20 days away from Instagram

Social media brings a lot of benefits in this current era, it connect us to the wide and larger networking conveniently as easy as that without a single effort. Whether we realize it or not, Instagram is our daily consume to build a good connection or to start the business itself and has become part of our lives every now and then. But despite all the good impact, depending on social media make us feel insecure, upset, cynical, anxious, or even frustrated. You always want to know what's happening on people's lives, you start comparing yourself with them, feel daunted by their opinions, questioning the veracity of yourselves, you will never be enough and discontented. Even more it demands us  to keep on updating what is happening in our lives. As if we have an obligation to show and share it online to the world. I felt like my value as a human being had been tied to the numbers of how many likes or comment or response through DM could I get whenever I posted something. Someone ever said though, If people can't see our happiness, then it doesn't exist.

As my screen-time weekly report says , I spent a quarter of my time (six hours eighteen minutes) per day on my phone. Social media leads in the first place especially Instagram, no doubt. I've spent almost fourteen hours per week!! MY GOD... this isn't healthy. It is the time for a break.

So I made a decision to take Instagram-Detox for 20 days to rejuvenate my mind from negative vibes online. Deleting Instagram app to stop me opened my phone and automatically went straight to the app. I want to feel alive again by reading some of my books, catching up with my friends by having a real conversation vis-à-vis not solely commented on their photo or video post, spend more time outside and doing some other things that have been forgotten after internet ruined everything. So this is what it feels like living without instagram for twenty days...

Okay as I woke up this morning, I grabbed my phone and I don't know what to do (since, Instagram has always be the first one that I encounter for my morning ritual). I usually scrolling through my feed and checking notifications for 10 minutes before showering. But this time, I had enough time to make a hot tea and reading 3 pages of The Accidental Further Adventures of the Hundred-Year-Old Man by Jonas Jonasson with From Nowhere by Dan Croll as a back sound (not related, but I find it really relaxing and it gave me the perky-feeling bit by bit). I realized how much time can be wasted in social media without even we know it, we can be more productive than that.

I refused to go to my place after working hours and spend more time outside with colleagues. We went to the movies at Pacific Place right after having evening meal. I chose Bohemian Rhapsody but my colleague wanted to watch The Nutcracker, and the other one wanted to watch Bad Times at The El Royale. Long story short after an indecisive discussion and several convincing speech, we finally ended up with his choice... (Well actually, I insisted them to watch Bohemian but only three front seats are available, so I lose). The movie was good, I had fun without even bother to take a picture of our tickets, our meal, and a bucket of our popcorn.


Week 2:

Normally, we're having lunch together with a small chit-chat on the table, because we were too busy getting distracted by the phone. But lately I had lunch with a colleague, I didn't even touch my phone and during lunch we had a fun conversation about movies and books like usual, revealed each other playlist's on his spotify and my itunes (D'uh, I'm such a sucker when it comes to music though), our personal grumble (love-life, feeling so anxious about future and others personal topic which I cannot leak it here, he will get angry with me as well) 😂 

I wanna tell you one thing what I did when I get home during this Instagram-detox, but this one is kinda embarrassing lol please don't judge me or hold your judgement and let me explain why. When I was a kid (around 7-9 yo even until now), I was really bad in Bahasa-Subject especially Metaphor/Proverb/Phrase. It was so hard for me to understand the meaning behind one sentence of the phrase. So I took some time to learn this. HAHAHA. It seems like nothing but to learn is always something, right? Better late than never~

Week 3: 

I wanted to do something that I really loved but I haven't done in a long time, make a journal. I can still vaguely recall my hidden talent that has been unused. The last time I had a journal was 2 years ago in my last semester of college. To be honest, diary/journal is really my thing since I was 9. It's one of my cup of tea, I have my own pleasure for designing, writing and coloring manually in a paper. I bought a couple new marker, colored pencils, and crayons. Find several pictures to print and stick it to the book. That was so fun.

Well of course the list goes on, there's always something to do this past three weeks if you're up for it. The result quite surprised me, I've gone through 20 days without Instagram, and what was even more surprising was, I had fun. It felt so good to find something more productive to do instead of staring in my 5 inch screen and feel the time is ticking way too fast unconsciously. The most important thing to remember is, people are not entitled of your life. You don't need a recognition from them, you don't need to show it to the world that you have bought expensive meal or fancy shoes last night, you had fun with your friends at club, or you had a great relationship with your partner. They don't need to know about everything that has happened in your life. Because, that's only Social Media, a platform where people only show what they want you to see. Let's enjoy real life instead of worrying about social media. Well, the ball is in your court, stop giving someone the benefit of doubt. Live your real-life to the fullest!

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