I haven’t looked at Twitter in two weeks. For many people, this is the norm, but for me – an admitted Twitter addict – this is huge. And yes, I’ve tweeted links to my blog posts and a couple other things here and there… But I haven’t actually read my timeline. Along with Twitter, I’ve quit Foursquare and Instagram. I went through and conquered my Facebook addiction a while ago, so I admit I’ve browsed it a few times the past couple weeks.

Anyone who knows me well knows I adore Twitter. I wax poetic about Twitter. I met every single one of my friends in Dallas through the Twits. It’s my main source for news. I find deals and specials on it. I find cool/weird/inspiring articles and blog posts through Twitter. Twitter is by far my favorite social media platform.

But Twitter had become a default, a mindless habit. I’d check Twitter while waiting for the elevator, at a stop light, before I went to bed, when I woke up, standing in line at Starbucks, at the grocery store. Scroll, scroll, scroll. Pull down to refresh. Scroll, scroll.

It was too much of a crutch for me. It was preventing me from really hearing my own thoughts because my mind was constantly full of other people’s. It started to feel like a lot of useless noise. Anyone who is as active on Twitter as I am/was knows that for all the great things about it, at times Twitter can be insufferable. The negativity, self-promotion, and straight up vapidness that sometimes occurs on the Twits can be terribly grating. So a couple weeks ago, I got fed up. I tweeted one last #emotweet and then just stopped.

I won’t say going without Twitter has caused me to become insanely productive or make dramatic steps toward bettering my life. I haven’t written a book, I don’t meditate every day, or win 5ks now that I’m Twitterless. (Though I HAVE taken up yoga, Pure Barre, and have become a two-week vegan…but those are posts for another day.) But life without Twitter has caused me to slow down and appreciate the quiet. To be at ease with my own mind and thoughts. To focus more on what I’m doing in the moment, instead of constantly disconnecting into this other world.

I remain connected with the people that matter most and I’m able to devote more energy to them. And, god love them, they’ll still send me screenshots of egregious or hilarious things that people Tweet or Instagram…so I’m still up-to-date with the most interesting happenings.

On one hand it’s strange not knowing what everyone is doing and thinking and drinking and eating. But on the other hand, ignorance truly is bliss. Ignorance in this case means quiet. And I like the quiet.

(Will I be back? Obviously. I can’t stay away forever. I’m not Superwoman, for goodness’ sake.)

Posted: Monday, June 18th, 2012 @ 4:04 pm
Categories: words.
Tags: social media, Twitter, words.
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