It’s Sunday evening and you’ve just sat down to read a new book. You’re excited because it’s been a while since you’ve actually had time to sit and relax. You’re just settling into the first chapter when your phone buzzes next to you: it’s a text. Your mom is asking about your trip home at Christmas. You check flight prices. You put your phone down and pick up where you left off in the story. You remember that you should probably post on Snapchat that you’re reading a book because, well if you didn’t post - did it even happen? You put your phone down and find your place on the page. Your phone buzzes again: it’s your professor emailing an assignment. You drop the book and email him back. Twenty minutes have passed and you’ve read two pages. You end up closing the book and tap away at your screen - there are more important things to do. Does this sounds familiar…?

This past summer, I came home to Wyoming to find a stack of books on the coffee table. (My Dad is ALWAYS reading.) I saw the book, “10 Arguments for Deleting your Social Media Accounts Right Now” and scoffed.

“Of course YOU would have this book, Dad.”

He’s always harping on me about kraftleeen and how I share too much of my life. He’s not a fan of my bikini pictures and has never been into Facebook. He sends me articles on how millennials are a difficult generation and encourages me to sleep with my phone in the kitchen. (He’s onto something here…)

When I was done rolling my eyes, I plopped down on the couch and skimmed the inside cover page. I was already planning on taking a break from the online world and after I read the author’s introductory words, I couldn’t wait to deactivate my accounts and delete the apps from my iPhone.

Initially, I thought it was important to spend less time on social media because of the psychological factors: I wouldn’t compare myself to others I scrolled past and their seemingly “perfect” lives / endless international trips (how is it your job to just travel to the Maldives and eat fruit??) The cutest outfits, well-positioned lattes and “couple goals” were starting to get to me. Yes, we know that social media is a highlight reel and what we see isn’t always the truth, but it can be tiring / disillusioning to constantly see these images. You forget and tend to distort reality.

I also knew it would be better for my health (both physical and mental!) - less screen time before bed and just a break in general for my eyeballs (blue light has been proven to increase the risk of macular degeneration.) In addition to all this, I was experiencing such an intense shift and transformation in my life (leaving my home in California after three years, ending my career with Four Seasons, moving back to my (very small) hometown and starting the process of re-locating my entire life to a new country.) I felt extremely overwhelmed (for lack of a better word) and knew that trying to keep up with social media was going to run me into the ground.

So back to the book.

The author’s reasons are as follows:

1. You are losing your free will.

2. Quitting social media is the most finely targeted way to resist the insanity of our times.

3. Social media is making you into an asshole.

4. Social media is undermining truth.

5. Social media is making what you say meaningless.

6. Social media is destroying your capacity for empathy.

7. Social media is making you unhappy.

8. Social media doesn’t want you to have economic dignity.

9. Social media is making politics impossible.

10. Social media hates your soul.

I will not go into each reason in detail, because I really believe you should read the book yourself and also ain’t nobody got time for a book report. You’ll learn about algorithms, the danger of fake twitter accounts, the “nerds” (geniuses) of Silicon Valley and why social media destroys our empathy.

As I write this, I’m back on social media after about a three month break and I can’t say that my life is any better or worse than it was before. Instagram and Facebook and Twitter, Snapchat, etc. ALL have so many amazing benefits, and I will admit that I missed posting pieces of my life and sharing experiences with you all. That’s the whole reason I started this blog anyway - to be authentic in my own struggles and my daily life to hopefully help you all with whatever you’re experiencing in your journey. I also missed my friends - I wasn’t able to see their daily routines, families or how their trips were going. Combine this absence with an 8 hour time difference - I definitely experienced moments that were quite lonely. However, these were the times that were actually the most transformative, because I was able to spend my time doing other things like journaling, camping with my parents, exploring a new city and just being by myself - no mindless scrolling or status updates needed.

I experienced things in a different way. Waiting in lines and standing in elevators was a new experience. There was no phone to distract me when I got “bored.” I had WAY more free time! I observed the spaces around me and gave people my full attention at meal times. (Krafty tip: when you go to eat with your friends, place all phones in the center of the table and whoever reaches for theirs first pays for everyone’s dinner.) This is a good way to keep us accountable - stop “hanging out” with your phone when you’re meant to be with your friends. Also, we don’t need to document everything. Sometimes it’s ok to experience life without a smartphone. This summer, I had so much stress and anxiety surrounding my move to Spain that I didn’t even WANT to share what was happening. I was so overwhelmed with trying to work out all the logistics of a bank loan, new apartment and airline tickets that the world of social media and kraftleeen seemed so far away - petty almost. My journey was really personal - I didn’t feel like anyone else needed to experience it with me. But this is where I catch myself - shouldn’t I share those moments? Along with my fun yoga flows, oatmeal recipes and moments when I’m happy in the sun, I should show you all where I struggle. For me, that’s the point of this platform.

I’m back from my social media break, still battling the ever-present concept of authenticity. Reading this book changed my thinking about my social media presence and how technology will continue to shape our lives. It also changed my thinking about the world that exists on our screens… yes everything is blurred together now through globalization, digitalization and increasing interconnectivity, but it’s not always reality. Take a break. It doesn’t have to be forever, but it has to be longer than one week. It’s a liberating experience and so beneficial for your mental health / emotional intelligence. We detox our bodies with juice cleanses and our houses with sage and palo santo, but we forget about the most important part - our psyches. Digital detox is a thing, and you should do it.

“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we actually are.” - Brene Brown

Besos,

Krafty

Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now