Have you been thinking about ditching social media for a while? You aren't alone, the impacts from social advertising, comparison, and doom-scrolling affect many of us, and I've decided to curb it's effects - by leaving it all behind and improving my digital wellbeing.
The Sovereign Challenge came to me after a period of reflection. The demands of running social media accounts and keeping up with everyone's posts, stories, comments and pointless messages like 'streaks' etc was becoming too much.
My History With Challenges:
My first challenge actually started in 2023, that was to go sober, quit smoking, and start putting my wellbeing first. In that, I begun posting regularly to share insights, video journal, and hopefully grow a social media presence. I tried many posting strategies, hashtags, hooks, you name it - and to begin with I was posting up to 3x per day.
Before I knew it, I had uploaded over 700 videos on TikTok. My following did grow, nearly 4,000 followers, and I'm proud of that, but it became exhausting. So I lowered the amount I posted, and started to cross platforms. I begun uploading a video for YouTube each day (part of my 100 healing topics series), making reels, stories and posts for Instagram, videos for TikTok, poems for Facebook, and more.
Posting Schedules, Motivation Loss and High screen Time
After I created a posting schedule this became quite easily achievable, but there was one problem. I had lost all of the motivation and passion to post anything, at all. My other projects were suffering by being left behind, and I was spending up to 35 hours per week doom scrolling on my phone.
The Sovereign Begins
After I saw how much time was going into looking at my screen I made the decision, it's time for a break.
So I went out and bought an old school brick phone for $85, switched out my sim card, changed my phone plan to the cheapest one, and deleted every social media app that I had on my smartphone.
No more snap streaks, pointless notifications, posting stuff everyday, and most of all - no more doom scrolling.
Always remember, your focus determines your reality - George Lucas.
First Month Reflections
The first few days have been mostly easy to tell you the truth, I have already been more introverted since ditching the party life, so spending a Saturday night writing and watching movies wasn't new to me. However, without the ability to be contacted and watch others from afar, I have felt a little more socially disconnected.
The juxtaposition is this - I'm better in person. I'm more focused on those around me without the constant distraction of a smartphone, without the "I'll Google it," without the disconnection from a conversation due to pointless notifications. And now I don't have the idle time passer of pulling out my phone and tapping on it, like you would in the elevator with a stranger.
That's right, I have to talk to people.
I still have the smartphone, I still use it for calendar, Spotify, alarms, taking videos and writing this blog post - but now it lives secondary to my brick phone. My trusty TCL Onetouch with a 0.3Mp image of my friend and accomplice, Tosh.
Now, if someone needs to contact me, it's email, text, or even the scariest thing ever - the phone call.
This challenge so far has been great for every area of my wellbeing and has helped me to focus on the right things. I was able to re-write, edit, and get my new book up to it's first draft stage, within one week. That's the whole idea of The Sovereign, to regain control over our mind & body, to be where our feet are, and to focus on what's important to us.
What Are The Rules?
Switch to a brick phone
Delete all social media
No traditional media (i.e news apps)
One form of exercise every day
Eating healthy, with the exception of kebabs, bagels and vegan burritos
No alcohol
No nicotine
Get a head start each day by rising before 7:30am
Keep a journal for progress
Attend a social group/event each week
I highly recommend this challenge if you have been feeling overwhelmed by social media and smartphones, I for one feel better for doing it! It's up to you how long for, a week would even be healthy, I recommend 30,90, or 186 days - which is how long I'm aspiring to do it for.
Anyway, you'll see my future blog posts and YouTube videos shared on Aspire Daily's Facebook page, not cheating I swear.
Catch ya in the next.
~J.
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