“There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.”

— Vladimir Ilyich Lenin

The past few weeks have felt strange. I can’t help but think that things will never be the same again.

Could COVID-19 be the death of a timeless practice such as the handshake?

A thought that scares me even more than knowing that I will never see another iconic Premier League handshake to start a game of footy is this: the fact that, in a society where social distancing was preceded by COVID-19 due to the creation of social media, we are now taking social distancing even further. For obvious reasons, it’s more than necessary now. I mean dying is not recommended at this stage.

But what about post-COVID-19? When the dust settles? Then what?

The next generation is going to be a Virtual One.

Holy fuck, just writing that headline scares the living shit out of me.

For the past 3 weeks, I have been off social media. By social media, I mean the big three motherfuckers: Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. I have been productive. Not productive in the sense that I have been getting things done for the sake of getting things done (as Tony Robbins once said: don’t mistake movement for achievement). But productive in the sense that I feel free.

I just feel more at peace. I feel like my brain’s capacity has opened up like the sun catching a gap in the forests tree-line at dusk. It feels soothing. It feels calming.

You Have More Time Than You Think

You will have to believe me when I say I was averaging roughly 6-7 hours on my phone each day at one stage. Mostly from Instagram. Instagram was my baby.

These days my screen time consists mainly of WhatsApp (which counts as social networking according to Apple), GoWOD (a CrossFit-specific stretching/mobility app, and Waking Up (a guided mediation app by Sam Harris). With that in mind, it would probably be even less than 1h45min.

What have I been doing with those extra 4-5 hours?

The biggest change I’ve noted is the ease of transition from one task to another. Call them tasks, or activities, or whatever — but there is no, “oh fuck, I wonder how many people are shoving Easter eggs in their face while running 5k’s in their garden,” before I switch tasks.

Because we both know very well that the minute you check your social media feed, you’ve entered a carefully designed slot machine that knows how to pull all the right levers in your mind.

I made a list of “tasks” and personal projects that I’ve been doing:

Writing
Reading
Creating YouTube videos
Podcasting
Gaming
Cooking (or at least trying to)
Watching series

All of the above, in actual fact, requires focus. Focus has become underrated. Focus will be that thing that the future generations speak about like our parents reminisce on the ‘good old days.’ Or the days when they used to walk 100 miles to school barefooted each day. We are going to speak to our kids in the same fashion. “Oh, yes, I remember when we had focus…ah, those were the days.”

Maybe you’re not like me.

But the old adage goes something like Know Thyself, right? And I know myself. I would not be this happy if I were contributing to the noise either by posting or thumbing my way through the day.

You may begin thinking, wow, this guy is pretty cynical towards social media…he’s kind of like Greta Thunberg — very good at exposing a problem we all know exists, but fails to come up with a replicable, valid solution.

I think I may have one, however…

Everyone Should Start A Blog

Blogging is an act of creation. It takes far more insight and creativity to write something or take a photo, edit it, and post it on your website, than holding the white circle on Instagram while your uncle Barry downs a tequila inside an Easter egg.

Even if it’s not a blog — start a YouTube channel or a podcast or whatever. Anything that requires more creative effort than conventional social media.

Because the people that stick around, comment, and support your creative efforts online — instead of social media — are the ones worth keeping. They are your True Fans, as Kevin Kelly puts it.

I’ve concluded that we’ve become accustomed to getting recognition. Fast, easy, recognition in the forms of emoji’s, likes and comments that comprise of three clapping hands and a key.

👏👏👏🔑

What happened to doing things for the sake of doing them?

This reminds me of the quote by the Bhagavad Gita:

“You have the right to work, but for the work’s sake only. You have no right to the fruits of work. Desire for the fruits of work must never be your motive in working.”

Would love to hear from you? Have you ever taken a social media break? How was it? How did it make you feel?

See you in the comments.

Josh.

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P.S: please check out my YouTube channel, I’ve been posting lots of new stuff (with all my extra time). And if you want to support my work, head to https://www.patreon.com/josh_snyman