9 things to do other scrolling on social media
As covid was raging the world in 2020, I, like most folks, felt a heightened sense of anxiety, uncertainty and dread. I was overwhelmed and under nourished. I was spending a lot of time online, specifically on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. I have never been (and can say with 94% certainly, that I won’t ever be) on Twitter or TikTok but FB and IG were frequent apps for me. I would check social media right after waking up, throughout the day and then before bedtime. It would consume 2+ hours of my day. I noticed I wasn’t sleeping as well and was overall more on edge. I believe (and research will back this up) that humans
A) Aren’t suppose to keep tabs on so many people and
B) Shouldn’t have bright light near their eyes so close to bedtime
This over stimulation lead me to emotional unrest and in June of 2020 I deleted both apps from my phone.
Here’s what I did instead
I read…a lot! I read more books in 2020 and 2021 than probably in the 10 years prior. And that’s saying a lot because I love to read! Without the scrolling at all hours of the day, I picked books I really enjoyed and read with deep fascination. I would read in bed, on the couch, on my rooftop deck or in my hammock at the park. I would get audio books from the Libby app and listen while walking my labrador Camden dog or cooking dinner. I fell in love with reading again.
I walked…a lot! I’m an avid runner so to take this activity and slow it down was an interesting process. I would think, “gosh what am I lazy, not running!” or “What if I’m walking and I see someone and they think I’m lazy.” Once I got over my fear of judgment for moving intentionally, it turned out that I liked walking just as much as running. I would walk in the morning, at lunch and more in the evening. Sweaty in the summer and bundled up in the winter, the movement was so much better than sitting on the couch scrolling.
I had girlfriend dates. The joy I get from being in loving and fierce friendships with other women totally lights me up. I would meet my gal pals for activities like walking, paddling, hiking, climbing, yoga, live music or just a cup of tea (coffee for most folks.) Rather than looking at their lives on social media, I was actively a part of them. Maybe they would take pictures of us and post on their social media and tag me, but I never saw it. Just being with the friends with enough…it lifted me up in all the best ways.
I journaled and meditated more. These are self-care practices that are soothing to the nervous system rather than activating. The more I journal / meditate the better I am at regulating my nervous system. Any time I would have spent scrolling was put into sitting on my meditation cushion in my Zen Den or journaling (preferably outside if the weather was decent)
I cooked. I love to make an elaborate meal, complete with fancy garnishes, even without posting a photo of it on the internet. For over a year I did Soup Sunday and didn’t post a damn picture. I would make enough soup for my household then drop the rest off to a neighbor or friend. Cooking and sharing it became a “thank you” or “I’m thinking about you” gift rather than a post. Turns out, even if the internet didn’t know about #shawniesoups, they were still happening.
I danced. Sometimes this was in the kitchen during the previously mentioned cooking session or in my Zen Den with the lights turned down and incense in the air. To pop on a bumping playlist and dance like no one was watching (other than Camden who enjoys dancing with me…seriously, we have the best time together) is a joy that my scrolling would have prevented. And I’m not someone who has ever been labeled a “good dancer.” But what does that mean…a good dancer? I look sexy / attractive? I can follow the steps based on a routine someone else choreographed? Dancing for me has been a heart lead discovery, one based on intuition.
I planned trips. Yes, you can plan a trip without Instagram. Because many of the “insta worthy” spots are there just for the photo op, not the cultural experience. I would use Pinterest (which yes, is social media) with the intention of finding itineraries that would guide my research into places to visit. I went on some of these trips but many will be realized in the months or even years to come. I find that waiting to plan a trip isn’t as fun as planning several trips at a given time and then when the opportunity presents itself, boom, I’ve got the initial research done, I just have to book the flights. Everything lives in my google drive on word docs and excel files so I can add it to them at any time.
I dove deeper into personal development work. This came from reading the books as well as taking classes and courses. Coursera is a favorite for free content and learning new skills or discovering new information. I was learning for the sake of curiosity, not to get a degree (classic Gemini)
I did nothing. Like actually nothing. Not trying to fill the void, but rather letting myself observe how it felt to not be doing something. I let myself get bored. I let myself feel a bit awkward when my husband or friend left the restaurant table and I was alone. I notice that if there was a pause, I didn’t have to fill it with a “quick check” of social media. I could simply sit and observe.
Now I’m back on social media but have time limits and try to move through this space with intentionality. I don’t have Facebook on my phone so I can only access it for a purpose, like looking up a friends birthday or an event via my laptop. And I have a 45 min max per day on IG. When the app times out, I usually I feel a sense of relief…I know it’s time to be done.
Perhaps you go cold turkey, do a full detox or minimize social media use. Explore what works for you and how you can better use your time. Getting off social media means that you will have more time to get stuff done but it could also mean you have more time for rest. Whatever self-care looks like for you, you can give that gift to yourself by limiting social media time / using it more intentionally.
What are some of the things you’re doing when you’re not on social media? Please share in the comments below. Thank you for reading!