“Comparison is the thief of Joy.”

-Theodore Roosevelt

*Goes off social-media once and has an epiphany*

Have you ever returned from camp and felt absolutely high on your tech-free weekend? Or, have you travelled and got so caught up in your adventures and conversations that you were too busy to check social-media?

It is no secret that unplugging leaves us all a little happier. Whether we are busy in our own life, our own adventures, or our own relationships, most of us know that refraining from social-media use is good for us.

I knew this too, but I had never made an attempt to truly do it. In my experience, when I’ve been camping or travelling, I’m either out of wi-fi or too busy to scroll the socials. But Thanksgiving weekend, I wanted to let my mind rest.

Truly unplug.

It took me 6 hours to realize a few things:

I was more engaged in conversations around me.

I spend a ridiculous amount of time“scrolling.”

We are social-beings that use social media in an attempt to bring us closer to one another, but the irony is that we become so disconnected to those around us.

Even the most confident person can be negatively impacted by social media, whether they are aware of it or not.

Even if you have a few instances where these realizations are not true for you, it is likely you have experienced some of this before. I wouldn’t label myself someone who is “obsessed” with social media, but the negative affects are still substantial. It didn’t take long to realize that I felt GOOD - because I was disconnected from those that didn’t matter. Those that are on my social media - who I’ve never met and who don’t truly care about me - just to make me question my own thoughts, my own journey, my body, my beauty.

What I came to realize over the weekend is that we spend more time thinking about others than ourselves. More time being concerned with our physique because of what others look like. More time being concerned about what we’re eating because what others are eating. We spend more time trying to follow a particular journey because of the journey others follow. In the end, our happiness, our journey, our body, and our food choices are not really our own. We spend so much time comparing ourselves to others, and as the social-media world becomes larger and more enticing, the comparisons become more consuming.

I’m not saying social-media isn’t a wonderful tool because it is. I wouldn’t be here without it. I’m also not saying you should stay off of it, because it’s not easy. We want to evolve with the world. But, we can’t deny the power social media has on us.

I am suggesting that you spend some time away, if only to reflect on what you truly want, and what truly brings you happiness. Your decisions regarding health, happiness, relationships, and success should be YOUR decisions.

Don’t get caught up in someone else’s life.