Day One

I suppose it's pretty ironic to begin a blog when "fasting" from another form of technology addiction. I never claimed to be perfect. I'm just a person who recently realized that I spend waaaaay too much time on Facebook. And if the idea of staying away from Facebook for one month makes me feel kind of twitchy, well... that's probably a sign that I should do it.

I've always enjoyed using Facebook, but did not consider it to be a problem. My husband has his tv time, and I have Facebook. There's nothing wrong with starting the day with a cup of coffee and an infusion of updates from friends. Or winding down in the evening while something like "American Pickers" or "Storage Wars" drones on in the background.

But then it was a quick check between projects while working. And a quick check during the times when the kids are actually playing nicely together. And, oh, it's okay if DS watches just one more episode of Bob the Builder - We're both happy, right?

Except that it's not okay. Not really. Between the laptop and my iPhone, I found myself mentally "checking out" more frequently (and for greater periods of time) than I would like to admit. I found myself sometimes preferring this virtual interaction to real, face-to-face interaction with other people. It's just so easy. It's on my terms. There are no awkward silences or sudden confrontations on Facebook. Now, I'm certainly not saying that the Facebook world is free of drama -- because there can be plenty of that -- but I can take it at my own pace. I control and manipulate this idealized version of real life.

And real life suffers. My kids suffer when I am so clearly distracted. When it's "hold on just a minute..." again and again and again. No, Mommy - no more minutes. Just get up and do it now! My husband suffers when he comes home from work, and sees his wife staring at a screen instead of really listening to him. And, honestly, *I* suffer. How many more books could I read in a world without Facebook? How much cleaner would my home be? How much more time could I find for exercise? How many more projects could I complete? How much closer could I feel to people in real life -- and not just superficial Facebook "friendships"?

I'm thinking, probably a LOT.

So, I began. Last night, I went cold turkey. I let my friends and family know that they can contact me by phone. They can still text or email me. (I'm not becoming a monk!) And I let them know that, next time I see them in person, I will have NO IDEA what they've posted on Facebook -- so they will need to actually tell me if they have big news or want to invite me to a party. I am sure that I will miss out on some things because I will not see them on Facebook. I expect that I will gain a lot more.

So, today is Day One. It's an "off schedule" day because my DD (5) is home sick from kindergarten. She feels fine today, but had a fever and sore legs yesterday. We're having our new patio poured today, and the crew is out back working on that. I'm trying to think about how much enjoyment we'll get from that new outdoor living space, and not the dollar signs. We're somewhat DIY people, but this is beyond our skill set. So, professionals it is.

I'll attempt to work from home today. Luckily, my work schedule is relatively flexible. I'll have to make up some work time in the evenings, but maybe that will help me avoid Facebook all the more!

I do need to admit one slip-up, already: Once DH left to takes DS to school, and the concrete crew arrived, and DD turned on an episode of "Dragon Tales", and I had my cup of coffee in hand, I did automatically sit down in the same old spot on the couch and open up my laptop. I opened my browser, and without a conscious thought, my fingers typed the url for Facebook. I was still logged in, because I was on our other computer when I made my resolution last night. Whoops!

I saw the familiar blue and white screen and hurried to log out, but not before I noticed that I have one personal message and 5 updates. Ack! Resist, resist! Whatever it is, it can wait ... right?