How is it October already? I mean, here for it, totally, but WOW September flew by!
Building off of last week's thoughts about preparing for surviving the next few weeks emotionally, I've been spending some time this week thinking about my relationship with social media. It has felt like such a drain to consume everything that was being published. But there's no way I'm going to shut off the world entirely, so I did a few easy things that have totally helped make it manageable, and much less stressful:
- First, I stopped using Facebook. I haven't deactivated entirely, but I logged out of desktop, and deleted the apps from my other devices. That company no longer deserves my engagement in that environment. If I think of someone I want to see that I would normally see on FB, I'll send them a text or check their Instagram. I also changed my settings so if someone tags me, I get an email. No more checking in.
- Next, I unfollowed over 200 people on Instagram. I spent an hour on Saturday morning just going through my list and quickly asking myself how each person actually made me feel. Was I getting any joy from them, or only anxiety? I also muted a bunch of people from Stories. Checking in doesn't feel like such a chore any longer, and I find myself using the much less frenetic main feed more.
- Last, I sorted my Twitter feed into lists. This has been the biggest change! I can read the perspectives I need to, but I don't have to drink from the firehose that is the timeline unless I want to. I'm still getting the info I need, but it's easier to compare perspectives, and get the overall vibe of any one group easily. It's been hugely helpful in focusing. I put @tinycarebot in every list. I enjoy Twitter again!
The other thing is I've also been more militant about my email. I've used Unroll.me for years, but have been really been making sure that anybody trying to sell me anything has been loaded into that system. Now, my inbox is just important work stuff and the long-form newsletters that I save for weekend reading. It's so much easier to not have to hunt and peck around shopping emails anymore! (And my bank account is fuller!). If I want to shop, I go to that folder and check out the deals.
Some small moments of joy from the past few days:
The first round of Fat Bear Week
This person guessing paint colors
This Mom freaking KILLING IT
This sweater that is sadly appropriate for so many scenarios
Checking my voter registration, multiple times (LFG!)
Here are few other things that have helped me get through this week.
I hope they do the same for you, wherever and however you may be.
