#JOMO
~ 1 week to my ‘Tees’ (30th) ~
(28 Sept — 4 Oct 2020)
Life caught up and I’m writing this 1 week after my 31st! haha — just how fast time passes by…
So a year ago, I took a forced detox from social media; this was the week leading up to my 30th. And, despite the presumed fear of missing out, I actually enjoyed it! It was truly #JOMO — keep up, will you?
Here’s what I learnt in those 7 days, and I promise you, your experience won’t be far too different.
- 7 billion people, each of whose thoughts change every moment — nobody really cares all that much about you!
No, I don’t mean this from a self-pitying point of view but instead from the fact that no one really is so free to really keep judging you or your posts. So we really mustn’t give all that much importance to what the other person is going to think about what we say/do/wear etc!
2. Less mindless scrolling = more time for mindfulness
The more time I spent away from the mindless checking of social media influencers’ accounts (mind you, most of whom I don’t even know on a first-person basis!), the more time I had to indulge in me, myself and my interests — meditation was just so much more peaceful.
3. You really don’t miss out on all that much
A week later, nothing much honestly changes all that significantly. So, you missed on which new restaurant your colleague dined at, or which new travel destination your friend (who can travel unlike you and your family, who are still stuck on the island, grappling with the pandemic) landed at — so what? If it mattered enough to be shared, they will text or call you about it; or (trust me on this) gloat about it the next time you meet them, anyways, on zoom or in real time. No biggie.
4. Live in the present, fully
Without the pressures of social media and having to click the perfect photo/boomerang video, you could actually live in the moment, fully, sans interruptions. My family and friends were grateful I didn’t stop them from digging into delicious food or we didn’t have to jump silly or keep cheers-ing to capture the moment on our phones for the insta-story, mostly silent audience. We could savour each others’ company without necessarily telling others’ about it.
5. Indulge in yourself
Lesser hours on the phone, translated to more time at hand suddenly; I cooked more elaborate meals or cozied up in a corner with a book in hand, while soft music played in the background. I clocked more regular workouts and was a happier and more relaxed me, with my loved ones.
6. Improved sleep
No phone light prior to bed meant lesser difficulty falling asleep; which on extrapolation equates to better sleep quality. Though I still have to sleep with my phone next to me (given my profession and I might be called back anytime in the event of a mass casualty incident), it’s usually on silent with other notifications off.
7. Detox/De-addiction
I wouldn’t label myself an addict but a person who wakes up and checks her social media profiles in bed, is pretty much headed there me thinks. And so this week felt like a much needed break to break free from the invisible shackles and a habit almost; to remind myself that if I put my mind to it, I could stay away for my own good. And it worked wonders indeed.
I am still on social media, for those who are wondering having reached until here. I have not deactivated my accounts on FaceBook or Instagram. But as a lot of my followers may recognise, I am no longer a real-time sharer. Pretty much all my posts are in retrospect, having enjoyed the experience with my family or friends then and then I share ’em with others on a later date or sometimes, not at all. The habit does creep in again, but I try and keep an eye on my weekly screen time as well so as to not overdo it. My husband and I are definitely on the sharing part of the spectrum in contrast to a vast majority who are mostly consumers but I’m okay with that; as long as it doesn’t affect my daily balance and peace of mind. And if I feel it is heading that way again, I shall call for a detox week, again! Join me perhaps, next time?
