This summer was like no other due to Covid-19 and living life in Quarantine has tested me in ways I never would have imagined.
Being isolated from friends and loved ones, losing job opportunities, and converting to online college courses during a time when people are dying from an unseen virus and the economy is in turmoil and my people are facing police brutality is anything but normal.
After a few months, I was under an insane amount of distress. Nothing seemed to make sense and I felt as though I had lost my purpose.
What made it worse was waking up to look at more graphic images on social media of black men like George Floyd gunned down and black women like Breonna Taylor killed inside their own homes by police officers.
As I moved to take action by signing petitions, educating myself on systematic racism and issues on oppression and injustices, and voting I thought about how the media I consumed had an impact on my psyche.
I realized that I do need to take the time to recenter my focus and find my purpose again.
That is what led me to ultimately listen to my mom’s advice to do a social media detox for thirty days.
She always has the cleverest ideas and she’s been a rock for me when I needed it the most.
During the month of July, I decided to unplug with a social media detox challenge I found through Pinterest and printed out to hang up in my room.
I’m not going to lie, the first few days were definitely a struggle not to mention I had streaks on Snapchat I did not want to lose.
But once I gave it a chance, my eyes were open to a whole new realm of possibility.
Here are some of my top insights from this challenge.
1. Stop looking to social media for answers and start looking within
As I previously mentioned before starting this challenge I felt unmotivated to do anything. It wasn’t until I finally let go of my phone for a few hours a day, that it suddenly became clear how full of opportunities my life truly was.
Detoxing, opened my eyes to try new things and spend more time with my family even in quarantine crazy I know. I had more time to try new food recipes, I was able to give my little brother my undivided attention to play games with him, and I even started receiving God's word more than I anticipated.
I realized that I had to start turning my control over to God and stop clinging to negativity and insecurities because the spirit of God lives within me.
2. Stop looking for imperfections and accept yourself as you are
There will always be a reason for you not to love yourself or love the situation that you’re in right now. But I challenge you to love yourself anyway. Embrace where you are right now.
Be present at the moment because every day is not going to be a perfect day but it is progress.
I understand that it can be hard to change our way of thinking about ourselves.
And that our perception can blind us from realizing that we are good enough.
But it is possible to change that. I had to believe that I could turn off my phone and stop watching Netflix and start walking in my purpose.
I'm not perfect by any means but this challenge has given me the confidence to be okay with the fact that none of us are perfect. We all have flaws.
Some of us might be pretending those flaws don’t exist while others dwell on them too much on our social media feed. But regardless we have to remember that those images we see, do not define who we are. Only we can decide to accept ourselves as we are and be grateful for that.
3. Change your perspective
You know I was worried about getting a job after graduation because I was afraid there wouldn’t be any available none that I liked doing none that were worth neglecting my family and I thought it would be better to ignore those opportunities.
I thought I’d be miserable either way but then I thought after hearing his word, what if there is another way. If I believe it, I can see it.
A job where I can focus on my craft and do what makes me happy, that’s the goal, isn’t it?
Again I say, all things are possible through Christ who strengthens me. So don’t let this world of misery become your normalcy.
A new dream is coming, a new perspective is on the horizon. More importantly, understand that it’s already done.
I started this challenge because I was sick of waking up and the first thing I do is open Instagram or Twitter and used it as an escape from my reality.
I know it’s easy to feel like social media is our only connection to your friends or awareness of what's going on outside the world or an escape from it but it’s not.
In many ways, social media is a powerful tool but let me tell you it can also be toxic if used incorrectly.
There is so much shaming that surrounds social media and our ideas about where we should be in life. We all do it subconsciously but you don’t have to shame yourself or feel guilty for not having a flat stomach or successful career or jet setting around the world.
All you have to do is be you and know that there is no shame in that.
So take a break from social media and use the time to call a distant relative or sibling, write a letter, be kind to a family member, safely go outside, dance for no reason, and just feel joy.
Remember that it’s okay to have a presence on social media but make sure you are using it for the right reasons and are mentally and physically present within yourself first.
Let me know in the comments below if you can relate and all my queens please feel free to message me to share the progress you made during this detox challenge!