Giving Up Social Media To Be Happier

Last year, I decided to take the month of June off social media. We were traveling in Europe with friends and I wanted to enjoy the scenery and time with my husband and friends. It was a time to disconnect, not to mention part of the trip was an Azamara cruise so I didn’t want to pay for wifi. It was a time to disconnect.

What would you do if you had more time?

I discovered I enjoyed our travels so much more and I enjoyed the new found time I had to just be! No need to photograph everything or dress up to stage the perfect shot for Instagram. I realized that giving up social media made me happier.

Social Media is making People Vain

Social media made me feel more depressed, took a ton of my time, and became quite addictive. As I traveled the last few years, I wasn’t enjoying my travels the way I had used to. There are already so many travel influencers. I tired of everyone trying to get the perfect pose and shot all around the world. I’ve seen people trample flower fields to sit in a field of flowers, people wait in long lines for a photo, had a random women take my photo on a plane and post it to her social media accounts. It was more humorous to watch than try to have the same photo. Social Media has changed the way people travel and I longed to just enjoy the moments of sunsets, the taste of wine, and looking into my husband’s eyes.

Giving Up Social Media Can Make you Happier

When we arrived home, I felt no desire to go back on my social media accounts and instead spent more time in nature, reading more books, journaling and planting a rock flower garden. Before I knew it one month became the entire summer and I still didn’t feel like going back. I enjoyed how much time I got back in my life.

Every morning I did a morning ritual of reading, journaling, and meditating outside overlooking our new flower garden. Birds would come fly near me, Chipmunks would eat bird seed out of my hand, and an adorable Fox would sometimes cuddle up in the grass or on a rock. Nature always has a way of soothing your soul.

Spending Time in Nature is Good for the Soul

There was so much more time in my life I got back. I didn’t want to give it up. It was my time and I only shared it with my close friends and family. We traveled to San Diego, and Ireland at the end of summer and I didn’t even go on my social media accounts.

Journaling helped me realize what my dreams are and I used my time to work on them. Utilizing my knowledge of real estate I staged and sold an investment property we owned and traded it for a vacation rental in San Diego. I love the mountains but I had missed the ocean so much. The Fall kept me busy with decorating and getting our new property ready for rental. When December came, I realized I had spent almost the entire year off my It’s a Bonnie Thing social media accounts. What is next this year? I am not sure but I know it is important to use time wisely and be more productive.

Use Your Time Wisely

It is 2020 and a New Year and this year I will be using my time to write more, create, and spend more time in nature. Social Media can be a great tool and connecting with new people is what I like about it. My time on social media will be more limited this year to accomplish dreams and goals I wish to pursue.

If you find social media is getting you down, take a break, go for a walk, and spend more time outside. The world we live in is breathtakingly beautiful so go out and enjoy it without the feeling you have to take the perfect photo.  Life isn’t meant to be lived on a screen.

Always enjoy the view and seek the beauty in life.

Bonnie