Quitting SOCIAL MEDIA for 21 days. (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube)

Thanks everyone for writing to me on my previous articles. I am glad that I am able to share my thoughts with all of you. In this article, I want to write about quitting SOCIAL MEDIA for 21 days. Initially, this idea felt scary but I really wanted see how life feels without checking news feeds or sharing any content.

How SOCIAL MEDIA changed my life?

Facebook is where I started using SOCIAL MEDIA. Initially, it's all about getting the profile picture right in order to get more likes and comments! Later, added friends, maintained pages, followed celebs & movies, short films etc etc. Right now, it's all about sharing my thoughts and feelings without any fear.

As I already wrote in my JOB SEARCH article, LinkedIn is where I got my first job. It taught me how to reach out to people and ask for help. Right now, It gave a great platform to write about different aspects of well-being that I learnt from books and internet. I feel grateful for being on this platform.

I started using Instagram recently and I love it. Instagram stories helped me to be consistent with 5:00 A.M wake up habit and workout routine. I get so much fun checking through the news feed and stories of friends on this platform.

YouTube is where I learn things related to work, workouts, habits, food, politics, cinema etc etc on daily basis. This platform is incredible and without this my life wouldn't have been the same.

Then, why am I quitting?

I see that SOCIAL MEDIA is one bigger mind which is the sum of all our individual minds. It's filled with information about each and everything in the world. We are taking huge volume of information on day to day basis. This information can be helpful and some times very dangerous. Information is never complete because information feeds on more and more information. So, our minds are always restless and looking for exciting information.

I clearly see the addictive nature of my mind because of the need for more. When I check Instagram & Facebook feed, time passes unknowingly. It's almost like a habit where I do it very often and mostly unknowingly. Each time I get a notification on Instagram & Facebook, I spend much more time than just checking the notification.

Even though LinkedIn is little different, it is filled with business news and other exciting stuff to keep the restless mind engaged. I remember days where I used to spend hours and hours watching YouTube. I would think this will be my last video but still go on and on until the next morning.

Lately, I realized that more information is really harmful. You lose your creative and analytical capabilities. Also, when the mind is constantly taking information, it is totally absorbed in it and can't find calm and happiness.

Why quitting now and only for 21 days?

I have two reasons why I am doing it now:

1) I really what to see how it feels without using any SOCIAL MEDIA for sometime. For past few days, I have been sharing a lot of content on SOCIAL MEDIA. I wanted to see what it is like to disconnect from the world and be present around people and with myself.

2) On 12th Dec'18, I will be going to India for vacation. Until recently, I was in hostel and mostly spend time watching T.V at home during holidays. Now, I want to go out as much time as possible to know my village and people. Also, I want to spend time with my parents, friends and relatives. I am really excited to make great memories and bring it back here. So, keeping SOCIAL MEDIA aside for sometime can get me more time to do things.

Now, it's time to quit:

I am quitting only for 21 days and see if it can make me calmer and happier. Before I quit, I promise to continue my 5 A.M wake up habit and workout routine. Now, I have already deleted the apps on my phone (check the video below) and will stop logging into SOCIAL MEDIA on my computer after posting this article.

Thanks you for reading this article. Let me know your thoughts on SOCIAL MEDIA.