A couple of weeks ago I participated in a tag on instagram called ’10 photos in 10 days’. I didn’t quite follow the rules, and it ended up taking me a couple of days extra to get 10 photos up, but after a very long absence from the platform it was a fun, lighthearted way to join back in.
Returning to social media after a break always feels awkward for me. I feel self conscious and unsure about what and how to share. So much is said about consumption of social media, but the production and creation and opening up of oneself (even a little) is just as intense. The 10 post concept was a good start. I used the tag loosley as an excuse to join back in again in a low pressure, playful way, and it worked. I loved thinking up my next post and sharing it. It was such a light hearted excersise that I started imaging myself continuing on and using the platform as a place to gather inspiration and keep a pretty album of my seasonal endeavors and creative projects. I still hope to do that, but having the app on my phone for 10 days confirmed what I long knew to be true, and what kept me off of instagram for so long; I am a doom scroller.
Call it a lack of discipline or maybe being high in trait openness, but I can not resist the scroll. If not for the real responsibilities in my life I could easily spend an entire morning, afternoon, evening, simply scrolling instagram.
I don’t necessarily think “doom” scrolling is bad. I think for many people it is a real way to wind down and relax. A way to gather seeds of inspiration. A way to connect. It can even be those things for me, when properly dosed (aka when done very very rarely). But when I sit and scroll too long or too often it is none of those things for me. I feel stressed, overstimilated, disconnected, isolated.
The answer to these feeling has been an almost complete withdrawal over the last few months, but my recent venturing back into the space has me looking for a solution that serves me. Looking for a way to curate a digital shared album of my making, enjoy inspiration, and to save myself from doom scrolling (too much) without the need for real self discipline. Self discipline in important, but I do have limited stores and need to use those stores in other areas of my life. And I think I have an answer.
I wrote about social media boundaries previously, and I am returning to those tried and true methods.
My plan:
- Having the app deleted from my phone as my default state.
- Planning days and times for downloading the app, and planning times when I will just check in on the online browser.
I’m excited to more forward and hopefully consciously reintegrate this form of social media into my life. I’d love to hear about your social media journey, if you have one.
Merryweather Living 