Last month I took a Facebook break. I felt overwhelmed – with online and offline life. I just wanted to escape for a while. I felt suffocated, watched, pounced upon at times, argumentative, lost for and full of words simultaneously, and tired. So tired.
(I want to write about activism burnout in depth soon, but I’m still tired.)
I couldn’t pretend that everything is ok when it wasn’t.
As an online writer, I put myself out there, addressing (what I and others consider to be important) issues and giving a lot of myself.
These recent months have been really tough and I needed time out, away from the noise, criticism and seemingly never ending issues. It’s sometimes thankless and met with a lot of misunderstanding about me. I know I don’t have to ‘take on’ every cause, but when issues around discrimination and exploitation of appearance affect people in my community, they affect me.
It seems relentless – ableist language, lack of solidarity from a support group, misuse of our photos for exploitation, the demonisation of those who dare to speak up, photos of naked children in Facebook groups because people are desperate for medical answers, the misunderstanding of activism from friends, awful behaviour from other bloggers, the high expectations to be on/polite/educating/putting up with at all times, scams to tug at heartstrings and to open wallets…
It’s not all bad though. I love what I do. I just can’t do it all.
It’s funny how words and pictures we scroll our thumbs over can weigh us down. They only exist virtually, but crawl into our hearts and minds, chipping away at our emotions. Tragedy, issues, events and opinions can be burdensome.
During the week off Facebook, I reconnected with life. I read books. Wrote. Watched TV. Caught up on chores. I also was blissfully unaware of all online outrage. When I logged back on, I saw one of the most shared stories was an inspiration porn one, about a disabled man in McDonalds. I was so glad I missed that!
I’m proud of my online writing. I try to work hard at it, research well and talk to lots of people so I can learn and grow. During that week off, lots of friends emailed or texted asked where am I?, concerned and hoping they’d see my musings again soon. It was really nice to know that I (and my writing) was missed – I surely missed my Facebook friends. But the thing that made me smile the most was when a friend texted me asking me to send her a daily photo of what I’m wearing, because she missed my outfits the most.
That week I’d unplugged was so refreshing. My world didn’t end. I still kept up with the news, via news websites and Twitter, selecting what I read on my own terms. I didn’t get sucked into circular comment wars. When I reconnected, I wrote many words for long form pieces that I’m proud of, and have been even more considered about how I engage on Facebook. I’m not clicking on every link to outrage. If I see an issue that I could weigh in on, I consider the impact it will have on me and the impact I could have on it, and walk away if needed. And those decisions mean I feel lighter.
(This post is for a little group project about plugging in and being unplugged, inspired by Erin from Design for Mankind, and led by Pip Lincolne. Read others’ pieces and join in via Pip’s blog.)
I really like the point about the weight we attach to images we scroll over so lightly. I think it is really important that we remain vigilant about the way we are interpreting the words and images so that they don't influence our thinking and the way we see ourselves in a way that is potentially destructive to our health x
Such a great point, Carly, about the weight that the images we simply scroll over can have on our psyche – we form judgments so easily about the people portrayed in these images or how they show we should be living our lives. I think we constantly need to remain vigilant about what we are seeing and reading and to question how we are interpreting the words and images.
Yep the world won't end of you unplug – for your sanity's sake. Balance is the key (in almost everything), isn't it
A week off Facebook sounds kinda nice! I wish it was that you didn't *need* to do it though, just that you wanted to, that would have been much nicer for you. Why all the hate people? To be honest (and I was being a bit naive) I didn't realise there was so much direct hate on blogs and by bloggers. Maybe because I am new to the blogger world and I haven't chatted a lot with bloggers until relatively recently. It's like high school girls all over again. Bleh. Which books did you read on your break?
Balance is key! Though if only I balanced my bank account a bit better!
Hello! For the most part bloggers are LOVELY! I've met so many wonderful friends through it. But I guess as with all relationships, opinions differ and people get their claws out. Lucky I have met so many wonderful people (and believe in what I write) so that keeps me going. Thanks for the comment x
Love the Anne Lamott quote Carly (so true) and the term 'inspiration porn' – not sure I've heard that before? I really hate those click-bait stories though and everyone gets tied up in them. I think we should all be mindful of our own limits and let ourselves 'off the hook' a bit more for trying to be always on/there/aware.
I've read about 4 books in the last 2 weeks because I've prioritised reading (and my writing) over TV/blogging/social media. And it feels great! x
Oops- I read Julia Watson's book, and also one about Sandy Hook and The Anti Cool Girl.
I have felt this keenly many times – wanting to shake off something I have seen or read on Facebook and being unable to. I am so glad that your break led to fresh inspiration and great writing.
That is such a great quote! We usually holiday where there is little wi-fi, so that is a Facebook/online break and I don't miss the online chatter at all. We should take a day off a week, like an anti-screen mini vacation. An unplug and recharge day!