This Is My Brain Off Socials

At the risk of being totally insufferable, I need to make a vital announcement: I quit social media. On Saturday. That’s six days ago.

Yes, that’s correct. I took Instagram and Facebook off my phone, and I cannot stop talking about it.

Social Media = BAD

So you may be wondering, what kick-started this little experiment? It was Ezra Klein‘s conversation with The Anxious Generation’s Jonathan Haidt: Our Kids Are the Least Flourishing Generation We Know Of. Haidt says screens are the devil and social media, in particular, is the worst thing in the world due to it’s isolating, Dopamine producing amoral reel-format. This guy LOVES talking about the moral universe.

According to my good friend, many scientists don’t love Haidt, because as any worthy scientist will tell you, correlation does not equal causation. Which yes, okay totally. I get it; I really do.

But anecdotally, data aside, just pure experiential living in this world, have you ever seen a child use a touchscreen? All you have to do is watch as their eyes glaze over and the background fades and mutes and they are LOCKED into that screen. Nothing else exists or matters. They become these little zombies, but instead of human flesh they’re craving screen!

And it’s not just the kids, because I feel it too! Social media zaps the focus and concentration right out of my brain. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve had an uninterrupted thought in about 10 years.

Since quitting the socials, yes, I’m still exhausted, and yes, I’m still burned out, and yes, I’m still in a state of absolute despair about our world, but my mental state, overall, has improved!!!

That says a lot, because prior to quitting my anxiety had reached a fever pitch. It was ratcheting up hard and fast; I could barely catch my breath. I thought, what’s the worst that can happen if I take a little break? I’ll be honest, I was checking Instagram or Facebook pretty constantly throughout the day. Refresh, refresh, post, like, like, refresh. Oh look, the economy crashed. Oh cute, Democrats are holding up itty-bitty signs. Oh look, some people were deported for literally no reason. Oh cool, cats smoking cigarettes. Oh yay, martial law. And then suddenly, it was gone.

And I had time. Why not read a book? Why not listen to something? Why not write in a journal?

I finished my April RoundTable column. I’m caught up with my grading at work. Instead of scrolling, I’m listening to an audiobook or a Podcast. I’m even writing my newsletter, and it’s not even the weekend yet!

On The Ezra Klein Show, Haidt recommended the book Deep Work by Cal Newport, who I don’t know much about except the fact that he’s definitely a bro. I have deduced this mostly because his name is Cal Newport, and he seems to really idolize the tech industry.

Anyway, I checked it out from Libby, and so far this book talks a lot about Carl Jung and other “deep thinkers” throughout recent history, and how they all needed to periodically go off into a cabin in the woods and stare into the abyss to clear their minds, so they could be brilliant. I’m only 12% of the way through, so I don’t know how it ends, but I’m starting to understand that according to Newport in order to be a really deep thinker and to produce great work you DEFINITELY cannot have any children, and you probably are not a mother.

So far I haven’t found a ton of female examples in the book, but like I said, I’m still listening. Could it possibly be that most women don’t have time to sit around a fire and think about how brilliant they are? I’m trying not to be judgmental.

PRODUCTIVITY OVER EVERYTHING. Cal for the win.

Another thing I did this week, I went to hear Laurie Halse Anderson speak at The Book Stall about her new book Rebellion 1776. I adore Anderson! She and Jason Reynolds are some of the only YA authors I will read on my own accord. She has so many incredible books! Speak and Chains are favorites.

Anderson is not only a brilliant writer, she is a phenomenal public speaker! I mean, this woman was animated. She was running around the bookstore, waving her arms in the air, getting low down, using levels. I could listen to her talk about American history ALL DAY.

Look at this cutie with the fire red glasses! Shout out to my awesome coworker and her adorable daughter sitting front and center.

Her talk partially inspired my latest RoundTable column, which I hope will be out next week. I went to the library and did some research on the current state of public education, no biggie. I had some extra time, because I’m off socials, did I mention? I checked out this book called Schoolhouse Burning by Derek Black and pulled some quotes. My new attention span looks really cute in the library.

Well everyone, that’s my update. I love you all. I hope you’re surviving in this crazy coo-coo bird world. Stay strong. Stay off the ‘Gram. Just kidding. I don’t judge. I’ll probably be back on next week.