The View From Here – Take A Break
January 31, 2022 11:40 amHappy Monday!
How are you feeling today? Restrictions eased. Again. We can go out to eat again, and then go to the gym to burn it all off (smile).
Last week was heavy. There was a lot going on, and by Friday, I reached a breaking point. It was all feeling too much. I knew I needed a break from the world. I needed to distance myself from social media. So, I broke up with Facebook. AGAIN.
I deactivated my account so I wasn’t tempted to read the comments that only seem to make me feel worse about the situations we’re dealing with. To protect myself and my mental health from hateful words and comments. 
I’ve deleted Facebook before, when I knew I was spending too much time online or putting too much energy into looking for new notifications, likes and comments.
This time it was for my mental health. Social media is a great way to stay connected and I do love seeing pictures from family and friends, but for right now, I need to catch my breath, and do other things instead. It was a big reality check. You don’t realize how much time you waste online until you stop.
I got so much more done this weekend without my phone in my hand, or thinking about what I’m doing and wanting to share it online. The heaviness I have been carrying on my shoulders was lifted. That tight anxious feeling in my chest was gone.
There was play time with the dog. Lots of cleaning. And I got back to doing something I really love – scrapbooking. I sat in my scrapbook/ craft room/ home office this weekend – and just had time to play. And it was so good for my spirit and soul. I went through pictures from Christmas and some other special events. A reminder of all the things that bring me so much joy in my life.
I painted my nails this weekend and coloured my hair to lift my spirits. And when I was buying groceries and the cashier smiled and said “I LOVE your nails!” it made my day. A simple compliment. A friendly smile.
We need to pay attention to the world, but we also need to know when to take a break. We need to be aware but we need to have boundaries and do whatever it takes to protect our mental health.
Do the things that bring you joy. Walk away from social media – even if it’s just for a day. Go for a walk. Take deep breaths. Connect other ways so you aren’t tempted to get caught up in the online negativity and fighting and hate that can so easily be shared.
Keep being kind to others. I am so thankful for those messages of support and encouragement that I get. For those random compliments. They lift me up and keep me going. Thank you for being a part of that. For being a light in the darkness for me. Greatly appreciated.
As always, reach out if you need anything or just want to say hi.
Categorised in: Afternoons
This post was written by Carrie Buchanan