By Mandy Froelich / Life in Bloom Nutrition
When I was 14 years old and the internet was relatively new (2007), I became one of the first people ever to have their minds repetitively shaped by content that is online.
- Pro-ana sites fueled my eating disorder.
- Health websites helped me learn how to eat healthily and learn more about nutrition.
- … and social media sites, such as Facebook, opened my eyes to the types of people in the world and connected me with some really great opportunities.
For over a decade, I learned a lot about launching online businesses, building websites, improving SEO, and marketing one’s services. A couple of years ago, I even thought it was something I wanted to do full-time, which is why I launched Longmont Digital Marketing.
But over the past year, I’ve realized that I, like many people, was sold a lie. While the internet is a double-edged sword, considering it connects us with so many different types of content and communities, social media in particular is more often than not quite detrimental.
The Social Dilemma, a documentary on Netflix, showcases this fact well. But, I realized I had fallen victim to the ruse in recent months by realizing that I almost have a second life online… which gives very little back to me in the real world.
I do a lot of consulting work (business, health, finances, and spiritual), which has very little to do with online marketing. In fact, my business has exploded due to word-of-mouth and consistently delivering quality content, advice, and services (reiki, consulting, etc…).
While I have been trained to subconsciously type, “Fa…” into a search bar, press enter, and peruse Facebook for 15 minutes, I no longer want to be a slave to the impulse for external validation fueled by social media. For this reason, I have deleted the apps on my phone, blocked the website through my browser, and will be largely ignoring the social media platform for AT LEAST 30 days.
Rather than waste words and share on Facebook, whose algorithms likely don’t result in my content getting seen anyway, I will begin posting more content to Life in Bloom and my other projects.
At the end of the day, I no longer need external validation to feel good about what I am doing and feel healthy in my body. In fact, I am trying to get more focused so I can follow through with some really big business plans. So, sayonara, Facebook.
I plan to check in every now and again and begin writing more on mental health, specifically. Stay tuned.
QUESTIONS:
- Have you taken a break from social media channels?
- What did you notice as an effect? Would you deem the effects positive or negative?
Love,
Mandy F.
