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Christi Diggs
on May 23 2013 - 06:00 AM
A drop of spin, a cup of deception and tsp. politics=Apathy
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Lindsay Metcalf
on May 22 2013 - 06:00 AM
When that tornado siren sounds, I'm in the basement
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mara williams
on May 21 2013 - 06:00 AM
Summer break has this mom on a house upkeep war path.
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I'm not really sure how I feel about disconnecting from Facebook. It's been a real part of my life for such a long time. It was a difficult transition in the first place. I had a Friendster profile way back when until I realized how much more fun MySpace was. Then everyone abandoned MySpace and I was forced over into Facebook. I resisted at first, but it wasn't long before I was checking my page two or three (or ten) times a day. I was a social networking fiend, for sure.
This last week I had to admit that I was stressed out and depressed. Depression is a funny thing that creeps up on you and you don't realize you're actually depressed until curled up in a ball on the couch, tears streaming from your face. It was the car accident that did it. It was just the last straw. I can handle a lot of stress. I'm pretty good at it, really. I'm all zen and stuff. But getting injured in a car accident that totaled my car was just too much for me to handle.
I had to sort some things out and disconnect for a while. I deactivated my Facebook account and stopped posting on other message boards and social networks for the most part. I have my obligations of course: this blog, the book club, email, the usual. For the most part, though, I'm cut off from the webbed world.
Can I just say the internet is boring without Facebook?
It's been two days, and I already miss it. I miss seeing what my friends are doing, and arguing with them about stuff. I miss looking at baby pictures and sharing pics of my own kids. I get lonely sitting in the house all alone, and Facebook was one of my only outlets. I miss reading what everyone was having for lunch and how good or bad the weather was in their part of the world. Man, that was so annoying! Can't people think of something more interesting to talk about? Sigh. I miss that.
Wait, maybe I don't miss that.
There's some good, though. The last couple of days I have actually been able to watch an entire TV show without a computer on my lap. I've been reading actual news instead of Facebook news. Did you know protesters have occupied Wall St.? Google it. It's pretty cool. I've been taking Charlotte outside twice as often. Marc doesn't have to hear me say "I'll be there in a minute after I post this note!" The house so much cleaner, and I've gotten so much more done.
No more neglected children! No more neglected housework! Even my husband is starting to look sexier! I'm a better mom, wife, friend, and teacher. Oh, and I have hobbies again! Did you know I used to write just for funsies? And needle felting! I love needle felting.
I experienced this same thing when I stopped playing World of Warcraft. I had some withdrawal. I still miss it sometimes. But my life is better.
I do feel less depressed than I did a few days ago. I have no time frame for how long I'll be off, just until I'm feeling a little more clear. It might be tomorrow or next week.
But for the time being, I'm enjoying the disconnect. It's a kind of clarity I havn't known in quite sometime. I might even go all 1992 and get off of the internet altogether.
HAHAHA! Heh! That was funny!
Have you ever had to disconnect? Did it make you feel less stressed, or more? Is anyone else here as addicted to social networking as I am? I mean, everything in moderation, right?
We went to a resort in Mexico on vacation that didn't have free wifi. I thought I was going to pass out. Turns out I didn't miss it. At all. It was nice to get away from all of the stuff.I repeat this to anyone who will listen--I think everyone should disconnect and take a techbreak at least once a year. It makes us better people. "Informed" isn't all it's cracked up to be and it's not synonymous with "Prioritized". Nice blog, Val!We lost power last weekend so we not only had no fb we had not phone, except cells, no computer, and NO TV. We got up to this Sunday morning after the power went out in the middle of the night. After getting up and trying to get going the first few hours, someone suggested the three of us sit down together and play a family game. For a 15 yr old, you won't see him do anything with his parents, so this was a nice surprise. We haven't played cards in so long he forgot how to play rummy which used to be mine and his dads favorite game. Of course as soon as the power came back on it was computers and the internet as usual. However since I can't get out much and don't have a lot of energy it gives me a connect to other people I don't get.I am on the computer ALL DAY so I have made a concerted effort to disconnect whenever possible. I don't even have a home computer! I have never had a Facebook account (although I'm on Linked in for work), and although my phone has email, it usually stays in my purse once I leave the office. My friends have gotten used to this and know they will not reach me unless they call or email me at work.I am on the computer ALL DAY so I have made a concerted effort to disconnect whenever possible. I don't even have a home computer! I have never had a Facebook account (although I'm on Linked in for work), and although my phone has email, it usually stays in my purse once I leave the office. My friends have gotten used to this and know they will not reach me unless they call or email me at work.Ugh, I so need to disconnect but just haven't been able to take that step! It's SCARY! I can totally relate to your story though. I have been stressed to the max lately and a bit depressed from it. I'm pregnant with my 3rd and boy a can definitely feel my age on this one, so I do sleep alot more. That doesnt help the stress actually, because when I wake up, I feel guilty for not being up early and being the supermom I used to be. If only I could disconnect from the internet, it would probably help a bit with my situation. It's very difficult when you are a stay at home mom and the internet feels like your only window into the world :(
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