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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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