Friday, May 30, 2014

I just want to say...

I had a realisation last night that Facebook does nothing for me but get me riled up and waste my time. It was good for a time, when I was single and needed to stay up with what was happening in YSA and communicate quickly with a lot of people. But seriously what do I use Facebook for now? 

This is how it works. 
I open my laptop and my immediate reaction is to click on the most used site in my history (Facebook) or type www.f enter into the address bar. I have found myself doing this even when it was not my purpose for getting on the computer. 
I then scroll down the endless drivel on the newsfeed, a plethora of opinions it seems.
Status updates (which i've never really been into) seem to have turned into a place to cause as much controversy and generate as many comment/likes as possible. I mean it's a bit 'look at me' don't you think? Don't get me wrong, i'm just as guilty, in fact when something big happens in my life (i.e engagement, birth of a child) Hayden and I will both post and then check every two minutes to see how the likes/comments are ticking over...like a competition. (Hayden always wins btw).

(And this blog doesn't count cause no-one reads it or comments so i'm really using it as a safe way to talk to myself)

Do I really need likes and comments to up my self-worth? Or is it just a vehicle for Pride, I mean who really cares what i'm thinking? And why does my opinion matter more than anyone else's? And do I seriously think that voicing my opinion is going to change someone else's opinion? Ridiculous.

So given that I don't use Facebook to genuinely keep in contact with anyone. In fact i'm definitely LESS social because of it. And given that my opinion doesn't really matter, and what I think should really be discussed in real life with real people. Like maybe I should CALL someone instead of looking at their life on Facebook to try and suss out what they are up to. 
I've given it up. 

2 hours ago actually.

My goal is to sit down on the couch and instead of reaching for my phone or laptop to feed my Facebook addiction, i'm hoping that I will do other things. Like make a list of more productive things to do, OR just complete the list that i've had for the past 5 months! Maybe clean up a bit, iron Hayden's shirts, Skype a friend, paint a picture, do some cross stitch. Create a BETTER singing time lesson for Sunday. Bake a cake. (WOW the possibilities are endless). Write in my journal, (including my blog...look at me go!).

Oh and here's the clincher, spend more time CONCENTRATING on this handsome fellow:
 Because he is growing up SO fast. And I don't want him to remember his childhood as trying to fight the phone/laptop for attention. OR learn that being social is about sitting on the couch with a device.

















 He's napping now, I can't wait for him to wake up so we can PLAY!

And I'm definitely not one of those people that can limit my use of something (I just can't trust myself). I've always been a cold turkey kind of gal.

So goodbye dreary social media world. Hello more productive happy life! End.

6 comments:

The Kings said...

oi!! Excuse me! I always read your blog :) I have been thinking about this for so long too and always want to get off but just can't do it (yet) as I have lots of friends in the USA who I keep in contact with via FB....but then I also am in touch with them via Instagram too, but am just too chicken to do it. Go you! I wish I was brave enough.

Collette said...

Yay! I'm glad someone does :) thanks !!

Lisa Helen said...

Hey Collette, I always read it too. People don't comment much on mine either but you can look under posts and see if anyone has read it though. I'd like to thank you for getting me on FB. I love it but I use it as a tool for missionary work and inspiration and to keep in touch with those I want to. Just today someone thanked me for something I shared and a group of Saints went to listen to a motivational speaker as a result. Sorry, it hasn't been so useful for you. Make sure you skype me sometime too :) xx

melandpeter said...

It's like you were inside my mind as I feel exactly the same way and am guilty of the same things!! Arghh. I have been using it less and less since we moved to Adelaide. I'm like Lisa though, I couldn't completely let it go as it's how I keep in touch with overseas friends. I was thinking the other day that I don't want the boys memories of me to be with a phone permanently attached to me!

Elle said...

I never read your blog because it's boring ;) ha ha I feel exactly the same about FB too. I hate reading people winge and complain about stuff and argue over things etc it gets me really angry sometimes and I wonder why I do it? I can't take the plunge, but it's definitely helped

Elle said...

Oops... It definitely helped when I deleted my account and then only added certain people etc I have a massive list of people who have requested to be my friend but I refuse to accept ha ha and so be it if they are offended! In fact I might even go and delete some friends I haven't spoken to I forever. The main reason I justify it is to keep in contact with mission comps etc but then I also think if we really cared that much we would email each other specifically! I also like the RS page so I can get info on activities.. Anyway I'm justifying why
I'm a loser now ha ha so I should go and face book stalk some more... Just because it's a waste of time and you never know what life changing event might have happened in the last 5mins!!!!!!