A Life Edit: Media
I am excited to share with you my latest “life edit” post involving the area of media.
Working through a “reflect and edit” process is one of the best tools we have in living an intentional life. What is the “reflect and edit” process exactly? Simply put, it is a process where we slow down and reflect on a particular area of our life that seems to be regularly causing us stress or suffering. After reflecting for a given span of time, we edit or make adjustments to our lives based on our insights. It is simple. It is empowering. It is amazing. Really!
Some other “life edit” posts I have written about are…
And other options might include…
Relationships
Spending habits
Productivity habits
Wardrobe
So where do we begin?
STEP ONE: REFLECT
After we notice we are suffering in a particular area of life, we begin by tuning into that area. We may spend a week or two just observing how our choices in our selected area affect our state of mind. For the past few weeks, I have practiced being more aware of how my media choices affect my life—or more particularly, my headspace. It is important in the reflecting step to simply notice—try to keep judgment out of it. In my case, I noticed a lot of agitation and overwhelm around my use of Facebook, Instagram, and while listening to a few selected podcasts. I leaned in further. First, I noticed how much time I was spending browsing and listening— along with what time of day I did so. I also noticed if there were particular accounts or podcasts that were out of sync with my interest, or that were triggering or overwhelming. Last, I tuned into how these emotional and mental disturbances were affecting me daily. Was I more agitated after exposure? Stressed? Sad? Less motivated?
A tip: It may help to write down what you observe in a journal so that you can refer to it later in the editing process.
Once we spend some time noticing our relationship with the selected area of life, we can feel more aware and empowered to make edits or changes that better reflect our values or honor our well-being.
STEP TWO: EDIT
After several days of being extra aware of my media use, I had enough life data to make some edits. Here are a few changes I have made so far.
Instagram. My intention in using Instagram is to promote my blog, to connect, to feel inspired, and to learn. If an account doesn’t meet these basic criteria, I consider editing it out. I have unfollowed or muted several accounts that continually place me in a mindset of comparison. If an account regularly triggers feelings of scarcity about my life, my relationships, my home, or my body—it is gone. Period. An exception to this rule is educational accounts. I follow a number of people who broaden my life view in an essential way—and it can feel confronting or uncomfortable at times. I am not turning away from greater knowledge and understanding of my own biases. That emotional weight is entirely worth it. I have decreased the amount of time I spend on Instagram to 30 minutes most days as I tend to feel worse on days I spend over an hour on social media. Time of day mattered to me too. I noticed that I felt less in charge of my own emotional state on the mornings I picked up my phone first thing. Now, I practice my morning routine before ever getting onto my phone. You can see more about my mornings here. Oh—and I gave my phone a bedtime. Isn’t that cute? I usually put my phone to bed after dinner (charging it in a separate room). I may check texts to connect with my children but I do so less often and with a harder boundary at 9 pm.
Facebook. My intention in using Facebook is to share my latest blog post or to respond to comments. Unlike Instagram, I do not have Facebook on my phone. Huge! I have stopped scrolling Facebook as a daily practice altogether. I do check messages and comments about once each day and try to respond quickly. I also love to watch Red Table Talk! Jada, Willow, and Adrienne lead such amazing discussions at that table, I tell you.
Podcasts. Personally, I do not like having a ton of podcast options come up on my phone all at once. Prior to my edit, I had accumulated nine or ten podcasts but I really only listen to around four. My time has become more scarce recently so I am much more selective about what I listen to. Currently, I regularly turn to The Living Experiment, Ten Percent Happier, A New Earth, or This American Life. My oldest child regularly shares a weekly podcast with me too (of their choosing) and that has been a beautiful way to connect, learn, and get outside my own box.
Printed media. I have actually added this category back in this year. I so enjoy browsing through a magazine as I eat lunch or sit by the fire. Talk about cozy! In the past, I have enjoyed Psychology Today, Real Simple, Magnolia Journal, Bella Grace, The Atlantic, The Oprah Magazine, and The New Yorker. Not all at the same time, mind you! I usually subscribe to a couple each year. One big shift I made this past year was noticing how I felt overwhelmed when I listened to my daily news podcast. Not wanting to unplug from the world altogether, I found that reading the news is just a better fit for me. Hence, The New York Times subscription. And magazines? They have made me so happy this year. Think of it as a little pleasure arriving in your mailbox. I feel so seen! I currently subscribe to The New York Times (Sundays only), Real Simple, and Mindful. Mindful only comes a few times a year so I may add Vanity Fair to the mix. Do you enjoy reading magazines at all? If so, what are your favorite magazine subscriptions?
