In case you missed it, I recently stopped using my personal Facebook page. It was a brave act of obedience on my part. No seriously, it was 🙂
Since I have stopped perusing with my personal Facebook page and news feed I have accomplished quite a bit.
First, I set up my new office! It still requires painting and so much more but it will do for now. I simply shopped our house and ta-da, I had enough to decorate the wall behind my desk. The desk is My Dave’s from when he was a kid and he has graciously agreed to allow me to paint it.
I love pictures and am so thankful that in the time my Pete was here on this earth, I overwhelmed him with photo shoots (although maybe he wasn’t). Anyway, we met our primary photographer, the amazingly talented Kirsty Larmour, while living in Abu Dhabi and I cherish our pictures. That’s why I am a firm believer in mixing pictures from the past and present all around the house. Notice how I have both my Pete and my Dave’s nursery embroideries hanging on the wall behind my desk, as well as our St. Germain family Mission Statement my Pete wrote before our little Izzy was born. To me, these things make a house a home because they have shaped us. Another example that new love and loss can and should intermingle.
In addition to my office I learned how to make fresh baked bread! You guys, this recipe is seriously amazing and so easy. I consider bread making a lost art because we are so conditioned to buy it despite the fact we can make it better (in so many ways) at home. My family has raved about the final result. Next on the list is to replace the all purpose flour with whole wheat flour. I also used olive oil instead of canola oil.
I have also taken apart the island in the kitchen, replaced it with a pub table, put up shelves to add storage, organized my closet, baked with my kiddos (Izzy helped me with the bread and loved watching it rise), written more, started seeking direction for the blog, purged my clothes, and joined Bloglovin.
If you do not know about Bloglovin, it generates a daily feed of all the blogs you follow so you have it all in one place. I promise it will not disappoint!
The reality is, I have felt lighter since giving up Facebook but I have also noticed how much the world revolves around it. I have missed party invites, been denied retailer coupons, and missed my little sister’s prom pics (because, “Didn’t you see them on Facebook?”) all because I am not currently using my personal Facebook page. Crazy, huh?!?! I think so. I have also had to recondition myself to not think of sharing on Facebook every time I find a great photo opportunity.
Here are a couple ideas to help you decrease your own screen time:
– Keep your phone in your purse or pocket while in the car.
– Leave your phone in the car when you eat out with family or friends or go on a date. (Last Saturday we both left our phones at home when we went out on a date-totally by accident, but nice nonetheless.)
– Set parameters for your cell and computer usage during the day. Example, only before breakfast, no screen time after dinner, only in the kitchen, etc..
– Just put it away. Out of sight, out of mind. Right?!?!
I have to reiterate that being mindful about my social media usage and screen time is a work in progress but I feel that giving up the use of my personal Facebook page has caused me to be much more cognizant about how and when I use my phone and other devices.
What about you?
What are some of your favorite ways to unplug?
I’d love to hear them ❤
4 thoughts on “What I Have Accomplished Since Nix-ing FB {for Personal Use}”
Tamie
Loved the look of the bread. Nice job. I made bread until my kids were late elementary. They loved helping. I still enjoy the smell in the house and the therapy of the kneading.
I should be close to getting my house. Maybe find out in the next couple days. All of my days have been filled with the planning. How to make the best use of my space, incorporate color, how to stay with the uniqueness of the home and make it my own. I can’t wait to get in and start.
I find my phone and computer time is sometimes intrusive and other times a life line. All of my children are grown, my kids are in 3 different states, I live alone, I have a lot of contact with kids I have coached that are off to college now, many of the are on a study abroad program, also all the kids that were around when my kids were in high school. Sam was a senior and Cora a freshman when Doug died. My house became the hang out. We had Friday night board games and once a month movie marathons, frisbee, and lawn games. Those kids got me though.
Most of them have moved on in their lives. But when I know they are in town we try to get together. I have cousins all over the us. I love the opportunity to stay in contact with them. I know when I was traveling it was so much easier to update everyone on my travels in this way. I am careful about the time I spend there and also about the people that are my friends. There are some I will never see and the contact we once shared is different. I let those go. So I am thankful for my face book 🙂 for those reasons.
My brother, sister-in-law and I are starting a blog. We haven’t really had the time to get it set up. We all work at schools so hopefully this summer.
You space looks beautiful. Makes me itchy to get started.
Alysha
Tamie, I am so excited for you (and a little jealous). I cannot wait to see the finished product once you are all moved into your little hut.
I understand your uses for Facebook and agree that it is a great networking tool. You and Doug have played a major role in the development of many people and I’m sure having the communication with them via Facebook gives you the opportunity to connect with that.
Please keep in touch once you start the blog. I would love to see what it’s all about!!! Blessings!
Melissa
Thanks for inspiring me to also give up Facebook! I have noticed that I just make more of an effort to text individuals personally since I’m not keeping up w them via the book. I also noticed that when I take a share-worthy picture and am itching to post it I really have one or two people in mind that I want to share it with. Instead of posting to the masses I just send the message directly to those individuals. I don’t feel like I’m missing anything since I’ve avoided Facebook! Thanks again.
Alysha
I’m glad you are noticing positive benefits from giving up Facebook too. I have noticed that it has dramatically cut down on the time I spend online and on my phone. I totally agree with you about the picture thing and being more intentional about who I initiate contact with. All good stuff!