There really is not much to say.
I used Facebook once, but not as myself, as I have social media duties for the Roller Derby league I skate with, so had to update their page with information about the next fresh meat intake.
I still haven't had much free time as I am on late shifts this week, so I will really start to see the impact next week, when I have free evenings.
I have managed to read over 100 pages of the book I started at Christmas (Game of Thrones). Surprising, when using Facebook I only managed 147 pages between Christmas Day and the 13th Feb. On one day alone, I read 100+, which just shows how much of my spare time was going at reading Facebook.
I feel Facebook isn't enjoying the fact I haven't been looking at it though. Within 48 hours, I recieved an email, telling me i had notifications pending, and that 12 people on my friends list had statuses for me to read. It WANTS YOU TO LOOK. Not working Facebook, not working.
I also feel a lot more relaxed. How this relates to not reading Facebook I have no idea.
I thought maybe my usage of other social media sites would increase, but if anything, they have decreased. Twitter is still something I scroll though for about 5 minutes a day, if that. Then again, my twitter is mostly D list celebrities being weird, and a small fraction of friends.
Instagram hasn't been holding my attention either, I don't know if it is the content currently (you are all suddenly BORING) or that I just don't feel the need any more.
I think I now realise why a lot of blogs and articles I read about people leaving Facebook were short, or only reported a few days, or simply a conclusion: once you haven't had it for 48 hours, you don't really need it.
Life went on with it, and life still goes on without. Once you get over the feeling of missing out on something, some important post you really should have read, you're not bothered. That is how I've felt anyway.
Things I would have put on Facebook today? It's Valentines Day, I would probably have wished everyone a Happy Valentines. I may have posted about proposing to my Derby Wife (See Urban Dictionary Definition for Derby Wife... she said YES! :D ) and about the lovely rose and card I got from Mr Wolf. Or about the fact I forgot to take lunch to work and then forgot to buy some before the canteen closed.
Nuggets of information that form mere novelty in the Facebook world. Each status would have been liked or commented on, guranteed. Am I missing out by not having that?
I think I only have one reader here even after posting the address on my Facebook so people could follow progress - if you have been reading though, leave us a comment so I know? Would be interested to see how many of you there are. :)
Happy Valentines/Overpriced greetings card Day! xx
Thursday 14 February 2013
Wednesday 13 February 2013
Life without Facebook: Day 1
This morning, I woke up, crawled out of bed, went downstairs and made pancakes for breakfast.
Seriously. I did this before even making tea, or lighting a cigarette. Weird, for me at least.
I checked twitter. I checked instagram. I read the forum I frequent. And then I got ready for work and left.
What is weird, is life without Facebook seems an awful lot...quieter. Not that Facebook was loud, although, I suppose it is in a way.
It's like a lot of little voices have stopped in my head. Instead of my brain managing the thoughts of me + 100 or so other peoples daily lives, today, it was only really thinking about mine. Its really quite nice.
I suppose, in a way, Facebook is inviting every other persons thoughts into your head unknowingly. It certainly was the way I was using it, unable to go 10 minutes without checking for new status updates. Maybe, in some subconcious way, being up to date with everyone clutters the mind somewhat. You may not realise it, but the thoughts are there.
Is it possible our brain is still processing other peoples problems, thoughts, ideas and issues once it's consumed them, no matter how much you think it's just innocently keeping up with other people?
Today I read this article: Five Ways Facebook Can Be Bad For Your Mental Health
But the part that rang true with myself was:
"Dr. Charles also found that many become stressed at the thought of missing out on something good posted to the site, a phenomenon now known as the “fear of missing out,” which has become so widespread it has its own acronym (FOMO)."
This is perhaps because I did not go the whole day without looking at Facebook in some form. Mr Wolf is not very technically minded, and asked me to help him upload a picture to his page. And he showed me some photos of a mutual friend in her pants (True story) but beyond that, I didn't log in or read anything of my own.
Mr Wolf did kindly tell me some people had commented on my last status advising of my Facebook Holiday, and read the replies out to me.
I don't know if Izzy reads my blog, but I wanted to let her know, yes, there is some kind of inner peace existing outside of Facebook, and that so far, I have spent my time catching up on the book I am reading (Being at work, and on late shifts, I haven't had an awful lot of spare time!).
In other, none Facebook related news, my mum bought me a lovely new cardigan today, black, made of lovely chunky knit wool, and very cosy for this wintry weather we are having.
Mr Wolf cooked us a lovely roast chicken and cous cous for supper, and our Dogs D'amour tickets turned up in the post this morning for their show in Wolverhampton on the 3rd of March. It is the original line up and I'm very excited for it.
I shall leave you with my favourite Dogs D'amour song, as I feel I have rambled enough for today, and want to go have one last cup of tea and a good read of my book before bed. :)
"Well in to the bright lights, the rain in the gutters still the same, washing twice as many young, hopeful hearts down the drain..."
Seriously. I did this before even making tea, or lighting a cigarette. Weird, for me at least.
I checked twitter. I checked instagram. I read the forum I frequent. And then I got ready for work and left.
What is weird, is life without Facebook seems an awful lot...quieter. Not that Facebook was loud, although, I suppose it is in a way.
It's like a lot of little voices have stopped in my head. Instead of my brain managing the thoughts of me + 100 or so other peoples daily lives, today, it was only really thinking about mine. Its really quite nice.
I suppose, in a way, Facebook is inviting every other persons thoughts into your head unknowingly. It certainly was the way I was using it, unable to go 10 minutes without checking for new status updates. Maybe, in some subconcious way, being up to date with everyone clutters the mind somewhat. You may not realise it, but the thoughts are there.
Is it possible our brain is still processing other peoples problems, thoughts, ideas and issues once it's consumed them, no matter how much you think it's just innocently keeping up with other people?
Today I read this article: Five Ways Facebook Can Be Bad For Your Mental Health
But the part that rang true with myself was:
"Dr. Charles also found that many become stressed at the thought of missing out on something good posted to the site, a phenomenon now known as the “fear of missing out,” which has become so widespread it has its own acronym (FOMO)."
This is perhaps because I did not go the whole day without looking at Facebook in some form. Mr Wolf is not very technically minded, and asked me to help him upload a picture to his page. And he showed me some photos of a mutual friend in her pants (True story) but beyond that, I didn't log in or read anything of my own.
Mr Wolf did kindly tell me some people had commented on my last status advising of my Facebook Holiday, and read the replies out to me.
I don't know if Izzy reads my blog, but I wanted to let her know, yes, there is some kind of inner peace existing outside of Facebook, and that so far, I have spent my time catching up on the book I am reading (Being at work, and on late shifts, I haven't had an awful lot of spare time!).
In other, none Facebook related news, my mum bought me a lovely new cardigan today, black, made of lovely chunky knit wool, and very cosy for this wintry weather we are having.
Mr Wolf cooked us a lovely roast chicken and cous cous for supper, and our Dogs D'amour tickets turned up in the post this morning for their show in Wolverhampton on the 3rd of March. It is the original line up and I'm very excited for it.
I shall leave you with my favourite Dogs D'amour song, as I feel I have rambled enough for today, and want to go have one last cup of tea and a good read of my book before bed. :)
"Well in to the bright lights, the rain in the gutters still the same, washing twice as many young, hopeful hearts down the drain..."
Tuesday 12 February 2013
Fairwell, Facebook.
Time without Facebook: 1hr 15 minutes, roughly.
At midnight (ok, thereabouts, maybe a few minutes past) I signed out of Facebook on my phone, and removed the icon from the main screen.
I made sure I left contact details in case people need them. If you came here looking for them, you can comment on the blog, or use the email/twitter links provided on this page. :)
A couple of things:
Why didn't I deactivate my profile?
- Because my boyfriend asked me not to. He was concerned it would mess up his relationship status, and all the photos I have tagged him in, which it would. So, I uploaded a picture with writing on it saying I wasn't using Facebook, and made a status explaining thus.
Why didn't I uninstall the app?
- Because I have tried this before, in order to fix the app on my phone, and it doesn't seem to work. Smart phones FORCE YOU to have Facebook. Well, that is how it seems, I am sure if I tried hard enough I would find a way, but I don't want to mess anything up, so will just leave it there, lurking in the list of apps I have.
What will I do while I am away from Facebook?
- Read
I have much catching up to do with unread books.
- Learn Dutch. Or try to.
In August, me and Mr Wolf are planning to go to a festival in Amsterdam. I want to try and learn some useful phrases and such.
- Work out. Go for a walk. Do something other than just sitting.
Doesn't need an explination.
- Be creative
I am losing my creativity and this is sad. I need to pick up my guitar again. Play around on photoshop again. Take photos again. Write that book I always thought I would write. Even just get the craft stuff out and cover shit in glitter again. ^_^
- Not be so ignorant.
Because when you are reading Facebook on your phone, conversation suffers. I will admit, many a time, when Mr Wolf is talking to me, not hearing what he just said, and just mumbling the right sounding words in his direction. This is AWFUL. It must stop.
- Not have to ask what I just missed in the TV program I'm watching
Irritating. Enough said.
Speaking of TV programs, another thing that really spurred on my decision to do this was watching the recent episode of Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror - entitled Be Right Back*.
It features a dude who uses his phone so much, technology is capable of creating a replica of him just using the information stored about him from social networking?
At the start of the episode, the guy in question is constantly looking at his phone. To the point where his girlfriend is stood in the pouring rain trying to get his attention to open the car door for her because she's got her hands full of scalding hot coffee. And still, door open, he returns to his phone instead of offering to help with the cups of coffee so she can get in the car.
A little later she makes him put the phone in the glove box so he can't use it. Again, later in the program, he is shown paying far too much attention to his social networking to realise his girlfriend just offered to serve him soup in a shoe.
That is what I was turning in to. And I found it annoying to watch. I don't want to be that, I don't want to be sidetracked by social networking so very much that the people I am around get irritated or dismiss me because my attention is not with them, it is with Facebook.
Tomorrow will be the start of me reclaiming my life, instead of filling it with what everyone else is doing in theirs.
*You can watch Black Mirror: Be Right Back on 4 on Demand here --> Black Mirror 4OD
(may only work in the UK, sorry folks)
At midnight (ok, thereabouts, maybe a few minutes past) I signed out of Facebook on my phone, and removed the icon from the main screen.
I made sure I left contact details in case people need them. If you came here looking for them, you can comment on the blog, or use the email/twitter links provided on this page. :)
A couple of things:
Why didn't I deactivate my profile?
- Because my boyfriend asked me not to. He was concerned it would mess up his relationship status, and all the photos I have tagged him in, which it would. So, I uploaded a picture with writing on it saying I wasn't using Facebook, and made a status explaining thus.
Why didn't I uninstall the app?
- Because I have tried this before, in order to fix the app on my phone, and it doesn't seem to work. Smart phones FORCE YOU to have Facebook. Well, that is how it seems, I am sure if I tried hard enough I would find a way, but I don't want to mess anything up, so will just leave it there, lurking in the list of apps I have.
What will I do while I am away from Facebook?
- Read
I have much catching up to do with unread books.
- Learn Dutch. Or try to.
In August, me and Mr Wolf are planning to go to a festival in Amsterdam. I want to try and learn some useful phrases and such.
- Work out. Go for a walk. Do something other than just sitting.
Doesn't need an explination.
- Be creative
I am losing my creativity and this is sad. I need to pick up my guitar again. Play around on photoshop again. Take photos again. Write that book I always thought I would write. Even just get the craft stuff out and cover shit in glitter again. ^_^
- Not be so ignorant.
Because when you are reading Facebook on your phone, conversation suffers. I will admit, many a time, when Mr Wolf is talking to me, not hearing what he just said, and just mumbling the right sounding words in his direction. This is AWFUL. It must stop.
- Not have to ask what I just missed in the TV program I'm watching
Irritating. Enough said.
Speaking of TV programs, another thing that really spurred on my decision to do this was watching the recent episode of Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror - entitled Be Right Back*.
It features a dude who uses his phone so much, technology is capable of creating a replica of him just using the information stored about him from social networking?
At the start of the episode, the guy in question is constantly looking at his phone. To the point where his girlfriend is stood in the pouring rain trying to get his attention to open the car door for her because she's got her hands full of scalding hot coffee. And still, door open, he returns to his phone instead of offering to help with the cups of coffee so she can get in the car.
A little later she makes him put the phone in the glove box so he can't use it. Again, later in the program, he is shown paying far too much attention to his social networking to realise his girlfriend just offered to serve him soup in a shoe.
That is what I was turning in to. And I found it annoying to watch. I don't want to be that, I don't want to be sidetracked by social networking so very much that the people I am around get irritated or dismiss me because my attention is not with them, it is with Facebook.
Tomorrow will be the start of me reclaiming my life, instead of filling it with what everyone else is doing in theirs.
*You can watch Black Mirror: Be Right Back on 4 on Demand here --> Black Mirror 4OD
(may only work in the UK, sorry folks)
Monday 11 February 2013
I'm giving up Facebook for Lent.
The past few days have made me realise that my day-to-day routine revolves around one thing. One little blue pill I can't seem to go an hour without.
Facebook. I am addicted.
Updating, reading, posting photos and clever anecdotes. Telling people about the most mundane elements of my life.
And the useful stuff, like relaying messages, sorting out events and keeping up to date with Very Important Things.
My general day goes like this:
I wake up. I hit the snooze button a few times. I wake up enough to roll over, unplug my phone from the charger, switch on my wireless connection and read Facebook.
Seriously. That is my routine. I then check Twitter, then Instagram. Then my email. Then I check a forum or two. Then I might get out of bed, go boil the kettle, make a cup of tea. Open the back door and smoke the first cigarette of the day, whilst checking Facebook... AGAIN.
If I'm on an early shift, I will continue to get ready, and go catch my train for work. When I get on the train, I will check Facebook, Twitter, Instagram... same line-up as above.
If I'm on a late shift, I will park myself on the couch, maybe have some breakfast - but as soon as I park my bum, I have to open Facebook. Yeah sure, there are only a few updates in the 15-30 minutes periods between which I am checking, but I do it none the less.
If I'm not at work at all that day, I will continue to check Facebook in these 15-30 minute periods whilst idly watching TV, until such a time as I have to do something else (Luckily, this isn't before long, because if I had too much time, I am pretty sure I would remain on the sofa, until my battery ran out).
When at work, I check Facebook before I go in the door. I then check it at lunch. And straight after I come out the door at home time.
I eat a meal on the couch instead of at the table? My phone is right next to me, with Facebook open.
I go ANYWHERE, I end up checking Facebook.
It is getting beyond ridiculous, it's obsessive, and unnecessary, and a ridiculous waste of time, battery power, and the data on my mobile phone when I am not at home.
Seriously. How did my life end up this way?
It wouldn't be so bad, but I have to, HAVE TO make sure I read every status update since the last time I looked at it. SRSLY?!
The final straw has come since Christmas. I am an avid reader of books, I could finish a decent wedge of a book in 3 days, I could consume a good 3 or 4 a week if I tried hard enough.
I would read into the early hours, until my eyes felt heavy or I'd fall asleep and wake up with print on my cheek.
These days? I'm reading bloody Facebook into the early hours. Prior to Christmas I started a book I still haven't finished. Since Christmas, I was bought the Song of Fire and Ice/Game of Thrones book series, that I was looking forward to so so much, and two months later I am still not even half way through the first book! Disappoint!
I even had a days leave booked from work with the SOLE PURPOSE of reading. I didn't read a damn thing. Because every time I try to, I OPEN FACEBOOK.
The development of smartphones has not helped this. It's too easy. Just push the button, read those new updates. Post that random thought you thought about. Upload the picture you took this morning of your cat in ANOTHER cute pose. Meanwhile, poor book sits there unloved.
And so it has come to this. It has to stop. I have researched google for people who have left Facebook, temporarily or indefinitely, or forever.
Some people go back to Facebook, and find they don't use it like they used to. Others have never gone back.
Some people find their social life suffers, because they don't know what is going on for the whole time they are away from it. On the flip side, the rediscover other interests, they focus on their work, their studies, they find their creativity again.
I will be recording my Facebook Detox here, for people who are interested. I will still be using Twitter (Something I don't use as frequently as Facebook) and Instagram (Because I love a good photo).
I will officially log out of Facebook on Wednesday. I would like to say I will manage it through till Easter, but we will see how it goes!
Facebook. I am addicted.
Updating, reading, posting photos and clever anecdotes. Telling people about the most mundane elements of my life.
And the useful stuff, like relaying messages, sorting out events and keeping up to date with Very Important Things.
My general day goes like this:
I wake up. I hit the snooze button a few times. I wake up enough to roll over, unplug my phone from the charger, switch on my wireless connection and read Facebook.
Seriously. That is my routine. I then check Twitter, then Instagram. Then my email. Then I check a forum or two. Then I might get out of bed, go boil the kettle, make a cup of tea. Open the back door and smoke the first cigarette of the day, whilst checking Facebook... AGAIN.
If I'm on an early shift, I will continue to get ready, and go catch my train for work. When I get on the train, I will check Facebook, Twitter, Instagram... same line-up as above.
If I'm on a late shift, I will park myself on the couch, maybe have some breakfast - but as soon as I park my bum, I have to open Facebook. Yeah sure, there are only a few updates in the 15-30 minutes periods between which I am checking, but I do it none the less.
If I'm not at work at all that day, I will continue to check Facebook in these 15-30 minute periods whilst idly watching TV, until such a time as I have to do something else (Luckily, this isn't before long, because if I had too much time, I am pretty sure I would remain on the sofa, until my battery ran out).
When at work, I check Facebook before I go in the door. I then check it at lunch. And straight after I come out the door at home time.
I eat a meal on the couch instead of at the table? My phone is right next to me, with Facebook open.
I go ANYWHERE, I end up checking Facebook.
It is getting beyond ridiculous, it's obsessive, and unnecessary, and a ridiculous waste of time, battery power, and the data on my mobile phone when I am not at home.
Seriously. How did my life end up this way?
It wouldn't be so bad, but I have to, HAVE TO make sure I read every status update since the last time I looked at it. SRSLY?!
The final straw has come since Christmas. I am an avid reader of books, I could finish a decent wedge of a book in 3 days, I could consume a good 3 or 4 a week if I tried hard enough.
I would read into the early hours, until my eyes felt heavy or I'd fall asleep and wake up with print on my cheek.
These days? I'm reading bloody Facebook into the early hours. Prior to Christmas I started a book I still haven't finished. Since Christmas, I was bought the Song of Fire and Ice/Game of Thrones book series, that I was looking forward to so so much, and two months later I am still not even half way through the first book! Disappoint!
I even had a days leave booked from work with the SOLE PURPOSE of reading. I didn't read a damn thing. Because every time I try to, I OPEN FACEBOOK.
The development of smartphones has not helped this. It's too easy. Just push the button, read those new updates. Post that random thought you thought about. Upload the picture you took this morning of your cat in ANOTHER cute pose. Meanwhile, poor book sits there unloved.
And so it has come to this. It has to stop. I have researched google for people who have left Facebook, temporarily or indefinitely, or forever.
Some people go back to Facebook, and find they don't use it like they used to. Others have never gone back.
Some people find their social life suffers, because they don't know what is going on for the whole time they are away from it. On the flip side, the rediscover other interests, they focus on their work, their studies, they find their creativity again.
I will be recording my Facebook Detox here, for people who are interested. I will still be using Twitter (Something I don't use as frequently as Facebook) and Instagram (Because I love a good photo).
I will officially log out of Facebook on Wednesday. I would like to say I will manage it through till Easter, but we will see how it goes!
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