since I committed to 30 days of this, I was determined to not fail."