Wednesday, July 16, 2014

{ The decision to unplug }



You would think it is an easy decision.  What's so hard about unplugging from Facebook or any other kind of social media?

It's hard folks, especially when your family and friends are on there and you use it to stay in touch with everyone.

But, here's the thing, I've gone back and forth numerous times, and my decision has waned over and over.  Disconnect, stay, disconnect, stay, take a break, come back.  It's draining honestly.  I never really could make the final decision, and I guess in a way, I still haven't made it official.

This morning however, I decided that it's time to deactivate my Facebook account for a bit, to just let it sit and see how I feel about it.

I love talking to my family and friends on there, but I also see a lot of drama and negativity, and quite frankly it's boring 99% of the time.  Nothing really going on, the same photos and recipes being shared over and over, the moral high horses, the soap boxes, and the worst for me.....the cliques and the groups and the mentality to pounce on everyone like they are enemies.

It's just not me, it's not what I like and it's definitely not something I need in my life.  I need positivity and happiness and joy, not the opposite.

So, with that said, here in about an hour, I am deactivating my account for the indefinite future.  Truth be told, I don't know if I'll be able to completely delete it in time, but for now this feels right.

It's almost like an addiction, when you want to cut the cord you start panicking and feeling like you shouldn't and if and if and if.....and that for me is the biggest red flag that somethings is NOT good.

I love my blog, I love this little corner that I created on an afternoon back in 2006.  You can read my first post here.

I think my problem was trying to keep up with the Joneses, everyone moved on from blogging to Facebook and naturally I went along too.  The fact that posting something and getting an immediate reply was so appealing, was a huge push for me to do more on there than here.  Ridiculous!!!

It just never felt completely right for me.

Now this ol' little blog.  This is what I love, this is where I feel at home.  I don't care if people think I'm old fashioned or behind the times because I'm not facebooking or tweeting or vlogging like every one else.  That's ok.  I much prefer things this way.  Guess it's my calling to keep it simple.

So, here I am, devoting myself completely to my blogging, I'm sure you've noticed I've been posting a lot more and I intend to continue that way.

If you were friends with me on Facebook, I do hope you will come visit me here instead and stay in touch.

By the way, I don't begrudge anyone their time on social media, and am in no way saying that it's a bad thing for everyone.  I'm merely speaking from my own experience and my own views, and it just doesn't DO it for me.



Goodness, I've blabbed long enough about this.   It's time to enjoy a cup of coffee and get going with my busy homemaking day.


Moving on, here's a look at what my day will look like:



For lunch it will be sandwiches and fruit. Dinner, I'm making a Tomato and Basil Pasta, and I'll share the recipe once it's up.



Have two loads of laundry to iron
Starting the paint job on the kitchen table legs
Get the sprinklers going out front and back
Clean out the pool, had to drain it all to give it a good cleaning
Sweep and Mop
Run to Dollar Store to pick up some bleach and other cleaners

20 comments:

Christy said...

I agree that Facebook can be horrible and wonderful, but more often horrible than wonderful. I am sure you know this, but you can delete people from your newsfeed without unfriending them. I have done this to clean up my newsfeed. If only you could specify no political posts please, and whatever else is on there that is so negative. Like you, I have stayed with it because it is the best way to keep in touch with the people I care about. And it is very good for that. Enjoy your hiatus!

Jen said...

I agree with you regarding facebook. It sucks up so much of my energy. I have set stick limits on myself regarding it. So far it is working. It is quite boring most of the time.

It breaks my heart to see how many people are connected to their phones and devices and not to their families. A local restaurant has one night where you must turn off your phone if you are dining there. LOVE that. No one is allowed on their phones at anytime we are eating a meal together.

I knew you before Facebook and I will continue following you here.

gillyflower said...

I agree with a lot you say Sandra - I too feel much ore comfortable with blogging than FB, and often find it boring and a bit of a waste of time for me personally as so few of my friends are even on there, although a few very good blogging friends are, and their comments and contact are the only thing that make it an enriching experience.
I will neglect FB in favour of blogging anyday!
I was afraid when I saw your post title that you were unplugging your blog! Please don't do that, I may not always comment but I do try and keep up with you and would miss you!
Gill xx

Tina Leigh said...

I quit FB years ago b/c of the drama. I think it is a good tool but 90% of the population use no discretion at all and b/c of that I unplugged. I really miss blogging but internet continues to be a problem for us here. BUT IVE NEVER QUIT READING YOUR BLOG SANDRA! I look forward to every post you write. You have values, you love The Lord, and you are not influenced by the material things of the world. I work about 2 days a week and spend the rest of my time tending to my grandson with special needs, tending to farm related things and my home. I couldn't tell you how many times I've been told I should get out more & blah blah blah! I AM A HOMEBODY thank God, and I believe my family is blessed because of it. I love my home and simple things, cooking and trying to live uncomplicated in a very complex world. I think we have like minds & that is why I love your blog.

Now pass me a cup of coffee and I will pass you some homemade gingerbread! Lol

Dawn Marie said...

I feel the same way you do about Facebook and I've gone back and forth with the idea of whether I should deactivate or not. I've even tried to just step away for awhile but I always come back ... every day ... every chance I get. It's an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends regularly. I have family in another state so it's nice to see when they post pictures of give an update. I have a few new great nephews and my nieces post pictures of them and since I can't see them when I want I love being able to see their cute faces on FB. But yes, there is drama that comes along with FB too. Lots and lots of drama. I don't blame you from wanting to take a break from it. I remember how easier life was before social media.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

I've never had facebook, and my kids continue to urge me to get it. It's not on my to-do list today. Enjoy your day. Coffee sounds good at 2pm.

Melissa Hopper said...

I thought facebook was to promote your blog. At least have a personal page and then a bloggers page. At least that is what I have done. But with changes fb has made my blogger page really gets no attention because they want us to pay to get the post seen so I pretty much have given up on that. I do not think I could ever deactivate my personal page. All the pictures, all the posts. Its almost like a diary for me. I vent on facebook. I have more views there than here on my blog. Plus I fall off the blogging bandwagon quit a bit. Hopefully you are happy with your decision. Have a great mid week.

Sarah said...

Facebook is a bit poo sometimes. I've deactivated my account a few times, usually when I've become far too addicted LOL.

Enjoy your break! I'm enjoying blogging at the moment too. xx

Anna said...

I am so with you on the facebook issue. I have disconnected on my mobile devices, and try not to be on it on the computer as much, but we use it for the businesses. I do like twitter though, but don't feel obligated to check it all the time since I get notifications on the ones I follow that I want to get notifications from.....the national weather service. LOL! I will visit your blog....have since you posted the Zippy Dog recipe.

Simply Quaint said...

Sandra I have felt that way about Facebook for a long time...a few years ago I opened a fb account to see pictures of my then only grandson who lives in Nebraska and I in Ohio, my son and his mother divoriced and the only way I could see his changes in life was what she posted, long story short she got mad at my son defriended everyone I guess that is the word lol and I stopped using fb... So much drama, gossip and literally unnessecasry business on it... My step daughter lives on the thing, post about every single thing in her life on it good and bad... I am just like you happy, living a simple, quite life and love it that way... Call me old fashion but that is how I feel too, I am 49 years old and was born in the wrong era of life.....I love the Walton's, little house on the prairie, I garden, can, use a clothesline, which a guy at work told my husband wow that you don't see much anymore... Seriously the Amish down the road still do 😀 I craft for a living, make all my own curtains, gifts for showers, holidays, I make and preserve all or as much if our own foods....so I live a happy simple some may say boring life....but I live it....too bad you weren't close I think we could be good friends....and have a cup of afternoon coffee together...enjoy your day!!!
Blessings
Rhonda
P.S. I love love love your blog I come here every day so i do hope you keep it going... I have one but it just never got the activity but this may encourage me to go post and try again!!!!!

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Dear Sandra ~ I am so glad to see you blogging more once again.

I'm not on FB. Had an account once, just because friends asked me to visit them. I didn't do anything on it at all. I then read things about FB that I did not like, so decided to delete my account, and that wasn't an easy thing to do. I had to go through several hoops with FB before it was done.

I have been a blogger since 2008. I enjoy it and have made a lot of real friends there.

I hope you find peace in your decision.

Love and hugs to you ~ FlowerLady

Unknown said...

vou te seguindo por aqui.... beijinhos

5N Family said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sweet Tea said...

I understand exactly what you're saying. All this techy stuff can become somewhat addictive. I feel the need to "cut back" a bit myself, tho I don't plan on quitting FB entirely. Great thoughts!

5N Family said...

Ha! I could have written this post myself. I deactivated my FB account with no regrets. :) What ever happened to good old-fashioned letters and personal visits? or even phone calls? The world revolved just fine before social networking. ;) And honestly...I have been thinking about doing away with the internet.(Gasp!) My daughter dropped my computer a little while back and I was not in a hurry to have it repaired. Those 2 computer free weeks were fantastic! it wasn't very long ago when we did not have internet in our home and we dd just fine. I'm tempted....very tempted

Lulu said...

fb is pretty boring..i go there to check on my charities..but some groups there is so much putting down of others, its disgusting..
i dont go there often and never got into to it like other people..
have a great day sandra..

warwickshirelass said...

I've never seen the need to "socialise" through social media .... we all managed without it a few years back.
It's much nicer to talk face-to-face with friends and relatives, or to hear their voices on the phone.
That's for me.

Warwickshirelass

Deb J. in Utah said...

Hi Sandra - so sorry I didn't have time to join the Homemaking Meme in your last post. Busy week. I so agree with you about FB. I have reconnected with some people but it is a very superficial connection. I have deleted by account and reopened it and am currently on FB, but still feel that by and large it is a huge waste of time and energy and with elections coming up it will just get more and more weird and negative. I am going to revisit closing my FB account again, since you can never really delete anything - once you are there, you are really there for life. Sorry again about the Meme. I will try to get in on the next one if possible. Have a great day.

Susanne said...

I barely joined facebook a year ago and already I'm sorta bored with it. I fought it for so long and then finally gave in when all my kids were not at home. But I'm not nuts about it at all. Don't know if I'll stay on it.

Amy said...

I have spent much less time on FB lately. I don't miss it at all. I can't deactivate, though, as FB messenger is one of David and I's main communication tools while he is still working overseas. We both also play myVegas, so that we save money when we take our trips to Las Vegas....really does save us a lot of money. All in all, my time on there has reduced I would estimate by 80%, so that's a good thing. I don't know that I would ever actually deactivate because of my huge extended family there, but it hasn't bothered me one bit being away more.

Love you lady!