#38 - Social Media Detox

This week you will learn to use social media to develop important personal skills as well as to use them in a more responsible way.

Why not use the best side of social media to ignite the best version of you? Like everything, those platforms and usage have both pros and cons, but you could sort them out depending on your current goals.

The Social Media Detox is basically a period of time when you take a pause from the internet, electronic devices or news. You go offline healthily, clear your mind from the ocean of information and digital activities becoming stronger than your temptation, or even a social media obsession.

Disadvantages of social media:

• Social media is a massive time drain for many people;

• It affects self-esteem;

• It disturbs sleep when used too much;

• Social is very self-centered;

Advantages of social media:

• It helps you stay in touch with people you care about;

• It allows you to encourage your friends when they need it, or get support when you need a boost to pull you to the finish line;

• It allows you also to ask questions, learn useful things and share stuff that will benefit your network;

• It gives you that nice little gratification when you share a meaningful achievement with others and get a pat on the back;

• It helps to spread the inspiration to do remarkable things;

The Social Media Detox should be used responsibly. In this week you will find out if you are addicted to it, and you will learn to use them to support your personal development. It will transform your perfectionism and you will learn how to deal with other people's opinions.

Moreover, you can consider doing a complete digital detox which is about refraining from using digital devices. And surely, we remember to apply kaizen if it seems impossible.

Not only, but you'll also get useful tips on running a personal public diary which would definitely give you another insight into organizing your life better.

Social media detox:

• You will work on programs within you connected to judgment, social feedback, and perfectionism:

"Is it okay to say that?" "I don't look good to record myself.", "What others might think?", "I am not good enough", "I can't do it right now", "I need better equipment", "It's not good to say that", "I can't show others, that I don't live luxurious life", "I am ashamed to ...", "My life is boring" and etcetera.

• You will accept yourself as you are at this current moment. Make sure you are always in alignment with your inner space.

• You become more confident, stronger so there won’t be many of those who could possibly point out something negative to destroy you and try to embarrass you because of something you might have or have done. Because you admit that you have weaknesses and you are aware of them, and not embarrassed to be yourself in front of others because of them.

You yourself cannot run away from your weaknesses, but you can accept them, start transforming and keep your ground. In case of anyone tries to use them against you. Therefore you are stronger than anyone's judgment because you remain true to yourself and trust your actions, or at least have acted as you thought was the right thing to do.

• One of the great skills which you will attain is to express your thoughts and be able to present ideas to the world.

• You will understand that everyone makes mistakes, and you’re not a perfect exception from all human beings. Not everybody can learn from mistakes to become better, but you do ;)

• You will get rid of the Fear of Missing out (fear that you are missing experiences that everyone else is having).

• Not to mention, possible business usage. It's one of the best ways to create communities around products and to advertise goods, but that's for another topic.

The outcome of a complete digital detox:

• enhance the quality of sleep,

• let eyes take a break,

• reduce stress,

• it will let you set boundaries between your work and your life,

• possibly decreased occurrence of migraines,

• build-up self-consciousness of the given time,

• create more time for meaningful activities which support personal development.

Let's start. Social media + consider complete digital detox for 7/14/21/30 days! You need it especially if you compulsively check your social media while doing something else.

Even if you think you don't have a problem with this, try to do the detox, and invest this time into calm activities and relax.

Try to leave your devices purposely to check if you are addicted to them.

In case this detox seems difficult to even try, then give yourself a week of preparation.

• From Monday you set your mind up for the phone/computer free, or social media free or any other combination you want for the weekend.

• Start informing your friends and relatives about it, that you’ll be out of reach on that day and explain its importance for you.

• Schedule walks, exercises, cooking or board games for that detox period.

• Get your mechanic watch on your wrist if you have, so you won’t have to check the time on any device.

• Plan it in detail because even a glance at your device is not allowed on that day, so get a book or anything you need beforehand to eliminate the need to use a phone.

• Observe your inner processes, feelings and thoughts.

• By successfully completing this “fasting” you will notice how your day is prolonged, even your life could be divided into before and after the detox day when you realise how much we have come to depend on it in the modern world.

Important notice. Strong programs are cunning. Don't get tricked.

During detox, don't get distracted with something else like Reddit, news reports, video games, or any other distracting apps.

After successfully completing digital detox comes the time to get more engaged into purposely active usage of them. Before judging - try, experience, and observe your inner processes. You don't have to aim to become a superstar. It's simply the practical process like all of them in this course, all to transform mind programs.

Take it slow: first, you record your own thoughts, surroundings, then you show yourself, then later the most mind-changing - talk to the camera. You might be timid and doubtful about yourself at the beginning, but it's like with everything you just get used to it.

You always have to be honest, real, and always speak the truth. If you are regular with sharing, and possibly making new friends, you will find yourself surrounded by wonderful people ready to support you.

• Speak freely as if you talking to a good friend

There are actually people on the other side of the camera. Imagine you are talking to your best friend. Talk about your feelings, experiences, and opinions.

• Always be yourself

Speak from the heart. Be honest about how you feel. Be authentic. Be alive, truthful, be yourself. It's okay to not be ideal. It's okay to make mistakes. It's okay to be human.

• Serve a purpose

If you have a personal brand, then you should try to serve your purpose via social media. Use your voice with purpose. What do you believe in? What do you care about? Use your platforms to encourage others to participate. Make sure that each message you send has a purpose. Think beyond pretty images for Instagram and think about what more you can offer.

• Ignore and let go of the ones who bring you down

If you feel negative energy flowing from others, understand that this is what they have inside them and it's not about you. Often the best weapon is to ignore them, as what they speak has very low value to your life. Or simply if you feel like it, you can use Block, Report option, and you won't ever hear from them again. Some people just don't have other places to burst off their negative emotions.

• Be clear and concise with your information

When others in your social network know what you are interested in, they can make you aware of new information, opportunities or refer you to new contacts. In fact, your social network can become your eyes and ears sourcing and obtaining key information for you that saves you time.

• Share your accomplishments

Take time to celebrate and share your achievements. When you do so, not only you are inspiring others, you are also creating opportunities for others to celebrate with you. This feeds our human need to be acknowledged and celebrated. One achievement leads to the next. One celebration leads to another. You become stronger, more focused, and as a result, you achieve more which creates a positive attitude towards others as well. Practice being happy not only for your own but for others whom you support. Celebrate other's accomplishments, pave the way for your own.

• Ask for advice or seek opinions on issues

You may gain a perspective or insight that you haven't even consider. The key to this is being clear and concise about what you are asking for advice on.

• Stretch yourself as a leader

Developing a community on Facebook, for example, allows you to stretch yourself as a leader, creating not only possible profit but also energy and opportunity. As your sphere of influence grows, your credibility grows. People begin to respect your opinion more, and they look for suggestions and feedback from you. Over time, your confidence level would increase, both personally and professionally. You'll find yourself trying new things and often taking risks. More you do this - more successful you and your business will grow.

• Be accountable as well as make others accountable

Publicly stating goals, deadlines or objectives can provide a greater incentive to achieve the result. Strengthen relationships. We become more like the 5 people we hang out with the most. Connecting with proactive business individuals, physically and virtually, strengthens positive relationships and creates opportunities to accomplish more.

• The most important is to be creative and find your own way

Social networking is not just limited to Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. There are many other forms of social media and networks available. These can relate to specific interest groups, sites with forums, online meetings, etc. A quick Google search would help you find these.

• Include information about your interests

It can result in developing new connections with like-minded people. As well as learning from their experience and advice, you may be able to share resources.

• Do it completely for yourself

Once you open your eyes, you'll see that there is a difference in living. You might get into the trap of saving others from suffering. It might be a painful experience for you as people want to sleep, and they hate when somebody tries to wake them up. There has to be the right time and the right moment for everyone. Instead, become an example, just be yourself. Some will follow your love, and maybe decide to take things into their hands. Others will react with negativity. It's all okay ;) Everybody has the right to feel what they want.

This process will help you gain control over the time you’re spending on devices.

• Be mindful of your time, don’t waste it (perhaps you should set a limit for the time you spend on social media, games, watching movies e.g., one hour a week).

• Don’t use social media to brag or complain.

• Join social media platforms (or sub-groups within these social media platforms) that are related to your aspirations. Choose the right communities.

• Connect with those who inspire or motivate you. Avoid associating yourself with “negative” people. Or "haters" because there's no sense in hating. Remember to give love as well as accept.

• Consider goal-oriented social platforms. Yoga, fitness, singing, learning instruments or anything connected to your interests, or help shaping your hobbies on which you could spend more time becoming better.

• Stay focused. There is a lot of noise on social media, avoid information overload. Just get and give what is useful.

• Trust your guts when you think that you’re being cat-fished, or you think you’re getting some misinformation, do not spread something that you find unreliable.

• Don’t become a noise.

• If you are meeting your friends or family. Be there for them, be present, interact instead of hanging on the phone or a laptop. All you got is time with them.

• Realise which app takes the most of the time, and consider restricted use.

• Turn off none - important push notifications on your devices.

• Set limits. Create 'no devices' zones; before you go to sleep, when working on a project or a hobby, when you wake up, when you eat and so on.

• Repeat this process from time to time, especially if you feel mentally overwhelmed and tired.

I know it might be overwhelming, especially where digital addiction is a real problem nowadays. You went through so many challenging processes and I am 100% sure you are going to successfully complete this one as well.

If you feel that recording yourself is your thing. Find the core of this mind program, evaluate if it's connected to positive or negative energies. After considering all the potential benefits - make a conscious choice.

Follow up with steps:

• Start with a complete unplug from all social media, email, news channels, chat services, unnecessary phone calls, and others that you want to add to your list - ideally for straight 7 days (you can start with the weekend).

• During this time you will observe yourself, your thoughts, feelings, other inner processes. It will be a great time to look inward.

• After 7 days, you start sharing your progress and your path. It will help you to motivate you when you will really need it, you will see how much you changed over time. Treat it as a public personal diary. You do it completely for yourself. Who knows maybe you will actually inspire somebody to make some changes?

• Start being more aware of where your time is leaking and use digital devices more consciously.

Remember cyberspace is about freeing creativity and being yourself. Just remember to find this magical balance in this field of life.

Let's make space for things that truly matter.