I’ve made the decision to try to let go of social media for 6 months.
This weekend, I was at a conference in a remote part of Quebec in the wilderness, disconnected. No 3G signal. No wi-fi. It felt good. It made me think that I could benefit from a bit of a longer disconnection.
Why?
- Reconnect to what’s important in the offline world.
- Read more.
- A few of my friends don’t use social media. They’re still alive!
- Personal challenge.
It’s an experiment. I’ll try for 6 months, which I think is enough time to be meaningful. I may still use some functionality (1:1 messaging, groups) when relevant, but the idea is to avoid/limit posting and reduce daily interactions. I’ve been inspired by some articles, including the recent Unplug series in Fast Company, to explore the benefits of disconnecting for a while.
It will be hard. I’ve been a pretty active user of social media in the past 3 years (2011–2014) since starting our company, despite not posting at all before that (2007–2011). It’s been one of my greatest pleasures to be able to share parts of my entrepreneurial journey with all of you along the way. It’s led me to so many interesting outcomes that I could have never predicted. I will miss the serendipitiy engine that comes with sharing.
That said, I’ll continue to share this passion for entrepreneurship in the offline world.
I’ll also keep writing and blogging, which I’ve found a great way to reflect and make sense of things.
Back in March. See you on the other side!
LP