The Seven Experiment - Week 4 - Media
I have to admit, this is getting a bit overwhelming. Can I even keep up??This week, I have chosen to unplug in several ways. No television. No Instagram or Facebook, and no phone during meal times or when my children need my attention (I know, that’s a bit subjective, but I’m trying!)This didn’t start out well for me. I botched the first two days so I started fresh on day 3 and I’ve committed to seven days of sobriety.
Here is what is very obvious to me: when I want to cope, check out of life, take a break: I heart media. I don’t want to read a book, journal or engage my thoughts…I want to escape from my life!!!But it’s a bit of a catch 22 for me. Because rarely, when I engage certain types of media, do I feel any better. And often times I feel much worse.It reminds me of Romans 7:15:
“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”
For instance, when I spend time on Facebook or Instagram, I typically walk away frustrated with the amount of time that just slipped through my fingers. And what do I get for that spent time? Typically an influx of lies: “My life is boring”, “I’m not special.” Add to that a distinct feeling of isolation and I wonder: “why, again, did I just spend an hour on Facebook?”I was talking to my mom recently and telling her that I think I may be forming an addiction with my phone. I told her, with a titch of facetiousness, that I’m afraid I’ll be sitting in a nursing home some day and not remember my boys faces but instead remember what my phone looked like. Sigh!Now, I’d hate to give off the impression that the less media the better. I think this can look different for every individual and in every season of life. Jen makes a great point towards the beginning of the week. She says: “Maybe remaining culturally savvy, sharp, and discerning, shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves is an advantage.”The key, for me, continues to be balance and perspective. And for me, the realization that during this season: less is more.So what about you? Do you feel addicted to your phone? Television? Facebook? Given that we are all busy and have limited time, do you feel like you need to reassess how you are spending your time in this area?