Pausing Social Media

PAUSING SOCIAL MEDIA

The best decision I made recently was to pause personal social media. While I enjoy the 3,349 personal connections I have made via Facebook, keeping up with the additional hundreds of new connections via Threads, Instagram, and Facebook Business pages can be overwhelming, especially if you are the type of person who feels terrible if you do not respond to a kind comment, a devastating update or a post about a favorite pup. Who can resist that? I love dogs, and that, by far, has been my biggest distraction, joining all of the puppy and dog groups.

Time is precious

I know that my time is limited and that time is precious. While I prescribe to Zen Master Shunryu Suzuki's philosophy of Ichi-go, Ichi-e, "One moment, One time," there were just too many moments to savor and appreciate that I found myself catching up while lying in bed late at night with the screen blaring, interrupting my brain's ability to shut down by resting for the day. Don't get me wrong; I am not a social media addict. I sign on at most thirty minutes a day. Still, the notifications pushed by the media companies and, worst yet, notifications pushed by advertisers disrupted my downtime. Between work and personal commitments, there are not enough hours in a day.

Needed to unpack

I'll give you a real-life example. We moved a few months ago, and I could use that time unpacking kitchen items and books or simply hanging up my jewelry to see which earrings matched which outfit quickly. I could not do that for several months because my stuff was packed away. I love handmade jewelry, as I consider it art, and so many of the pieces gifted to me help me feel whole. Jewelry from friends makes me feel centered, loved, and beautiful, but not when tucked away in a box in the garage.

Rest is everything

During my respite, I can sit in my cozy living room with a lovely fire blazing, reading books I had set aside because I no longer have time to read. I especially enjoy quality time with my two Bernese Mountain Dogs, Benkei (3) and Hannah 1), who seemed velcroed to my feet and pleading for mommy time. My pups need my presence and attention more than my three sons did as toddlers. Now, my newly discovered time enables me to sit down, eat dinner with my sons, and enjoy rousing conversations about politics or the lack of genuine leadership. I am enjoying my time with my 97-year-old mom, whom I care for twice weekly. I am planning my spring and summer gardens, and while I do not have a green thumb, I enjoy watching things grow and blossom. You can only do that if you plant some stuff. Most importantly, believe it or not, I am resting. I am turning off all my electronics and leaving devices in my office.

The Conundrum of Social Media

I started reading a book by Jaron Lanier, Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Account, but I caught his drift in the first few pages. Lanier is considered a top tech icon, but what baffles me is that the most prominent social media naysayers are the ones who created these systems that spy on users, manipulate users, and provide insane amounts of data to would-be buyers to target consumers for more consumption of goods, and services. Lanier makes alarming yet sensible arguments about why Social Media has gotten out of control and why I understand better our elected leadership's present concerns about TikTok. However, (disclaimer) I have never been on a TikTok site. Is it similar to YouTube?

Balance off/on, Take Breaks

Nonetheless, this is my post, not Laniers. Since I am a novice user, I can honestly report feeling better mentally, spiritually, and physically after pausing. How long will my pause last? I have no idea, but I sometimes miss my social engagement with dear friends and colleagues. I have kept up with some via Linked-In. But this social media serves many purposes. It is a different type of social media for my professional engagements. I will remain a customer if LinkedIn resists the temptation to capitalize on paid users by inundating us with advertisements.

Social Media Advertisers are invasive.

.Oddly enough, those who have served in HR or mentored younger colleagues know better. We often speak of work-life balance, but the same can be said for online/offline--life balance. More than a month ago—I was starting to feel overwhelmed, burnt out, angry at solicitors, and worse yet, angry at myself for falling for the well-calculated advertisements of Amazon and now the obnoxious (to me) TEMU. They literally sell junk (inadequate products) for next to nothing to rope you in and then hound you to purchase more even when you resolve, nope—been there, done that, never again. Some people may have a shopping addiction; they may be lonely or perhaps have a gambling addiction, and it seems that the purveyors of self-profit do not care. They make it their business to know our every thought and move; they are studying us and selling this data to others. (Read Lanier's book)

I don't like this tactic. I did not sign up for social media to relinquish my rights, but now I understand that my life has become very public to people I don't even know and certainly cannot see. While I have absolutely nothing to hide and everything to celebrate—I am pissed at how these companies have misused information. It's gotta stop; better yet, we, the consumer, must stop it. We have the power and certainly the choice for now--Caveat emptor.

Work is Essential

It is tough to keep up with other 8,000-plus connections throughout several different mediums daily. However, focusing on online professional engagement with a time limit is more vital because I have to work to live. I will one day return to social media, but I have learned to turn off notification pushes, steer clear of ads, limit my time, and shut down all electronics at night. My mental health, emotional well-being, and physical energy are worth much more than staying in touch with what's going on in the world, and now we find out much of that "news" or "noise," as I refer to it, is simply untrue or tailored to the news outlets choice of their truths. Did you know that some social media algorithms steer users toward more conflict than less--what the hell? Too much is too much, and for me, returning to in-person real-time together, going out for coffee instead of texting or zooming in, attending an art exhibit with my besties, or meeting a new friend for dinner is much more palatable than hitting a like or love and drinking from the firehose of noise interference.

Day at a Time

The sun is shining brightly today, and it is absolutely gorgeous. While the temperature is brisk, walking with my pups is much healthier than checking my phone or iPad. I will continue the pause until I am ready, and who knows, I may "expatriate" out of the virtual social world back into the real world of actual genuine engagement. lol Thank goodness, I at least unpacked my earrings.

Blessings and good health always,

Elizabeth Asahi Sato

#risetoexcellence #worklifebalance #socialmediapause #realworld #goodhealth #mentalhealth #walkyourdog #getoutside #plantsomestuff #unpack #read #recaptureyourtime

Update: I am back on but will sign on only sporadically. I recently received contacts about potential work/contracts/engagements, and while most folks have my email, I have been on Linked In and will be back on Facebook until my next pause. Try a pause; you will be glad you did. I am.

Hugs E

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