Each January, our church chooses something to fast. Sometimes they do the Daniel fast, or fast from sweets or caffeine. It’s been many years since I have participated. This year they are fasting from social media. I honestly wasn’t planning to participate. We are doing dry January over here and I’m quite a wino so I felt like that would be good enough. But as the pastor spoke, the social media fast sounded good and not terribly hard. They are following the workbook The Digital Fast. I did not purchase the workbook, but am choosing to loosely participate.

He had us go through our smart phones and make them “dumb”. We were instructed to take off any tool that is a distraction and only keep apps that we use as a tool. I have removed Facebook, Instagram and my beloved Tik Tok, where I lose more hours of my day than I care to admit. How many times do I hop on my phone to do something quick, like check the weather, only to end up doom scrolling for 15-20 minutes?!

I have recently taken a good step back from social media with all my grandma hobbies. Quilting and needlepoint keep my hands and mind occupied, which I love! I really didn’t think this would be so hard. I kind of broke the fast the other day because I needed to watch a video on how to sew something. I justified it as I just used it as a tool so I feel like I’m still in the game!

I had my first real test last night. I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t sleep. Well, what do you do when you can’t sleep? You grab your phone and scroll. Only I had nothing to scroll. I didn’t want to turn my light on to read with Jay in bed beside me. What did we do in the olden days? Count sheep?? Yuck!! That was a rough night haha!

So if you send me something over the inter webs and I don’t reply until February, it’s because I’m trying to divert my attention. The idea is to use that time being productive and also talking to God. I picked up a book I’ve been meaning to start for several months. I’ts called Purging Your House, Pruning Your Family Tree. This is a book someone gave me before our wedding and I am sure I’ll have more to say on it later. Frankly, it’s the reason I couldn’t sleep. I read some disturbing things right before bed.

Oh, and on the subject of books. Thanks to my friend Kacie, I downloaded the app Libby (it’s a tool!) and started listening to my first audiobook today. Libby is the library app and you can listen for free. I am listening to The Women by Kristin Hannah. I wasn’t sure I would like an audio book, but it sucked my right in. With my job I am on the road a lot so this will be great!! Send me all of your recommendations!!

Whew!! This post has been all over the map!!! If you stayed this long, what is something you are working on this January? I’m still wine-free, but allowing myself a cheat day one day next week for a work meeting!!!