Social Media - Mind Distractions
Don’t be put off by other people’s comments and criticism. – Marcus Aurelius
Perhaps nothing has changed our society like social media. Like many of you, I can still remember when we didn’t have Facebook, Instagram, or Tic Tok. Now, it seems as if they are on everyone’s phones. I’m always amazed at how many people simply sit and doom scroll with their phone.
Don’t waste the rest of your time here worrying about the other people – unless it affects the common good.
Marcus Aurelius
According to a University of Michigan study, an estimated 210 million people worldwide are addicted to social media. That number is staggering! 210 million people can’t control their impulses toward social media. That number includes adults, teenagers and children, all experiencing a negative impact from this app.
We all like to think social media has value, but I am confident that no one’s mind, or views have ever been changed because of a Facebook post. And we will always say things on social media that we would never say face to face. We somehow find the disingenuous courage to make bold statements that cannot be explained, answered, or only bring harm. Yet, we read social media posts like they really matter.
Along with this, the vast majority of people, based on their pictures, want you to think that their world is perfect. Everyone, it seems, looks beautiful and is continually on vacation. Every family is flawless, and every marriage is perfect, while all the kids keep clean rooms and receive the highest awards from school.
You and I know this isn’t true, but it feels that way when you’re doom scrolling. It’s why I gave up social media. I work hard to limit my mindless screen time. It has no benefit and makes it more difficult to control my mind.
Controlling your mind is much easier without social media. Choose the BEST for your mind and step away from the doom scroll.
Along with limiting my social media, I’ve chosen to severely limit my phone and tv time. Those two devices alone consume more time than I can track. In my stroke recovery, I found that both the tv and phone could activate my mind in ways that prohibited me from going to sleep easily. Thus, I made the conscious decision to turn my phone and the tv off starting at 7PM every night.
This simple decision allowed me to initiate a time of rest for my mind. Limiting these actions meant that I had more time for reading, walking, games with the family or friends, or simple conversation. I didn’t have to aimlessly fill my mind with all the activities of the day and allow the blue light to engage my brain.
I know countless people who have the tv on from the start of their day until the very end. They often turn it on to fill the void of silence in their lives and then endlessly watch movies they’ve seen time and time again. For me, turning off the tv and setting aside the phone allowed me to clear my mind and rest my brain. It has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in years.
The tranquility that comes when you stop caring what they say. Or think or do. Only what you do. Marcus Aurelius
The third action I’ve taken is limiting my friendships. I chose to intentionally walk away from relationships that sucked the life out of me. I care deeply for people and am an extraverted person, but I no longer have/had the space to listen to someone I know endlessly complain about life, job, career, kids, marriage, politics, you name it. I needed people around me who saw the world in a positive light, people who liked to laugh, and cared for me as I cared for them. That’s meant pausing several friendships, but I’ve not regretted the decision. They’ve been good decisions. I no longer have time for stuff, habits, or people who don’t help me to live my BEST. Seek the BEST!!