I have a social media addiction. This past week, I decided to be unplugged, meaning that I avoided television and the internet in order to focus on the school work I had been putting off. There were so many things that I wasn’t having time for in my day, like going to the gym, reading before bed, or cooking breakfast, so I wondered if this would help. Here are four things that happened when I became unplugged.
1. I Had a Greater Attention Span
Before I gave it up I was no longer able to just sit and think about things; I needed to be on my phone. If I were at a red light, bored in class, or watching a TV show and it had gotten to a slow part in the plot then I was on my phone. I started to get headaches from this constant stimulation. I needed a break. Since easing off social media and TV, I am able to focus longer on my homework and other tasks without getting easily bored and getting online.
2. I Fell Asleep Faster
I have always had a hard time falling asleep. I usually would have to watch a couple episodes of "Friends" before I got tired, but without TV, I fall asleep about 15 minutes after going to bed. I stayed asleep longer and had more energy the next day.
3. I Got Stuff Done
If you relied on the internet and TV as much as I did, then there will come times that you are incredibly bored. During these times, I started to accomplish task that I had put on the back burner. I cleaned out my back pack, organized my closet and started some of my homework early. Getting all of these extra things done made me feel happier since the things around me were clean and organized.
4. My Life No Longer Felt So Rushed
Without these things filling up my free time, I had time to get ready for the day by making breakfast or packing a lunch without feeling rushed. I also had time to reflect on what I wanted to do that day or what I had already done.
College is such a busy time and the amount of time that we spend scrolling through our Facebook or Instagram feed really adds up. We should be saving that time for getting the things done that we need to and after that stuff is done then watch TV or get on social media. If you aren’t able to completely give up social media, then I challenge you to set a limit for yourself and think about the things in your life that you have been missing out on.
