InterNOT

251 HOURS, 28 MINUTES, AND 20 SECONDS TILL I GET ON A PLANE TO CHICAGO
 That's 10 days, 11 hours, 28 minutes, and 20 seconds.

Okay now that the most important part of this blog is over, lets talk about my "no social media cleanse"

I have actually noticed a huge difference. It is week three.

Before I started this journey, my phone was glued to me. I felt obligated to instantly text everyone back, and it never rang without me knowing. Which I think was part of the stress, I was constantly there for anyone who wanted to talk. I even had some people on a special list so they could call me after I went to bed and the call would still come through so I could talk to them if they needed. My phone charged by my bed, I was restless, and my days seemed to fly by without my knowing. I also got really bad headaches, which I found out from a little more research, comes from looking at a computer screen for long amounts of time!

I actually kind of have to still stare at a screen for long amounts of time due to homework, but I looked on Amazon and found a pair of *computer glasses* for cheep, and tried them out, and that has seriously helped!

Anyways, I was glued to my phone. The prospect of losing it made me panic, I felt the need to have cute Instagram photos at least once a week, I had to remember to snap like, 10 people every single day (people I don't even talk to) to keep my streaks going, which was a complete anxiety in its own, and the posts I saw on Facebook would sometimes leave me crying. 

There were, or course, benefits to social media though. I never knew how much I relied on it to communicate with people. I had to actually get some peoples phone numbers. Instead of just grabbing a classmates snap or Insta, I had to get their phone number (which doesn't have quick add) and it was awkward asking people for their phone numbers, because for some reason, in my age group, that's like taking your relationship to the next level. WHICH IS SO INSANE TO ME. I can't believe how people connect now a days! There are dating apps, and you can add mutual friends over Snapchat, and hundreds of people you've never met before follow your Instagram!

But yeah, even my little brother and I stopped having such good communication after I left social media.

Since putting the phone down, I have had the opportunity to work on my physical health more. Instead of scrolling through Instagram and Facebook and then Instagram again before bed, I stretch. I remind myself to drink some water. If I really feel like it, I do a little workout routine, and then I crawl into bed, my phone plugged in on the other side of the room.

When I go to relax, I can close my eyes and let my mind and body rest instead of looking for something interesting to happen on the internet. My news source has been more than Instagram or Facebook, or even Youtube.

I even changed my music taste. I don't know if that is related or not, but I am listening to a LOT of country music. I used to listen to rap and pop and R&B but now I just listen to a lot of country, or music with really deep meaning, like Mat Kearney, Phillip Phillips, and Snow Patrol, just to list a few. Its a lot more stimulating and comfortable I guess. My heart isn't constantly racing, but if I want to have a cleaning party or something (which I do a lot) I can turn it up and still feel the way it felt to go flying down the road with Jacob in a summer day, headed to the lake. Or even just singing in the truck with William, or milkshakes with my dad.

I'm reading my bible more, AND I EVEN FORGET MY PHONE. Yes, you read that correctly. I leave it places and then I forget where I put it and its an hour later and I'm like "oh yeah I'm superposed to text this person back about dinner tonight"
I don't feel completely obligated to responding to texts the second they come through. Heck, even my workouts are better because I am not constantly checking to see if anyone snapped me back. My homework is easier to finish because I am not distracted, and I have found myself more stimulated by my own thoughts or the world around me. I have been way more inspired, thinking of things every day.

Its like the great awakening is happening in my brain. Maybe my phone had it in sleep mode.