I have read articles about the need to get off of Facebook. When I read those, I kind of shrugged my shoulders and continued on. Then this last week, I did some serious thinking. I think what possibly began my “thinking” was exhaustion from being over-saturated. When my kids really squabble and fight, it makes me feel tired. I get frustrated with them largely because hearing it makes me tired. Honestly, Facebook has done that to me too. It is a place to see the news. It is a place to see what people are concerned about and care about. What is amazing (I guess) is that I have friends and family on completely opposite sides of many issues. And, my own feelings about things don’t match up with everyone. I have just gotten exhausted over the “dialogue”–which I sometimes appreciate because it makes me think…but then sometimes it just gets to be too much. That was the first thing that made me start to think.
The next thing that got me thinking was about the use of my time. When I get bored in meetings I don’t understand, when I’m sitting and waiting in the hospital for the doctor for three terrible hours, or when I’m waiting on my order, I just pop open Facebook and take a look. I haven’t counted the hours I spend especially since it is often just small minutes throughout the day, but I know that it does eat up my time. If there are no messages or notifications, it can still suck me in as I look at what is going on for everyone else. Opening and checking an email goes much faster and doesn’t devour the precious time I have on this earth.
Facebook has also created some relationship rifts. Now, perhaps these would have occurred even without Facebook. But, they occurred swiftly and it is a place where you can easily be misunderstood. It has been a place where relationships have been broken and then not mended again.
Standing against these concerns in a real way was how I love Facebook for being a tool–to connect with people all around the world and chat with those I love. Not having that is really tough—but again, it is not the only way to be in touch and it is not necessarily the best. I do love seeing the “news” about marriages, babies, new jobs, etc…but then again, I should really know that the best about those I live, work, and breathe with every day.
So, that is a little bit about my journey away from Facebook. I’m actually loving it and having just logged on minimally for making contacts about selling things for our move. I’m still thinking about how and if to come back to it now and then. Like other things we can get addicted to, I don’t want it to control my life. I’m thinking about how to use it well and in a healthy way. But, I’m also thankful for it.
sharonbernhardt 
I really liked this Sharon! Facebook is addictive in a way, constantly screaming out for our attention. But at the same time is is such a great tool for staying in contact with people that you otherwise may never, or only rarely, see in real life. I’ve gone through several cycles where I rarely log on for a month or two at a time, followed by a period where I am on for hours a day. One thing I did do was take it off my phone, and that was actually a bit of a help. If you’ve got the willpower limiting it to once or twice a week for no more then 20 minutes or so would be perfect, the optimal part being “if you’ve got the willpower…” But I think you’ve inspired me to cut back on it again!