For days, I had been in a funk. A cry-yourself-to-sleep, hopeless and helpless, where-do-I-go-from-here type of funk, to be more exact. I found a distraction in Facebook, refreshing my feed every five minutes to see who was online, what other people were doing, what I could "like" next. It became a slight obsession, and in fact, my endless quest for the Facebook status that would change my mood always left me feeling even worse. It was then, at the suggestion of a family member, that I decided to take a break.
I deactivated my Facebook, setting the account up to reactivate in three days. I could do three days. I wouldn't miss much. I even let myself keep my Instagram and Snapchat open.
At first, my much-needed break from Facebook left me reeling. I felt like I was going crazy, wondering who was online, who was liking articles and pictures that just might carry a secret message just for me. I itched to reinstall the app on my phone, or at the very least, start up my computer and check my notifications. It was hard to separate myself from the chains of Messenger and the gag-inducing ties to how I would react to Teen Vogue's latest article on what Kendall Jenner did for the Fourth of July or HiddleSwift's latest escapades. It was even more difficult to stop thinking about other people and allow myself to focus on me. That was the first day.
When I woke up the next day, I managed to avoid scrolling through my Facebook feed as if it was the morning paper. Instead, I put away the tower of laundry I had allowed to pile up in my room, sorting through the mess that had cluttered my room. Later, I went to the library and returned all my overdue books, selecting new ones that I had never heard of, searching through hidden aisles uninhabited by other readers. I also treated myself to an eye shadow palette I had been coveting for months and although my wallet was sad and empty, I, for the first time in days, was not. I began to think more about what would make me the happiest, and I did those things. It was surprisingly refreshing.
To conclude my three days of Facebook freedom, I took it upon myself to climb a mountain. I had decided earlier in the summer that it was my goal to climb a 14'er, but thus far, I hadn't really done much about it. So, I woke up far too early and hiked the most difficult trail on the mighty Mount Sanitas. Much like my social media break, the trail was unbearably strenuous at the start. My legs shook like Jell-O half a mile in, and I don't even want to talk about the unbelievable amount of sweat dripping down my body. I wanted to turn around. But the desire to climb the mountain and begin my training in earnest was much stronger. I pushed through the negativity that I had been fighting for so long and I eventually made it to the top.
In a few hours, my Facebook account will reactivate. My three days will end. However, the mental strength and sense of optimism I built without a single "like" will remain. I am not claiming that a few days away from Facebook will heal a person's soul. However, taking a break from social media can definitely help facilitate the kind of growth I was able to make. I was able to live in the moment, and act in a way that really did turn my emotions around. So, if you too are in a Facebook funk, or if you're in the throes of an Instagram illness, consider taking a break. Deactivate your account for a while or uninstall the app. See what life outside the screen of your phone has to offer. It will be worth it.
