A Fast

I'm taking a fast from social media. The endless stream of memes, the bickering over headlines, the celebrity gossip. It's all too much. I've taken it all in without a thought to what taking it all in means to me.

It's a overload on my system, so I've decided to take break.

30 days away from Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Linkedin, and Foursquare. As I make the list above, I realize how much I'm consumed by this thing called social media. Each of them is supposed to provide me with a particular service. But, the longer I use them, I become consumed rather than remaining the consumer.

Two of my most valuable commodities - my time and my energy - are wasted on this. Meanwhile, stacks of books and magazines that I want to read pile up beside my bed. Lists of things that I want to make and do with the kiddo remain pinned to the fridge. New places and adventures are still part of my fiction rather than my biography.

So, what am I doing blogging about it rather than fully experiencing it? Mostly, it's to note the changes, if any. Next, it's to encourage others. Finally, it's to stay accountable. I've told unknown readers (few as they are) about my plan and now I need to stick with it.

I hope this 30 day fast will lead to some other changes in the way I use social media and what I do with my time. I'm just starting (day four) and only time will tell.

For more on unplugging, check out Fast Company's article, ""#Unplug: Baratunde Thurston Left the Internet for 25 Days, and You Should, Too".