I had my first phone at the age of 18 & was able to call and text but had no access to the internet.
Back then, there wasn’t any social media other than maybe Facebook with desktop use only. Eventually, Facebook became mobile, Instagram became the new way to connect, Snapchat the new instant messenger and so on. All of these accessible social media ‘apps’ exploded. Still didn’t use em, because I already had my contacts, friends, connection needs met and found no interest in social media.
Fast forward 4 years later.... I have a smart phone and use social media here and there (mostly IG and FB). I decide to start my business as an entrepreneur. I created my own business Facebook page, Instagram, Pinterest and launched my website & blog. I dove into the WHOLE GAMBIT of social media as quickly as I could. My social media usage went from noob to expert in about 6 months flat. Alongside this, my smart phone usage also went through the roof!
There were many reasons I dove so deep into social media, but mainly due to all the research I’d done. I got sucked in deep into the pits (arms, legs, elbows, ALL the nasty pits) of the internet looking for the best things to do as a starting business owner. All these ‘experts’ that shared information (free & paid) made promises like “if you just give more of your time & yourself. Give more dedication, attention…” blah blah blah “…your business will inevitably become successful. You can run a 5 to 6-figure business, but these are the necessary steps to get there, fast!”
Every single one of these ‘experts’ claimed these exact steps with an end goal promise!!
Dive in, dig deep, sacrifice every bit of time to be seen on the internet and always push until you get success/traction/followers/views!
Lemme drop a quick truth bomb for you...
THAT PROMISE IS A LIE.
I'm sorry for all the business owners out there who feel you have to be seen constantly (I mean constantly). Who have been told the same promise as I; showing availability in every moment of every day by diving in, being seen, getting engagement, gaining & interacting followers instantaneously are how you gain fast success!!
I KNOW what that is like and I’m here to tell you, RIGHT NOW, that is NOT how this “social media” thing works. We are all so deep in this mindset that it has trickled into our everyday lives and controls how we live!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For those of you who are consumers (aka every single one of us) do not own a business or use social media for that reason… I have some truth bombs for you as well…
We are all consumers when it comes to social media. We are all using it for many different means. Connection, boredom, hobbies, time fillers, deprivation, numbing agent, external validation, FOMO (fear of missing out), relationship finder, recipe holder, need I go on.
Whatever the reason is, we loop back to the fact that we are all consuming gigantic gallons of social media in every moment of every day.
The excuses we make for our social media use are just that; excuses. The unfortunate reality is we are all dependent on our phones. We CAN & WILL break the cycle of dependency in our social media with the challenge we are diving into together.
I hope you understand the point that I'm trying to get across.
↪️YES. working your ass off and showing up for your business in some way, every day is the coal that fuels the engine in your successful business train... But!!!! Putting out content you love, creating instead of consuming and making yourself (and your influence around you) proud & uplifted is going to get you MUCH FURTHER than the impossible task of being on top of every feed in any platform of every single day.
↪️YES. Social Media is a fantastic means to build & stay in connection, and keep up to date on people, places, events etc. But!!! It must be used correctly.
The excuse of “What if someone needs me?” (one that we will dive into more in part 3) is total BS.
My friend Ember Hammond & I were having a deep conversation about this idea. We discussed and came to the conclusion that NOTHING needs to be monitored 24/7/365 on social media. It absolutely makes you believe that it need that monitoring but it does not.
Lemme say it again for the peeps in the back!! NOTHING needs that much monitoring. Ever.
Making your phone work FOR YOU by giving yourself the knowledge and tools to turn it to a means of connection, will make it your greatest tool. It will be LIFE CHANGING for you.
CHALLENGE 1: #freetheweekend
ACTION: Write a personal list of reasons why you like and dislike your social media usage. Put it somewhere you can see it. You can even use a quick note tool on your phone if you like! SAVE it as #freetheweekend so we can refer back to it later.
CHALLENGE: Move your socials to the verrrrry back of your phone & off of your main screens this weekend. Friday from 6pm until Monday Morning. Keep a physical tally of how often you feel the tug to go to your socials.
ACTION: Write a personal list of reasons why you like and dislike your social media usage. Put it somewhere you can see it. You can even use a quick note tool on your phone if you like! SAVE it as #freetheweekend so we can refer back to it later.
CHALLENGE: Move your socials to the verrrrry back of your phone & off of your main screens this weekend. Friday from 6pm until Monday Morning. Keep a physical tally of how often you feel the tug to go to your socials.
If you'd like something to do instead of opening up an app, download the app "Forest: Stay Focused"
This app was brought to my attention by my friend Ember Hammond whose client who found this app!
If you find yourself unable to stop pulling up and tapping on your apps, you open this app and PLANT A TREE. You make your own forest! If you try to close the app or minimize it the tree will stop growing and die. This is a fantastic to open while you're reading, working out, doing laundry etc!!
This first challenge will help you SEE how often you mindlessly tap into your apps. You are forcing your brain to cognitively think differently!!
