7 Days Unplugged: Life Without Social Media

Social media is absolutely everywhere! You use it to communicate with friends and follow celebrities; businesses use it for marketing, even hiring people who's sole job is managing their social media accounts.

How did social media become such a phenomenon? Can we live without it?

This month, I had the pleasure of visiting my family cottage for a week. Even without the many comforts of home, I always feel at ease when at the cottage. Worries just disappear and I dive into living the cottage life.

One of the comforts we don't have at the cottage is internet. Eek! I planned on driving to town every day to get my wifi and espresso fix, but once settled at the cottage, I decided I would abandon the internet altogether and journal my thoughts for a future blog post.

So here it is, the emotional roller coaster of a week without social media...

Day 1: This is Great!

I arrive at the cottage Friday evening, unpack and crash on the couch. It's so nice not wondering how many likes I got on my latest Instagram post or feeling envious of others' lives. I had the best sleep I've had in months and woke up feeling excited for a day on the water.

Day 2: Curiosity Kicks In

I set up my yoga mat on the dock and as I prepare for my practice, I realize I didn't download the app I use to film video. Shoot! My aunt overhears my panic and offers to connect my phone to her data plan. Ruh roh... I needed the app, so on the internet I went. I quickly went to the App Store, but couldn't help but notice the notifications coming through. I caved and took a quick peek at Instagram, but exited within seconds to avoid experiencing some major FOMO.

Day 3: I'm So Lonely

On sunny days I was able to keep busy by spending time outdoors, but the rainy days were a little tough. My aunts, uncle and grandma would spend rainy days on their iPads playing games and sending emails; talking about what their neighbours were up to, etc. I miss the playful interactions from social media, not only the likes + attention, but also seeing what my friends and family are up to.

Day 4: Don't Forget About Me

As we're hit with another rainy day, I wonder if my social media 'status' is going down. I'm very tempted to go on the internet, but resist temptation and decide to begin a painting instead.

Day 5: Okay, This Isn't So Bad

Finally, the sunshine returned and I am back to enjoying the outdoors. Without the internet, I feel as if I have more hours in my day. I'm doing things I have always wanted to do but thought I didn't have the time to do so. I'm painting, playing cards with family, practicing yoga daily, running daily, even flossing my teeth daily! Maybe this no internet thing isn't so bad after all...

Day 6: Feeling Less Anxious

I can be a bit of an anxious person, however, without the internet (and TV) I'm no longer experiencing anxiety. My nails have never looked better (I have a nasty habit of biting them), I'm sleeping 8 hours a night and I'm no longer craving junk food - I'm feeling pretty darn fantastic!

Day 7: Moving On

My time at the cottage has come to an end. I'm dreading having to leave and am curious to see how I will feel once back online...

Finding Balance

Once home, I spent a good hour browsing social media and reading emails. I felt absolutely exhausted afterwards! I realize I can't totally quit social media as I use it for work, but I do plan on limiting my time online for personal use. 

Your Turn

I invite you to go a week, or even just a couple days, without social media. See how you feel. Maybe you'll miss it, maybe you won't. 

But the question remains, can we live without social media?

xx