--

How to Love Social Media and Tech Again

How to Love Social Media and Tech Again

Coming off of a pretty amazing digital detox I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to streamline and declutter my online experience, so I can love social media and tech again.

How to Love Social Media and Tech Again

Most of us have become to dependent on technology and going without isn’t feasible anymore, myself included, but my phone and computer have become so unorganized and filled with bullshit that I find myself spending more time looking for what I need than doing what I wanted to do.

I can declutter the fuck out of my phone, computer, email and social media accounts so that I am no longer bombarded with news, updates, and emails from people and brands that are no longer relevant in my life.

Phone


Image via Shutterstock By 13_Phunkod

First, you need to go through all of the programs and apps on your phone and delete them if you don’t remember when the last time you used them were (or if you maybe spend too much time on them).

If you have a hard time saying no to Candy Crush or Subway Racer, then make sure you hide them too.

If your phone gives you the option to make folders, do it. Place all of your banking stuff together, your work stuff together, your social media apps together, and your photo editing stuff together. If you have a hard time saying no to Candy Crush or Subway Racer, then make sure you hide them too. Leave only your essential programs a click away. For me, that is phone, messenger and camera but they may differ for you.

Email

Image via Shutterstock By Rawpixel.com

How many of you have signed up for some serious newsletters from brands you kindof liked or may like once you actually try their products? During the holiday season I realized just how many newsletters I signed up for as every Nick, Susan and Nancy emailed me to let me know about their amazing sales on nursing wear and cloth diapers.

Instead of setting fire to my inbox and starting fresh I decided to say ‘bye’ to all the random emails I was receiving.

Although I appreciate a good sale like everyone else what these brands are selling is no longer relevent as we’ve long passed the diaper and breastfeeding stage. Instead of setting fire to my inbox and starting fresh I decided to say ‘bye’ to all the random emails I was reciebing.

I found that the easiest way to unsubscribe from emails is by using unroll.me which allows you to easily unsubscribe from emails en masse. You can also put the emails that you still want to receive (but not in your inbox individually) in a ‘roll up’ which sends one condensed email with links to all of them.

Facebook

Shutterstock By Denys Prykhodov

First you need to go through all of the pages and groups you belong to and leave, unfollow and unlike the ones that are no longer relevant. If there is a group or page you still want to be part of but you receive too many notifications, turn those off.

You can easily do this by going onto Facebook on your computer. On the main page on the left side, you should see an ‘explore’ section and find both groups and pages links there. From there you can easily click on the gear beside each name and choose to edit notification settings, leave, or add to faves.

Get rid of everyone you no longer care about, those that make you angry, those that make you feel like you are not enough. Get rid of them all. This is the best way to love social media again.

After you have greased the wheels a bit with (less-personal) brands and pages it is time to unfriend your ‘non-friends’. I had one friend from college that was a racist pig and everytime she would post on FB I would start grinding my teeth out of anger. I not only unfriended her but I also blocked her on all social media accounts so that she couldn’t make her way back into my life. Get rid of everyone you no longer care about, those that make you angry, those that make you feel like you are not enough. Get rid of them all. This is the best way to love social media again.

Once you delete the people and brands you are no longer interested in your feed will be filled with content that will make you happy, will make you want to engage with it, and have you hitting that like button over and over.

Instagram

Shutterstock by ulyana_andreeva

Just like with Facebook, you need to clean the ‘Gram. Instagram can become especially problematic for some people if they fail to realize that it is a highly curated ‘highlight reel’ of someone’s life. If you love pretty pictures than Instagram is definitely the place for you but if you are the type to be jealous you seriously need to declutter that list.

Instagram can become especially problematic for some people if they fail to realize that it is a highly curated ‘highlight reel’ of someone’s life.

Also, there is no reason for you to be following everyone that follows you. You owe nobody a follow. Go into Instagram, click on the link that shows all of the people you are following and scroll right to the bottom. Work your way from the very end deleting anyone who no longer brings you joy or that you don’t even remember following.

Six months ago I brought my list down to just over 300 people following and it was the most freeing and happy I have been on Instagram in years. It would take me minutes to catch up with what the people I actually knew and cared about were posting and that ‘you’re all caught up’ notice from Insta let me know that there was no use wasting mindless time scrolling.

Twitter

Shutterstock by Sattalat phukkum

Twitter is still on of my favourite places online because I love how fast paced it is, how you can easily see content from the whole world via its Moments section, and just the conversations that happen there.

I am following over 8,500 people on Twitter but I can easily see what is important to me by making lists and setting up notifications. You can create a list (learn how here) of all of your friends so that you can scan what they are posting and engage with them. I set up notifications for people who post topics that I usually like so I get a popup when they post.

I am following over 8,500 people on Twitter but I can easily see what is important to me by making lists and setting up notifications.

If you want to unfollow people on Twitter you can just click on the ‘followers” link and click the unfollow button but the fastest way is the list function and you can make an endless amount of lists.

Computer

Image via Shutterstock By 13_Phunkod

I am notorious for having hundreds of files on my main screen because that is where I place things so I don’t lose them. Funny right? I can’t find them here either but I have gotten into the habit of making folders on my screen where I can better organize items. Photos go in one folder, Word Docs in another and so on. You can learn how to create a new folder on Windows 10 here and iMac here.

I would also check out what apps and programs you have installed and uninstall any that you are no longer using. If you are not tech savvy and don’t feel comfortable doing this, get someone to help. For instructions on how to clean up a Mac head here and on a PC head here.

I’ve only started to really touch on the changes you can make to love social media and tech again. You can apply the same technique of unfollowing, unliking, uninstalling and organizing on those I missed.

Lastly, if you have programs that start at the same time you start the computer and make the whole process a slow shit show, TURN THEM OFF. It is so simple and has made my startup time a fraction of what it used to be. For Windows 10 instructions go here and for Mac go here.

I’ve only started to really touch on the changes you can make to love social media and tech again. You can apply the same technique of unfollowing, unliking, uninstalling and organizing on those I missed.

What is your least favourite part of social media and tech? For me it has always been it’s ability to take me away from the things that matter, like family and actual life. These steps were just some of the ways I regained the control <3

How to Grow Your Email List and Social Media Following Easily

Feature image via Shutterstock By 13_Phunkod

Follow:
Aneta Alaei
Aneta Alaei

Aneta is a Toronto-based mom of four that loves a good meal, great company, and learning something new. In her free time, you can find her trying to keep yet another plant alive.

Find me on: Web | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

15 Comments

  1. jan
    January 9, 2019 / 1:29 pm

    Subway Racer? I haven’t heard of that one. I must go look for …. No, no! I left games behind a couple of years back because they were a true time sucker and I get so much more out of picking up a book instead. Now my dilemma is that I started Instagram just recently, and I think I need to let that one go.

  2. Kristen visser
    January 11, 2019 / 8:51 pm

    That’s my least favorite part to. That even though I try not to let tech take control and take over my life, it does at times. Only thing I don’t like about it. I’m apprecting this down time and that after the holidays things have slowed down on social

  3. cathydryade
    January 12, 2019 / 10:26 am

    Last November, I decided to not go on Facebook for a month. When I came back, I realize that I did not miss anything (except messages from a few friends, maybe I should have gone to Messenger !) I realize that I go to FB online out of habit… Now, I only go about once every 3 days.

  4. Tammi L.
    January 12, 2019 / 10:49 am

    I love your ability to unfollow and block people. I am a serious wimp and I’m so afraid of hurting, or offending anyone that I can’t do that. Which is crazy, I figure that because it hurts my feelings that it will hurt someone else’s… yet I know that I’m WAY oversensitive. LOL

  5. AD
    January 14, 2019 / 6:18 pm

    I really hate Facebook; the people on there are ridiculous sometimes and really hateful in extreme cases. I have taken a step back from it. I do like Instagram as I enjoy photography… But I am one of those who is aware how fake everything is, so not likely to get jealous. 🙂

  6. January 18, 2019 / 12:33 pm

    Somehow I went my entire life without social media until 3 years ago when I had my son, I felt like this was the easiest way to share pictures with friends and family. I became insane about it. Always checking, joining mom groups posting like crazy. It was out of control. I have now scaled back and use it for messenger and the odd pic I think is cute. I can understand why people need to take a break from it. This week I de-cluttered my tech and now I feel 10 pounds lighter. Thanks for all the suggestions.

  7. January 23, 2019 / 7:47 am

    Love the idea of spending the time to eliminate e-clutter! An easy way to simplify my life.

  8. Emily
    January 29, 2019 / 8:27 pm

    Same here, I have found that social media can take a way a lot from your daily life if you don’t take control and add balance. My least favourite is snapchat.

  9. Shirley OFlynn
    February 23, 2019 / 5:47 pm

    I have been planning to scale back on the time I spend on social media. I think that there are so many other more productive things that I can be doing with my time.

  10. Linda H
    March 1, 2019 / 11:31 am

    I try to regularily delete apps and unsubscribe from emails and unfollow unknowns but it tends to accumulate again so quickly!

  11. Elizabeth Matthiesen
    March 3, 2019 / 11:13 am

    Great post. I too am accused of having way too many files on my main screen so I’ve re-organised and made folders too which has helped enormously – doubt my son thinks it’s enough though LOL

  12. Janet Lance
    May 1, 2019 / 9:17 pm

    I love all the variety of options for Social Media and/or blogging.

  13. kathy downey
    December 22, 2019 / 3:25 pm

    This is an amazing post. I so need to get things cleared out as well.

  14. Michael
    January 27, 2021 / 2:42 am

    Thanks

  15. January 27, 2021 / 2:44 am

    Welcome, I consider your to be as it draws individuals’ adored position and makes this issue a matter of conversation. The best services and assistance were ensured. If you are facing HP Printer Activation Error Code 30 click the link.