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| Accept the Challenge HERE |
Something had to change.
In January I took a break from social media. I wasn't sure how hooked I was, but I could sense an unhealthy preoccupation. Once I deleted the apps, out of habit I still slid one screen and tapped the top right app every time I opened my phone. Muscle memory glitched for a couple days.
The noticeable hiccups were when I thought of something, or when my kids did something funny ... it was like a tree falling in a forest. If no one on social media saw it and laughed, was it really funny?
Without a daily alert of birthdays across the country, I was limited to sending well-wishes to friends and family whose birthday was already in my calendar or consciousness.
All our January birthdays and our anniversary were celebrated in the quiet, undocumented vibrance of real life.
I started texting photos and some of my musings to individual friends. I enjoyed the chatting that resulted from my need to be heard.
I started asking people how they were doing and checking in with a wider array of friends. I enjoyed the connection that resulted from my desire to hear from others.
I read books and wrote essays, and organized my closet. I took walks and worked puzzles and wondered what I was missing. And, I started watching TV, which I do not enjoy, but it was an easy filler for those mindless moments of vegetative lounging.
I read the Bible every day. I was present with my kids. I'd like to say I began to floss, but that would be a lie. There is so little hope for me in that area.
Eventually, several weeks later, I reloaded the apps and enjoyed freshly appointed boundaries like "only on Friday night and saturday" or "not while kids are awake".
One little taste of freedom helped me to reconsider the habits I had coasted into, and to recommit to better manage my media consumption. It seems like it may be time for another reset, so we've decided to host a 5-Day Change-It-Up Challenge: swapping our scrolling for a good bit of freedom.
Freedom from preoccupation, comparison, approval-seeking, isolation (that masquerades as connection), and freedom from dull inactivity.
Who thinks a break sounds timely? It's five days. May 10-14. You can do anything for five days! Just a taste. It will be a challenge, but I promise it will be fun!
Everyone who agrees to the challenge will receive five daily emails filled with ideas and inspiration to help you along the way. You can also opt in to receiving a text each morning and evening for an extra boost of encouragement. Each person who accepts the challenge is encouraged to gather a few friends who know about the challenge ... so that whether or not they also join, they at least have fair warning that you may indeed blow up their inbox with silly photos of your pets for a couple days. At the end of the 5 days, we CELEBRATE!!
If scrolling has you bogged and you're ready to change it up, Accept the Five-Day Change-It-Up Challenge HERE to enjoy a tiny taste of freedom. We hope you'll join the fun!
*Sign-ups will close next Saturday. Then the day after Mother's Day is GO-Time!! Change-It-Up Challenge: M-F, May 10-14 with real life gathering on Saturday, May 15.
