Wish you were here Heidi

So in the beginning of this course I was way too excited mainly because I did not know what to expect. One of the assignments our Professor gave us for this course was to start a new social media that I haven't previously used before and since my friends have been bugging me to start an Instagram I decided well why not. So I started an Instagram account but for two weeks I never was on it. Throughout the semester I developed a love and hate relationship with social media because it consumed a great deal of my time (it's my own fault) at the same time I need it to keep in touch with family and friends all over the world.

In the midst of this social media experiment with Instagram I started posting photos and I just couldn't stop. I tried to catch up with my friends and family's 2 year worth of IG posts and so when I went with one particular friend to the cafeteria, the library, shopping, beach  even just hanging out in the hale she would always say, I wish you were here Heidi. 

In the beginning I just shrugged it off but the more she said it to me the more I began to think about it. Before I continue with this I want to share an experiment I did with social media for one of my Psychology courses last semester. So we had to give up something we really love for a week and then keep notes about how we feel, if we had cravings, withdrawals etc.

I decided to have a Facebook fast for a week and in the beginning it was easy but by day 3 I was extremely craving it. I found I had so much more time on my hand and I didn't know what to do with it. I was not as much of a procrastinator that week and matter fact I did not last the whole week. I broke my fast 12 hours earlier then when I should have.

I shared that experience because it has dawned on me just how much social media has influenced my life. I don't want to admit it but it's happened, it's addictive, it's enslaving. My friend was a gentle reminder that I need to disconnect to reconnect. So as a result of this class, I have made the decision to deactivate my Facebook for a month after this course. Well, I will try at least but I really know that social media is taking a lot of my time and it's just so hard to stay away from it. I will keep my IG because it's my new favorite and also Snapchat but Facebook will have to go, at least for a month anyway.