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Romans 12:2
Encouragement to fulfill God's purpose through Practical Life Application and Navigation

Decluttering Social Media

The older I get, the more I feel like my grandmother! “They didn’t have this stuff when I was a kid.” “Why do you need all of that ________ (insert whatever ‘that’ is)?” “We had simple lives and we did just fine.” “Can’t you people just talk anymore?”

 

It’s interesting to think back, hear my grandmother’s words dripping with her Jewish-Brooklyn accent, and now at the ripe old age of 48, completely understand how she felt and what she meant!

 

Topic of the day – Social Media!

 

 

social-media-logos

 

 

I’m not here to scold, criticize, or otherwise try and boss you around. I have a sweet fondness for online interaction too! But, in terms of living a decluttered life, there are two basic precepts that are helpful to discuss and adhere to with regard to social media.

 

Keep it Balanced and Healthy!

 

Balanced:

Quantity of time spent –It’s not for me to suggest how many minutes of social media each day is acceptable or reasonable, but for the most part, if you spend too much time online, you likely already know it. I always joke, “Everything in moderation, even chocolate and money!” Maybe I should add social media to that statement? It’s easy to get sucked in, especially when looking for home improvement, party, or recipe ideas! If time management is a struggle for you, set a predetermined daily time limit and stick to it. Find an effective means to control your time so your time doesn’t control you.

 

[Tweet “Find an effective means to control your time so your time doesn’t control you.”]

 

Interest in life outside of social media – Just because you don’t have something better to do, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be doing something better. Excessive participation on social media may seem to suggest an abundant ‘social life’, but often, the exact opposite is true. Withdrawal from family, disinterest in seeing friends face to face, and a lack of interest in anything where you might have to unplug for a while are red flags. Pay attention to warning signs and don’t delay in restoring a healthy balance in your life by integrating people, hobbies, and different interests outside of the internet into your schedule.

 

[Tweet “Not having something better to do, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be doing something better.”]

 

Healthy:

Friends – Who are your Facebook friends? Are you selective and intentional in the choices you make? I always smile when I hear people saying they are going to declutter their friend list, and if they haven’t communicated with you via Facebook in ‘X’ amount of time, you’re gone. For me, the length of time between contact isn’t the issue. I have one simple rule for determining social media friends. IF I wouldn’t be friends with you OUTSIDE of social media, I won’t be friends with you ON social media. It doesn’t mean we HAVE to be friends on the ‘outside’, just that I would if I had the opportunity. It’s a character and relationship issue for me.

 

Content – What are you sharing? Engaging in? Viewing? Inappropriate content? Gossip? Manipulative and hurtful ‘people games’? It’s easy to let your guard down or slip on your convictions when hiding behind the comfort of your computer screen, BUT the internet is no private matter and there are no secrets. And speaking of private. Some moments should be private and it’s a good idea to reserve some for this distinction. There is also nothing temporary about anything posted. Erased or not, it’s permanently etched in the cyber world forever. Do your integrity, reputation, and witness a favor and keep a respectable standard for yourself, whether on social media or not.

 

Why is Balanced and Healthy so important? Because used with care and respect, social media is a wonderful way to stay in touch with family and friends, share valuable information, grow, learn, help others, stay up on current events, market and promote an event, charity or business, enjoy a good laugh, or even shed some sweet tears.

 

Declutter any tendencies you have towards social media mismanagement and abuse. Keep it balanced and healthy so you can enjoy all the benefits social media has to offer.

 

Do you have an interesting story or take on this to share? If so, we’d love you to comment below!

 

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2 Responses to Decluttering Social Media

  1. Carrie Daws says:

    I LOVE this standard: “IF I wouldn’t be friends with you OUTSIDE of social media, I won’t be friends with you ON social media.”

    • Sherry says:

      I recently had to enforce this with someone I love dearly. I made sure to explain my heart and intentions in an effort to be more constructive than destructive, but it was still so very hard. Doing the right thing isn’t necessarily always easy…

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