How Much Time Are You Spending On Social Media?

In yesterday’s blog post we talked about the time we spend vegging out in front of the TV or computer and how that time slips away from us. Today, I want to tackle another big time thief – social media. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an amazing tool, but it can also be quite distracting. It doesn’t matter if it’s Facebook, Pinterest, Tumbler, Instagram, or your social media platform of choice.

The biggest problem with social media is that it’s everywhere. We check in from our computers, tablet, and of course the ever-present smartphone. We get alerts, we check in when we’re bored, or have a couple of minutes to kill. Before we know it, thirty minutes or more have gone by that we’re not getting back.

Here’s an eye-opening exercise for you. Carry a pen and paper around with you, get a click counter or an app on your phone and start keeping track of how many times you access social media per day. Include any and all devices you use and add to the running total even when you’re just looking at it “for a second”. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be a bit shocked by how high that number actually is. This is one distraction that isn’t usually caught by the time log we talked about a few days ago since the social media interactions are so quick and frequent. Trust me though, no matter how briefly you access each platform, it all starts to add up and distracts you from other things.

How often do you miss part of a conversation or a fun moment with your kids because you were busy commenting on a Facebook post, retweeting something, or pinning a fun craft idea that you likely won’t get around to trying? Is it worth missing all those important little moments in life? My mentor, Stu McLaren says he gives his kids a dollar if they catch him on his phone three times during any given day. Again, it's about making priorities. And just think about what you would have time and mental energy to do if you weren’t constantly distracted by social media?

The goal is to live more intentionally and do things with purpose. We don’t want to let social media posts distract us from that goal. I’m not saying that there isn’t a time to use social media, far from it. They are a wonderful tool and a great way to connect with people. But they are also dangerously addictive. Don’t believe me?

Here’s another exercise for you. What would happen if you were to commit to not using social media at all for 48 hours? Could you turn off or ignore the alerts on your phone and don’t allow yourself to go to the sites on your computer? How does that feel? Would you miss it? Does it make you nervous or anxious?

It’s time to take control of social media instead of letting it control us. What can you change starting today to make that happen? 

Could you plug your phone into a charger in another room overnight? Could you manage some self-care practices before checking social media in the morning? Can you put the phone away during meals or when you are with others?

Much of what I do is prepared with a computer and is online. A House With Four Rooms has the Facebook page, a private group, a website that hosts this blog, the online courses, ebooks, A Pilgrimage to Self lifestyle membership, and private membership community. With the many hours I put into this site, I look for a life-work-harmony balance. You'll need to be purposeful in finding your own balance.

Today, think about your social media habits and go over to the Facebook group and let us know what your thoughts are...do you use social media purposefully?

Cheers!

Lisa

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