It is so easy to forget to truly enjoy the simplicity of disconnecting from the fast-paced and social media valued world that we live in. People constantly post about their lives, some people paint a perfect picture for their peers to see, others are more vulnerable and share their hard moments as well. Either way, there seems to be this invisible pressure to stay updated with what is happening in everyone else’s lives and to keep others updated on ours. For many (including myself) this even means staying up to date on the personal lives of celebrities whom I have never met, or drowning myself in daily news. So much happens in a day that it can sometimes feel like we are missing something or are falling behind if we don’t keep checking and posting. Seeing the joys (and sometimes hardships) of others’ lives can lead us to feel like we are connecting with so many other people. This can also have its dangers. While there can be value in the widespread connection and support from social media, it does not filter unkind comments and people. The added pressure of a number of followers, likes, retweets, etc. also puts an unhealthy value on a human’s worth being measured by social media involvement. No number of likes and retweets will allow a person to feel truly fulfilled and supported.

Technology and social media has allowed us to survive and stay connected through an incredibly isolating pandemic. Friends can stay in contact and people can feel like they are not too far from their loved ones with the help of a facetime call. But what about staying connected with ourselves, and reconnecting with the people closest to us? Maybe if we take some time to disconnect from what is happening in the lives of celebrities, or that one person we met 10 years ago but never spoke to again, or the news, we can truly connect. Taking time to go on a hike or sit down at a coffee shop with an old friend and talk for a few hours can be a good alternative towards feeling connected.

It can be hard to give ourselves time to relax and do the things that we truly enjoy. It is even harder to do it without having our cellphones right next to us. I am the type of person that needs to plan time to relax and not stress about all of the things that I need to get done. What if we reframed it? What if it wasn’t “taking a break”, in reality it really is time to take care of myself and reconnect with myself in a healthy way. Our mental health and happiness can often take a backseat to our responsibilities. But it shouldn’t have to and we should be able to truly enjoy the quiet and the disconnection from societal pressures and the fast paced social media world. In fact, allowing ourselves to slow down and disconnect for a bit can be the greatest source of true internal connection and can be the most productive thing that we can do for ourselves. Whatever this may look like for you, it may be self-care through walking or music or yoga or just enjoying the fresh air. The work emails, phone calls, status updates, Instagram stories, and news articles will all be there when we are ready for them. For now, let’s allow ourselves to reconnect by disconnecting from our outside pressures. I think we all deserve it.

Connecting through Disconnection