Month: April 2018

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My Facebook Detox: 30 days later

Posted on by Snippetsofmylife

At the end of March,  I decided to free my mind and time by getting off Facebook.  This was a decision made after hearing a number of rumblings claiming the unsung benefits of doing so.

  • A quieter mind
  • Being more present in the moment
  • Increased social interactions
  • More authenticity in relationships
  • Increased focus and creativity
  • Feeling more positive

So, I logged off…for 30 days.

I have to admit that it was the best decision for me.  The biggest change was being more present with friends and those around me.  My focus when out with my friends or family really centered around that….being together, interacting, and absorbing the experience.  Facebook was no longer part of dinners out or drinks with friends.  It no longer was that “third wheel” popping up to take a picture of a trip, a date, or a night out with friends.

Life without Facebook forced me to talk more.  It gave me back time and perspective.  It freed up time to read more…and I just read an article that talked about how many hours it takes to be friends with someone…90 hours or more (and Facebook comments, likes, and shares don’t count)!  I realized all the time I spent snapping pictures and tagging others…didn’t really matter to most of my Facebook friends.  Really what was the point?  Though family and a handful of friends may have been excited to see my kid scoring a goal, did the majority of FB friends really give a rip about me going out to lunch or hanging out over coffee?  In actuality was I really just making others feel excluded..though never the intent?!? Or did I crave the validation that comes from posting certain pictures?

Going forward…30 minutes of Facebook time is what I am willing to spend each week.  My posts will be limited and probably more thoughtful…keeping in mind that too much of a good thing is never good.

I am so happy with this journey and being able to share it with you!

~It’s all about growth and change…one step at a time~

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Am I a nightmare sports parent?

Posted on by Snippetsofmylife

We are a sports family.  Our son is involved in hockey, swimming, and basketball (always 3 sports throughout the school year).  Competitive swimming is our daughter’s sole interest.  Our weekly calendar is a revolving door as the kids go to practices 5-6 days a week plus have games or meets.  Sports are awesome as they teach people to deal with challenges and obstacles.  We love them and have seen our kids grown through participation.

One of the big draw backs as kids get older and sports become competitive can be the parents.  Yikes…did I just say that?

When my kids made the switch from recreational sports to competitive sports there came a switch with the parents.  With rec leagues and games, parents  were all about laughing and snacks.  As the kids got older and the focus of the sports changed to one which is more competitive in nature, the attitude of some parents changed.  Now practices can be filled with this underlying intensity and competitiveness.  Lofty expectations start filtering into practices and games.  You start hearing words such as “kick butt” (or variations of this) and papers with stats start flying around.  As soon as a game or meet is over you can over hear parents conferencing with their child….”You didn’t hustle” or “You would have won if the ref. hadn’t made so many bad calls”.  Am I guilty as criticizing or coaching as soon as the kids leave the field, rink, or pool? Guilty of telling my kid to “kick so&so’s butt”?  YES 😳

Away from the venue (when clarity seeps in), I admit these comments, pressures, and expectations, are undermining and can often cause unnecessary stress and pressure.  Being honest…what should I do instead?

  • Teach my kids to challenge themselves and to improve.
  • Teach them that success/failure is not the same as winning/losing.
  • Support them…but keep in mind I am NOT the coach.
  • Remember my kids are not going “pro” or going to the Olympics.
  • Remember that my kids are NOT the performance…losing a game or meet doesn’t “define” them as a person.
  • Teach them how deal with losing.

Or maybe I can just start by saying “I ❤️ to watch you play/swim/etc.” and save the feedback for a later time.

Hmmmm..now if I can get my hubby on board 😂

Figuring it out…one.step.at.a time💕

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My social media detox

Posted on by Snippetsofmylife

Detoxes are hot right now…especially when it comes to health.  People realize the importance of rebooting or resetting their bodies–probably one or more times throughout the year.  I think “detoxes” can apply to any area of your life where you need to refocus and readjust.

How about a mental and emotional detox…starting with unplugging from social media?  I don’t think it is fully realized how social media can affect your mental and emotional health. Though it allows people to instantly connect. It does not offer anything close to the benefits that real-life/face-to-face connections and interactions do.  It’s easy to get caught up in comparisons and self-judgments as one scrolls through the news feeds.  Usage snaps up hours of our time each and every day and week…time we can actually be engaging in authentic relationships with others or spending on a task or activity.

The numerous benefits of unplugging seem worth some attention.  Participants in these so-called social media detoxes have called the experience “life-changing”.  Really?

  • A quieter mind
  • Being more in the moment
  • Increased social interactions
  • More authentic in relationships
  • Increased creativity and focus
  • Feeling more positive

Hmmmm…..

Between work and personal use, I spend a good bit of time on social media. There are times I certainly seem weighed down by it or feel drained after being on it.  So, is all the buzz about unplugging true?

Here goes… no posting, reading news feeds, or commenting/liking posts….totally disengaging … for one month.

Wish me luck!