Why Stepping Back Is More Important Than You Realize
4 Ways it will change things for you
As I come close to completing 7 weeks away from posting content on social media, there are a number of insights that have emerged from this time away. I’ll probably cover it in a much longer post after the sabbatical ends, but there’s one thing I wanted to highlight from this period.
That, my friends, is the idea of distance. Distance shapes our lives, in so many inscrutable ways. We don’t realize it, especially in the age of constant connectivity, but it’s a very important quality that will help you in more ways than you know.
Distance offers perspective
When I decided to take my 60-day social media sabbatical, it wasn’t for the sake of overwhelm or burnout. It was for a very practical reason — I wanted to see if I could thrive without social media; more specifically, I was keen to learn if my business would survive without a social media presence.
But the strangest thing happened when I completed a week, then two weeks, followed by three and now close to 7 weeks into my experiment. It gave me a very important perspective on the idea that my audience will find my work, irrespective of my presence on social media.
Not only was this reassuring; it was the perspective I needed to see. Too often, we believe that we’re indispensable. It’s the one reason we cling to our jobs and our roles in a career.
But distance reminds you that while you may be missed, the world will not stop spinning. It will continue, with or without you. It’s a very humbling awareness that begins to guide you forward.
The Art of Balance
Distance gives you another valuable gift — the true art of balance. In a world connected 24 X 7, the conscious distance between you and technology is more important than you know.
We can very easily fall into the trap of assuming that our worth is measured by how quickly we respond to comments on social media or how swiftly we update our Facebook status or Instagram pages.
But distance provides balance. It reminds you that not everything has to be shared the instant it happens. If you’re trying to break away from the trap of constant validation, try this instead.
Start journaling. For the last 45 days, I’ve been maintaining a daily journal, chronicling my break from social media. In addition to helping me understand what this means for me and my business, it lets me tap into that need to share something without the need for instant validation.
A Tool to Tap into Gentleness
About a month and a half before I embarked on my sabbatical, I started a gentle habit of meditation. Today, it’s 85 days and counting since I started meditating.
Besides building a good habit, it’s offered me a space to retreat into silence and taught me to be more gentle with myself. Whether it’s work, business, life, relationships or reading, I now approach them with a sense of gentle wonder instead of frenetic activity.
This gentleness would not have been possible if I hadn’t given myself the space to allow myself room to breathe.
Think about it. In a world that’s connected all the time, how can you be gentle with yourself? You’d have to make a conscious effort to imbue gentle wisdom into your day. Distance and space give you the opportunity to do just that.
Focus on What Matters
This is probably the most important lesson today. And I have to thank this sabbatical for showing me what truly matters when it comes to me, my work, and my relationships.
Distance taught me that my audience will find me and my work, even if I weren’t active on social media. It taught me that the things that truly matter cannot be measured in the number of likes, comments, subscribers, or shares.
It reminded me that when my true voice speaks, even if it’s in a whisper, it’s loud enough to be heard amid all of the din and pandemonium online.
Distance taught me to appreciate the cherished, valuable relationships in my circle — to reach out, to connect with people outside of social media, because these are the ones that count.
Distance makes all the difference; the question is are you being receptive to its gentle wisdom?
Takeaway
Now, each of these lessons I’ve outlined above is with specific reference to my sabbatical from social media. But the idea of distance can be applied to anything in your life. Do it and you’d observe how much better you feel about your reality and your place in this world.
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