A Week Without Facebook -- Day One!

Actually tomorrow will officially be Day One, since I have checked Facebook probably 5 times already today. Ok, but what is this?

In an effort to take better care of myself and be a little more mindful, I'm experimenting with reducing the sorts of things I expose myself to that whack me out a little, and by that I mean: things that take me "off course", unground me, unsettle me, make me a little more nuts than I already am... ;) Facebook is, as I have noticed recently, one of these things.

Why do I care about this? As an acupuncturist and friend, I find myself having many conversations with my people about boundaries, living mindfully, and "self care". We ask each other, "What IS self care and what does it look like?" "Better yet, how does one practice self care on a CONSTANT basis and not get super irritable or stressed about how little self care one is doing", etc etc.

What I offer again and again is: you get to decide what self care looks like for you.

For some, it looks like going vegan. For others, it looks like beginning to eat meat again. For some, it looks like smoking weed. For others, it looks like smoking cigarettes. You get the idea. Obviously some behaviors come with added risks that we'd like to minimize. Obviously some behaviors come with dangers that we would like to minimize, but the decisions we make about what behaviors we choose strongly depend on our access to and awareness of different options as well as a host of other factors. For more information on this approach, check out the Harm Reduction Coalition.

But no matter where you are coming from, we do know that there is no magic Self Care pill you can take or Self Care Badge you get once you have completed a certain number of Self Care Challenges - getting massages, getting acupuncture, doing yoga, stretching, meditating...these are all great ways to help you heal and facilitate your self care, but even they will not necessarily ensure constant mindfulness, if that is even possible.

Why does mindfulness matter? That is a very big question, the answers to which are varied and even controversial. I do know that when I do not make decisions mindfully, when I go on autopilot, I notice that I tend to begin to lapse in my self care. I begin living a very "amped up" sort of life, rushing everywhere even when I don't have to, not breathing well, not really eating well, not sleeping well, and henceforth not exactly living well. And it's ok. There are reasons why people dissociate from their daily lives and seek "distractions" or "self destructive behaviors". I have my reasons and so do you. But it's all good.

What I mean by that is: Seeking mindfulness and practicing self care is not about adding to our self hatred - let me say it again and emphasize it: Practicing self care and seeking mindfulness is not about adding to our self hatred.

As far as I can tell, it's about noting where we're at, honoring that place, checking out what our options are, and deciding where to go next based on our current resources and access to helpful tools. Sometimes it is not the right time to try something new. Sometimes it is. And it is different for each person.

I am interested in checking out what it looks like to bring an increased quality of mindfulness to my life. Plain and simple. It will benefit my patients, my relationships, and my relationship with myself. And it looks like going without Facebook this week is how I will explore what self care and seeking mindfulness looks like. For me.

As you might have guessed, I am not going into this without tools for the moments when I am craving Facebook (yes, I compulsively check Facebook some days, it is very strange, but it is what it has become). Obviously, internet is not off limits. I will still update Twitter and this blog. I have a list of short story ideas that I would like to develop. I have a list of friends who I would normally connect to on Facebook, via comments left on their pages, but this week perhaps I will email them directly. How's that for a genius idea? ;) I also have a stack of books I might read instead of checking Facebook. You get the idea. What might I do with allllll the extra time spent on Facebook? You might see more frequent posts on this blog! You might see a new and improved Devi Health website! You might see my taxes get done (well, you won't SEE that, but you know what I mean.) The possibilities are endless, and that is sort of cool.

Wish me luck, and as always let me know what you think.

--Tanuja