Navigating Social Media in the world we live in today

This past October I was hunting for old pictures and videos on my computer, and there were a few that I couldn’t find, I knew where they were though….on Facebook. I had deactivated my Facebook account over 3 years ago, and had never since had the urge to open it, but I really wanted to see those photos and videos, and save them to my computer that Autumn afternoon. So, I clenched my teeth and signed back in again…hello FB. The main reason I had left facebook years ago was because at the time it was just too much. Too many opinions, too many things I needed to do, articles I needed to read, too much information and too much pressure. I also found it was just taking so much of my time and mind space, and for what? It definitely wasn’t something that was filling me back up, but actually draining me, and so it got the cut. I never looked back, I felt free without FB, and I didn’t feel like I was missing out at all. I decided to still keep Instagram to post pictures and memories on and interact with people online and so I was good to go.

Over the years I have realized that I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with social media. It can be great for so many things, it can connect you with people all over the world from different walks of life. It can be an amazing tool for our business, in sharing our photos and videos and meeting new clients. It can be a way to keep up with old friends and stay connected in some way to them even though they live far away. And of course an awesome way to store and log your pictures and memories. It can be an encouragement on lonely days, a good laugh when you really need one, a way to lift up your friends, it can be so many good things! Yet, It can also be something that can bring you down, and others around you if your not careful.

When I think back to when my husband and I first met there wasn’t anything social media available yet, the most cool thing we had on the internet was ‘MSN’ (if you remember that you have to let me know!) Even just ‘dialling in’ to connect to the internet was sometimes a 10 minute and very sketchy process (LOL) We didn’t need to ‘update our relationship status’ to ‘dating’ or ‘engaged’ and we even planned a lovely little wedding without Pinterest (skills! haha) Sometimes I really miss those days! Your probably thinking….well you don’t NEED to have social media Shelley, and your absolutely right! And my thoughts are not to say that I want to boycott it altogether (though I have definitely felt like doing that many times), because I know it is a part of the world we live in today, but what I do want to do is to learn how to use it well.

I want to use it to share joy, happiness and light. To encourage others and share God’s word and love. I want to know when to step away from it and take breaks and when I should hold my tongue. I want to know to take information in with a grain of salt, because everyone is different and God made us like that for a purpose. I don’t have to do something because someone else posts about it, we all have our different passions and convictions. With all those AD’s we see now begging us to buy everything, I don’t have to feel like I ‘need’ all these material things that I really (really) don’t need. My goal in social media is not to push my ideals on others, but to share in a simple way that glorifies the Lord, and hopefully encourages others, makes them laugh or smile, and to log precious memories for my family. My hope is that I can learn how to do this well, so that social media in the world we live in today doesn’t become something I need to boycott and leave altogether, but something that encourages me and encourages others. Here are some things I do to try and help with this…

-I keep my phone in a set spot (kitchen counter) and not in my pocket or right with me all the time.

-I have set time slots that I check instagram or facebook, that don’t drag on too long or interfere with family time, or productive time.

-I don’t bring my phone to the table or any family meal or gathering time.

-The things I say and write online are the things I would say and share about in real life, I am the same me online and in real life.

-I take breaks every once in a while, even just for a weekend, it’s good to step away (the years I stepped away from facebook was needed and such a good eye opener)

-I try to stay positive and encouraging and use social media for good

lastly…

-I know this one may sound harsh, but you don’t have to ‘follow’ those that you don’t want to, I know that sounds like a ‘no brainer’, but just because someone sends you a friend request doesn’t mean you need to accept it. Unfollowing someone who is bringing you down is ok too! Cultivate the kind of feed that encourages you.

I have found since I took that three year break from Facebook that I definitely don’t use it as much anymore, during that break it brought in good perspective of how much time I should be spending on there, and helps me keep it ‘in check’ now. I am definitely still learning and figuring out this whole social media way of life, and I think how we use it will always be evolving, but I hope this encourages you in your own journey with social media, that it can be used for good and in a non consuming way. What do you do to monitor your time on social media? I would love to hear, let me know in the comments if you have any favourite tips :)

stay cozy,

Shelley