​If I attempt to continue this social break through the end of Lent for a total of 40 or so days, I am somewhere near the mid way point today at day twenty-three. I realize there may be value in reflecting on what I’ve LEARNed so far. And while I’m at it, you’ll learn a valuable tool to use to help summarize group meetings. Stick around! 

​It’s day twenty-one and I am still enjoying my time away from social media. In some ways it almost feels like I’m on vacation. You see, when you go on vacation you’re usually cut off from your crowd since you’re in a different location from them. Being off social media feels a little like that — I’m here, hanging out IRL (IRL = in real life) and my social network is hanging out in virtual reality. We’re apart and I cannot wait to share all my vacation stories with them when I return!  

​9:53am Yesterday was the second time I checked Facebook in sixteen days. It was almost like a chore and it took me 30 minutes to scan through all the messages for significance. For the first time in my life, I believe I am experiencing JOMO; the joy of missing out! 

​Skipping day eight’s social break journal worked so well for me that I just went on and skipped days 11-15! And now, keeping track of what day of my social break it is has become more challenging than staying off social media! I wouldn’t have anticipated that at the beginning of this experiment.

At any rate, here are a few additional day fifteen thoughts. 

I am learning: 

9:10am In case you didn’t notice, I skipped right over social break day eight. I don’t blame you, I almost didn’t notice! 

And that is saying something! I used to check social media like I used to smoke cigarettes — which is to say, a lot. And now, this week, I sailed right through day eight as if social media didn’t even exist!

Contrary to what you might think, my first thought wasn’t pride of my accomplishment. My first thought was one of fear and disappointment. It went kind of like this:

“Well, shit. This experiment is over. There’s nothing to write about.”

You see if I’m successfully off social media and it’s no big deal, there’s no entertainment value in documenting my experience. Is there?

​10:08am I am noticing that I am not “checking in” with this journal near as much as I was seven days ago. I suspect that this habit of checking into social media is loosening it’s grip. That is good news. 

And I am noticing that my social break is also beginning to lose its novelty. I woke this morning feeling a little indifferent about the project. Is it possible that I’m experiencing some success and am now taking it for granted? Possibly and yet more so, I suspect that I am officially moving into the next chapter of this social break. The honeymoon phase has worn off and now, it’s about the relearning the day-to-day living without social. 

​8:26am I’m noticing that my daily social “itch” is subsiding judging by the amount of times I’m “checking in”. On day one I checked in and logged journal entries several times through out the day. Yesterday, I think I logged only once in the morning. I feel like that may be progress. 

I’m also noticing I’m not missing my friends as much as I thought I would. I sincerely thought I would miss the people I interacted with. But maybe six days is not enough time to miss  anything. 

​6:24am it’s been five or so days since I’ve been off social media. I’m really enjoying the increased peace. Although I’m not sure it’s increased peace so much as it is reduced digital noise. I actually feel like I may have the bandwidth to process what I’m living. Is it possible that social is simply overloading our mental capacities to the point of numbness; being tuned out? Is it so subtle that we don’t even recognize it? 

​8:46am I’m really surprised and delighted that I’m beginning day four of my social break! When I started a few days ago I wasn’t sure I could even make it 24 hours! Now look at me! I’m also shocked at how much more expansive my mindset is since pulling the plug. For real, I never would’ve hypothesized feeling this significantly different! And I’m starting to feel a bit foolish. I mean, does everyone know that pulling the plug in social can feel like this except for me? Has there been article after article written about this phenomenon in natural health magazines and psychology e-zines that I’ve overlooked?! Is someone over in Medium screaming a “ditch social and your life will improve” message I’ve missed? I can’t be the first person to experiment like this. 

7:55am This is normally a time of day I’d be checking social. Surprisingly, I’m still not missing it and am really enjoying this break!