Taking a Break from Social Media

I've decided to take a break from social media for a while. I don't have much appetite for Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter anymore these days, but I still need to keep them because of Going Digital ELT and other research-related work. I guess what I can do is go back to the old way of using social media, which is by logging in through my laptop. Having the apps on my mobile devices makes it too easy for me to succumb to the arbitrariness of scrolling mindlessly through the feeds and stories and photos and memes for a hundred times a day, and afterwards wonder where the time flies.

This unfruitful activity is taking so much space in my life, when I know I should be doing other more important stuff. So I deleted all social media apps from my devices, but kept the accounts. 

So what are these 'more important stuff' about? Here are some:

• I should make full use of my MasterClass subscription. I finally have an account now, thanks to my good friend Yanyi Lee. I can never thank her enough.
• I have to force myself to complete the CS50 course I signed up for through HarvardX, after being a year behind schedule.
• I should spend more time on my guitar, making full use of courses and materials I've purchased from the marvelous Az Samad. They're awesome, and they're not cheap.
• I need to start working more intensively on my Japanese. I've spent hundreds on course materials for this, money doesn't grow on trees.
• I have piles of books I need to finish reading. Printed books, e-books, audio books. You name it, I have it.
• I need to blog more often. I pay money for this beautiful platform. It shouldn't be left idling here, gathering dust and cobwebs.

There's clearly a pattern here - and one that's not too hard to fathom.

There are lots more, like spending more time in prayers and studying God's words, serving and loving my family and friends, exercising (yesss!!!), and getting enough sleep. But these are important things that don't cost money. Interestingly, I think I'm slightly better at utilising free stuff than I am at deriving full benefits from my investments (except for the exercising part). 

Anyway, I'm putting these here as a way of establishing accountability. I'll try to post my progress for each commitment (both paid and free) on this blog as often as I can. 

Soli Deo Gloria.

-ccj, 15 May 2021, 9.01am
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