Facebook De-activation Experiment (pt. 2)

Day 3:
     - Found a profound and moving TEDx video, and felt compelled to share it with people. I didn't have an active facebook, so it went unshared. The video was brought to my attention through an email from my girlfriend. Thanks Mi ;)

Here's that video though:

     - I also want to express outrage for the cop who gunned down the unarmed father of 4 who was running away from him. That's outrageous. I wonder why I feel the urge to express that to others. Ended up doing that in face-to-face interaction eating with a friend. Better than being a computer screen.





Day 5 of detox:
     - Early start to my day. I got the urge to complain yesterday when I got 2 shots in the butt at the doctor. It was very unpleasant, and an annoying pain (literally) in the butt. I guess funny stories are fun to share on social media. The doctor diagnosed me with Bronchitis and ordered my leave from work until Monday.

(I didn't write much that day, went to Doctor's, pharmacy, bank, errands, etc.)


Day 7: The proceeding Sunday (4/12) after Detox

Conclusions:
     - Though I've been doing other activities, I find myself no more productive than normal. If I don't distract myself with facebook, I distract myself with something else, and work is procrastinated and rushed eventually. That needs a fix, and I don't think it's a problem with FB. It's a problem with me, I've been feeling so much in a funk, not depressed, but I feel unmotivated to work, along with sadness and longing... also tired lately. I feel burned out from work. Reflections reflections... I gotta push through.

    -  The main benefits of social media, for me, are:
1) Being updated and connected to events - Knowing event details, FB events is helpful for that. Getting invited and inviting people to events, sessions.
2) Sharing media, engaging in discourse about current events, topics of concern

Essentially, it's a tool for connection with the world around you. Not disconnection. Social media can be both, and causes many to be disconnected. Gotta be aware of the borders.


   - The main benefits of not being on a screen, for me, are:
1) Enjoying the present moment, awareness of surroundings;
2) Alignment of the mental and physical states (mind is in the moment, connected, not distracted by cyberthoughts);
3) Allowing the moment the happen without judgment; taking in the nuances of the immediate environment and finding joy from simple observation. That's pretty much it.

Facebook De-activation Experiment (pt. 1)

Last Sunday (4/5) I deactivated my Facebook! I was out for a week, and it felt great! It was the first time I had done that in the 9 years I've been on Facebook. I found some other things to do. These are the notes I took on Day 2 of 7.

4/7 Blog: Facebook de-activation experiment (pt. 1)

    Why:
    ⁃    Someone introduced the idea of a "social media detox" to me a few months ago. I liked the idea, because it implied that social media, like water, can be a toxin at high enough levels, though useful at moderate levels.
    ⁃    More recently, I've felt my interest in facebook decreasing, yet time spent on it continued. My posts have felt half-assed, and my productivity has stagnated. Facebook thus became less useful and more of a timezap. Detox was in order.


        Results:
    ⁃    Immediately after de-activation, it felt like a weight off my shoulders. No notifications to anticipate or wonder about (is that even normal? or a sign of disorder?). No need to update people with stati (though I enjoy doing that because of my geographical separation from home)
    ⁃    My deactivation began on Sunday, for 7 days. But on the same day, I needed to reactivate it because there was an event I wanted to attend, but didn't know the address! First incident where I needed facebook.
    ⁃    Also, I wanted to invite people to join me for an event, and I found facebook to be the easiest way to invite a bunch of people. Don't gotta pick up the phone or anything.
    ⁃    Also noting a change in my web-use, because one option (facebook) was eliminated, it allowed me to focus on other things. That's why you see a new blog. I should keep off facebook so that I can keep up with other things.
    ⁃    Though I find my motivation to get things done has not changed, still don't enjoy doing unenjoyable work, BUT my ability to get things done HAS changed due to a decrease in time/energy allocation toward facebook.


Findings:
    ⁃    I found the most useful thing about facebook is quick and easy communication with my network. Whether that's inviting, updating, or direct messaging...I only wish this communication was more in MY control (i.e. sending a message to everyone in a 20 miles radius, or to everyone in my SoCal networks), rather than relying on facebook's algorithm for what appears on someone's feed. I don't trust that algorithm, but I do enjoy the communicative infrastructure that facebook allows.
    ⁃    In the instance where I needed to find an address to an event, I found facebook to be necessary. In another instance, I wanted to search for someone, to see if they have a facebook. I could not access the search databases because my account was deactivated.
    ⁃    But damn, I got more shit done, and thankful just 2 days in, so far.