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a year off social media // experiment

  • Writer: sustainatives
    sustainatives
  • Dec 1, 2019
  • 4 min read

Updated: Dec 28, 2020

as a 23rd birthday gift for myself, I am deciding to have a year off social media.

I contemplated deleting most of my accounts (Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, old Lunarwildling blog), but after some reflection realised that was coming from a fear-based place; I was scared I’d fail otherwise. I was scared the temptation would be too strong. That I would find it too hard to space myself away from these platforms.


Lunarwildling 'Goodbye Instagram' Post
old Lunarwildling post

Old Lunarwildling Social Media detox post
An even older Lunarwildling post



This Year’s Birthday (23rd):

  • Clarify ‘why’

  • Set intentions and boundaries

  • Where am I at with social media and tech use at the moment

  • Log out and delete apps or saved passwords

  • Send out messages to relevant folks


Why:

I then realised that I’m doing this out of curiosity: what is life like without social media?

Will ‘missing out’ on what’s going on in the world through these platforms/other people’s lives actually hinder my own experience?

Where will this feeling of wanting to express my journey go?

Where will I channel my creativity? What medium will I use? Music? Writing? Body movement?

What will I learn in the 12 months about using social media in a wholesome and nourishing way?


And the biggest question of all: what will enter my life when/if I shift this energy? Clarity? Trust in the abundance? Freedom? A deepening of self love?


These questions I’ve been asking myself over and over again. I feel it’s time to pack my satchel and go on an inward (and maybe outward too) exploration. It’s exciting, it’s scary, freeing, daunting, liberating and debilitating all at once.


Intentions and Boundaries:

So. What doest this mean right now?


I will keep my sharing platforms but won’t be active on them. This means searching, scrolling, watching, posting, interacting with others I will give people an alternative way of getting in contact with me

The rest- I will have to find out as I go.


I will make intentions as I go, but also be flexible for them to shift as my journey evolves.

For example:


Logging on/downloading the app/looking through web versions (i.e Instagram) is a definite no

BUT

Searching the web through Google/Ecosia is okay


Facebook, Instagram, Blogging, YouTube, Pinterest: all of these will be put on hold.

With the exception of YouTube: I can use if for learning (i.e. for expanding my knowledge on a concept) or for my health and well-being (Yoga flows- Yoga with Adrienne) but not watching YouTuber’s weekly/regular uploads, or uploading myself.

This is to be used with intention and mindfulness. Each video is watched with my ‘why’ fully present.


Where am I at with social media and tech use?

Right now my relationship to both is a lot better than it used to be. But this nagging feeling is still present, and after a few days worth of reflection I decided to honour this curiosity and give it a chance to be explored.


When I use technology I am aware that it’s taking time away from the people around me. It is connective to like-minded people online, but it’s not worth it if I’m not present to my family, partner and friends.

Relationships are built and nurtured through showing up, not hiding away from them.

I am learning to let those around me know I will be focusing on the screen for an amount of time, and to put the intention to focus on the task I’m doing. Multi-tasking is put away.


This is about presence (I’ll be doing such and such for this hour and I’ll be with you completely outside of this) and not just about efficiency (“let’s see how much I can do in this hour”). I’m not 100% focused on people in the room if I’m on the screen, and vice versa.


Personally, I feel it best to make the intention of setting aside a specific amount of time I’ll be using tech, with some room to go beyond it if I happen to be in flow with the work I’m doing. Otherwise it’s screen down and away.


As for social media- I am learning.

To use it as a sharing platform. As a resource. As an inspiration board.

But I still get sucked into mindless scrolling.

  • Into comparing myself to other’s journey’s, even if a huge part of me is cheering them on for living their life to the full.

  • Into other people’s stories, slowly forgetting my own and getting lost in the image and identities.

  • Into searching for validation and confirmation externally instead of turning inwards and discovering the answers to all my questions are already here.

  • Into negative thought patterns (“why don’t I have that?” Or “they’re life is so much better than mine”).


I still edit my photos. Get stuck in the ‘aesthetic matters’ mindset. Fussing over little details. Making sure my content is of good quality. Filling up my digital storage space with images and videos I will probably never share. Not saying any of these are wrong, but at this stage in my life these actions feel more toxic than they are nourishing.



I acknowledge this isn’t everybody’s journey.


Some people seem to be able to use technology and social media with ease and clarity. I guess this story is for the people who are also asking the same questions as I am.

If you are, please let me know. I’d love to connect and hear your story.


Next Year’s Birthday (24th):

  • Reflection: where am I at?

  • Is it still relevant?

  • Set intentions and boundaries if I am to go back on social media


Let's have a little trip down memory lane on the old Lunarwildling Instagram page:



platform 9 3/4 Kingscross, London
Gap year in the U.K (2015)

Me not knowing that this is just the beginning of my search for a holistic and spiritual life

2016: the year environmentalism entered my life

When I entered the veganism sphere

Melbourne/city life + Friends that helped expand my heart and mind.


A month in Indonesia with the soul sister

Struggling with life direction (look at that tired face...)

First experience with WorkAway, and feeling a new sense of freedom with my life

moving back to my home state. trying out studying further education

moving. once again. desiring to live a much simpler life aligned with Mumma Nature

meeting soul friends. experiencing Newkind Conference. being a wild child.

taking the first few steps with beginning Sustainatives

Thank you for those who have supported my journey so far.


I feel this is only the beginning. There is so much to learn and explore and I hope to receive them all with an open heart.


May your journey be nourishing and fruitful.


I’ll see you next year 😉


Peace and Love

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