Some thoughts and discussions from me.
Social Media Burn Out
Good morning!
This weekend was so much darn fun. Friday after taking a yoga class, Shane and I went out for dinner and drinks with another couple at a new restaurant in town. The owner is one of our neighbors, so we wanted to scope it out. Shane’s steak was excellent, but everyone else’s meals were just pretty good. The company was great, though, so that more than makes up for it 
Then Saturday it snowed all morning. After training a client and facetiming with my two besties from back home, Shane and I took the snow as a sign to stay in our pajamas and not shower until it was time to go out around 7:00. Glorious. I love those days. Then at night, we got ready, and walked over to our friends house for pizza, beer, and cards. Lots o fun. Sunday, still fun, included church, Target, an evening yoga class, followed by a late evening meeting at the gym I teach and train at. Unfortunately, I didn’t get home until 10:00 p.m., and now I’m awake at 5:15 to teach a 6:30 interval class. Yaaaay coffee!
Notice that little paragraph above doesn’t include a single picture? Well, I have a little confession to make: I’m feeling a bit of social media burn out.
Even though I had a solid 10 hours of nothingness on Saturday, I didn’t read blogs, didn’t pre-write any for the week, and didn’t even think about my blog.
Even though the friends we were with are well aware of the blog, I didn’t feel the need to take any pictures. Heck, I don’t even think I posted an instagram picture all weekend. If I had a Klout score, or knew how to operate Klout, my score would be in the negatives.
And here’s the thing: I’m pretty apathetic about it.
I think you can get to a point where you care too much about social media that it becomes a burden. I mean, checking your email at every single stop light is surely a sign of addiction, no?
So, if you’ve noticed that I’ve stepped back lately, you’re right, and I’m sorry, (but I’m not sorry.)
It started when my parents were here for the week. I put the blog on the back burner and just enjoyed life with them. I thought when they left, I’d feel like putting more focus into my blog and social media presence. Then it didn’t happen. I panicked a little, and then the apathy returned. I realized on Friday that I’m burnt out on social media. So I created a plan:
- Only blog when I have something to talk about. If an idea doesn’t come to me in 10-15 minutes, close the lap top, and try again the next day.
- Only check email 3 times a day – morning, lunchtime, and evening – on my lap top.
- Only check email on phone occasionally, and only when I’m waiting for a response.
- Post to instagram and twitter only when I’m bored, have nothing else to do. Sitting at a stop light does not meet these qualifications
So there you have it! I love social media, blogs, my blog, and the blog community (aka, you guys reading this right now! 
) so I’m hoping for a quick recovery back to loving social media
Have you ever felt social media burn out? Did you take a break from it?
I love your ideas…I’m going to implement them, too. Starting today! I have been trying to think of a way to cut back on social media and this totally works 🙂
Allison recently posted…TurboFire & a “Different Week”
Girl, I get you! I think it’s common and normal to sometimes get burn out on social media. I’ve been feeling it a bit lately too. The “pressures” of trying to maintain a certain presence can be overwhelming and when you’re trying to live your life at the same time, it can be too much. Do what you gotta do for however long you gotta do it. I’ve been giving myself more “time off” lately because it’s felt necessary.
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More recently posted…Simple Moments
Love this Paige! I’ve been making the same transition and seriously cutting back on my posting and commenting and it feels amazing! There is nothing wrong with living life outside of the blog! Enjoy it!
Danielle (@CleanFoodCreativeFitness) recently posted…Marvelous in my Monday
great attitude paige! life is for living! get out there and enjoy it 🙂
Lindsay (@LeanGrnBeanBlog) recently posted…Bean Bytes 30
lol really funny graphics with this post! sometimes over the weekend i feel a little social media burnout but other weekends i’m like on overload because i have the time….
Linz @ Itz Linz recently posted…Marvelous Bridal Shower
I am so with you on this! I’ve stepped away big time. My blog time has suffered quite a bit lately, but I really just have not had time to focus on it. I’m glad you’re enjoying your life in Colorado now!
Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) recently posted…Rain, Go AWAY and Strange, But Good Waffles
I think it’s easy to get burnt out with social media sometimes…there is life outside of the internet, and we really should be focusing more on that! I’ve stepped back from blogging a little bit on weekends, and it’s definitely been good for me.
Sam @ Better With Sprinkles recently posted…Weekend Eats and Experiments in Kombucha.
I think 90% of HLBs are way too involved in social media and documenting every part of their lives. I started out using twitter on my blog but it got so overwhelming as I followed more and more people. Consequently, I haven’t been on Twitter for months – I just get my FB feed to automatically update Twitter and kill two birds with one stone. I much prefer FB because it’s easier to keep up to date, and it’s not full of so much mundane crap. Now Pinterest is my new love 🙂
I used to feel so much pressure to blog three times a week (I can’t even imagine blogging every day!!) but then I realised I was the one responsible for creating that pressure, so I could make it stop! Now I just blog when I feel like it!
Tara @ Sweat like a Pig recently posted…Combining weights with endurance training
I feel like everyone is being hit with the social media overload bug…I totally am too. I’m thinking of taking a week off!
I think this is great! I don’t think I’m overly dependent on social media, but I definitely think I’d die a slow death if I only checked my email three items a day (kidding, sort of). I rarely use Twitter anymore and blog much less than I used to, and I really only instagram on the weekends. But email? Addicted. And I don’t even know why, I don’t get that many interesting emails. Haha.
I’m glad you enjoyed your weekend, Internet free 🙂
Kacy recently posted…Comment on Dealing positively with the negative by Susan
I get this completely. I go through periods where I just don’t care! I guess I went through a little one last week. I was on vacation, and I posted twice all week. Some things are just more important!
Natalie @ Free Range Human recently posted…A Sleigh Ride Together With You
Great ideas, I need to implement them. My boyfriend says I spend too much time on my phone and I do! I def need to give it a break!
Kaitlin @4loveofcarrots recently posted…Sandy Hook 5K recap
I definitely go in phases with my blog and social media. There’s weeks that I find myself being really productive with my blog and tweeting my life away, and then there’s other weeks that I want little to do with it all. I think a good balance is always nice, and just going with how you feel! Take advantage of the productive weeks, but don’t feel bad about the burnout weeks.
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries recently posted…Treadmill Circuit Workout
I am with you, totally!! I blog pretty much only when I feel like it (but I usually feel like it M-F), however, there is something VERY liberating about not having to write a post. For that reason, I also try to write several at a time so that I’m not doing it every day.
My worst offense is checking my phone for email, FB, Instagram, etc. I’m not so active on Twitter, but the other three things take up way too much of my time. I’m definitely going to be taking a detox soon (and making Greg do the same- he’s just as bad as me!).
Lauren @ Oatmeal after Spinning recently posted…The Last Month
The graphics are cracking me up! Totally feel overwhelmed with social media sometimes, I just try to remember to focus on “real life” at times like that, it’s so much more meaningful. Unplugging is healthy at times!
Katie @ KatieEnPursuit recently posted…She Works Hard for the Money Monday…
‘Life before social media’; I remind myself of this daily. Really, who cares about a Klout score? 🙂
Tamara recently posted…Canadian #fitgear giveaway | Mandala Sky yoga and lounge wear
Yessss! Social media overload has been bothering me lately too. I’ve become addicted to Twitter/Instagram. I changed my phone settings so it doesn’t alert me anymore and I only check it at certain times.
Ashley @ Life and Fitness recently posted…How To Create The Perfect Scrambled Eggs
I hear you on this! It’s good to take a step back! I rarely post on the weekend, but then if I have something to share, I do. Like this past weekend, I posted twice. It was a rare occasion. Ha. I don’t get comment notifications to my email anymore (not for a year or so) and I try to only check my email occasionally. It’s good to unplug!!
janetha recently posted…this week: groceries & dinner plan.
omg that’s genius. Doing that right now.
I have been feeling the same way lately. Sometimes you jut want to enjoy dinner out and now have to worry about taking pictures every five minutes!
I TOTALLY hit the burn-out point recently too — which is why I’m commenting a lot less (but still reading daily, I promise!) and most definitely why I’m blogging less. I just am sick of being SO connected all the time. So I’m just not being as connected…and spending much more time just being in the moment, much like your weekend was (which I LOVE to hear about!). Also? Just last night I had some unexpected free time and thought I’d want to get online read blogs, play on social media but as soon as I started to I felt ‘meh’ about it and closed the laptop right down. So bottom line: I FEEL YA, girl!!
Jess recently posted…Life is good.
Feeling ya friend!! actually thinking of downgrading to a regular cellphone again!
I think that it is really healthy to take a step back here and there. If it makes you feel better about blogging then your readers should be okay with that too. I have to say, I can be pretty obsessive about my email, though. I probably need to get a grip when it comes to checking it on my phone! 😉 Enjoy your time away!
Kim @ Hungry Healthy Girl recently posted…A Weekend of Marvelousness!
we get burned out too from social media sometimes, but we also enjoy it 🙂 almost a love hate relationship haha
we do our best to relax more on the weekends and don’t put pressure on ourselves to be very active in the social online world. sometimes living in the moment is best 🙂
purelytwins recently posted…wine tasting with Teri
I most definitely have been there! I went on vacation in September for three weeks, once i came back I didn’t think I would blog or tweet ever again! It’s good to take a break, sometimes inspiration happens the most when you unplug 🙂
Christa @ Edible Balance recently posted…The Skin I’m In… Highs, Lows, and a Cleanse
I was feeling a Facebook burn out about 35 days ago. It was convenient that I needed to give up something for Lent, so Facebook it was! I’m glad I did it, it has been a nice (and needed) break. But I’m itching to get back. I will definitely check it less. Now I need to work on cutting back on Twitter and blog reading…
-AJ
FitTravelerAJ.blogspot.com
I’m so with you sister. I’m really cutting back on my blogging and commenting and such. I don’t want it to get in the way of my life!
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables recently posted…MIMM: 4 States, 4 Days
sounds like a fabulous weekend.
Heck I dont even do a blog and I cannot stand to get on my phone or computer once I leave the office!
My friends/family always yell at me for not texting or answering my phone; becuase I never have it with me-its always in my bag somewhere. And I am sooo thankful that I am not so addicted to it!
I even closed my FB Account since I felt it was sucking up all my down time and for nothing. Instead of caring what everyone else was doing, I was out ‘doing’ : )