The REAL Reason People "Can't" Quit Facebook

In June 2014 I ditched Facebook. I downloaded my entire account to my laptop, and shut it down. I grumbled about wanting to defect for months before I actually did, but I told people I "couldn't" leave. I had to be on Facebook. After all, my family lives across two countries, from East Coast to West.

If I stopped spending time there, how would I know what my nieces and nephews got for their birthday? How would I know what my best friend in high school had for dinner last night? How would I find out what my co-worker's son scored on his SAT, or see my cousin's daughter's newest outfit?

Then, I came to two stunning realizations.

1. I didn't refuse to walk away from Facebook because I wouldn't be able to keep up with my family (How did we have relationships before 2006, anyway?)

I refused because I was addicted.

2. I spent a great deal of time ignoring the people I live with, to spend time on this:

Sure, wine memes are amusing. But instead of asking my kids what they got out of the message at church on the drive home, I was scrolling my news feed and finding out what Big Bang character I was (Leonard, apparently). The truth is, 10% of my time on Facebook was spent getting "updates" on my extended family, and 90% was spent on time wasters, which kept me from paying attention to my own.

So, I walked away.

And that's when knew I, and so many others, had a Facebook addiction. The minute something funny happened my impulse was to grab my cell phone and tell Facebook. Whether good news, or feeling annoyed, Facebook was my outlet.

The problem is Facebook gave the illusion I was spending time with people. I wasn't. I was sitting on my duff on my couch looking at pixels on a screen, ignoring everyone around me.

Don't think you have a problem? Maybe you don't. But I challenge you to tally how many times you check your cell phone in a day. I challenge you to delete the Facebook app from your phone. How does that make you feel? Stressed? Feelings of withdrawal?

I've been Facebook-free for over a year and all the people that matter to me are still in my life. They text me or email photos. I talk to them on the phone, have lunch with them, go for pedicures with them, and write to them.

But you know what another remarkable thing is? I'm leagues more productive.

I have a life in the real world. I talk to my family in the car, in waiting rooms, and while we're sitting on the couch together.

I'm present. And life -- real life -- has never been sweeter.

All the best to you!

Kristin

Kristin Sherry is Owner and Principal of Virtus Career Consulting. Living Facebook-free and loving it since June 2014.

www.virtuscareers.com