For the first time ever, I couldn’t say no when my infusion nurse asked me, “Did you have any falls recently?”
I had taken a ridiculously spectacular spill the week before.
And the fall wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t been distracted, which is ironic given that one of my biggest focuses right now is to be. Here. As I am. Present and attentive.
And in the moment before the fall, I was anything but.
The Pomegranate of it All
I went to Florida to start the year, and one of those sunny days in paradise took an unexpected turn.
I was walking from the rental house’s kitchen area to the outside lanai. I had my phone in one hand and a fistful of pomegranate seeds to snack on in the other.
As I scrolled through social media videos, I stepped outside and missed the six-inch step down onto the lanai’s tiled floor. My ankles have always been bendy, and in that moment, my right one gave out, twisting violently.
I collapsed. Without thinking, my phone slipped from my grasp, and the pomegranate seeds flew into the air. I caught myself and managed to make it “a very graceful fall” (according to my husband, the sole witness).
As I sat on the ground, I laughed hard—until the pain set in and tears came. My husband helped me hobble onto a chair, got my leg propped up, and brought me ice.
I couldn’t believe—and still can’t—that walking through a door distracted left me with a throbbing ankle that occasionally bothers me weeks later.
And here’s one reason I’m writing this blog: I’m not sure I learned my lesson.
The Age of Distraction
Earlier today, I caught myself scrolling social media as I walked down our home’s somewhat steep and sometimes slippery stairs. I stopped when I realized I was doing the same thing that had led to my fall. But it made me wonder: in what ways am I allowing myself to be distracted—and what might those distractions cost me?
Without a doubt, one major distraction of mine is social media. As a digital marketer and author who uses social media, I have been struggling with the ethics of engaging with social media platforms for a lot of reasons, including the relationship between these corporations and the current state of our politics.
And I’m torn.
On the one hand, I love engaging with people on social media. It’s fun to see my friends marketing their books, to cheer on people accomplishing personal milestones, and to send messages of support when someone is going through a hard time. And I also use social media as a tool for keeping up with politics and policies, especially since I engage in advocacy work for disabled and chronically ill folks.
Which feels more important to me now than ever.
But on the other hand, social media has a way of removing my mind from the present, generating fear and anxiety, leaving me distracted, and sometimes putting me in a “freeze state” where it’s hard to take any action at all. If I’m not cautious with my usage, I walk through my daily life without looking where my feet may land.
And the problem doesn’t start or end with one platform.
A Thousand Demands for Attention
You’ve probably heard this before, and you’re going to be hearing it again here (sorry). Our attention is constantly being monetized through these platforms and advertisements. Most apps are built to keep us using them as long as possible. It feels somewhat nefarious to know these habits I’ve built around phone usage aren’t even 100% of my own choosing, but there are still things I am responsible for.
Like if I choose to keep using them.
So, why don’t I just abandon social media altogether?
Maybe I should…but I also feel like we’re living in a time where being connected is going to be necessary for community action (and it can also spark real joy, like it did with that email meme).
So How Do We Limit These Distractions?
I would very much like to know!
I don’t have an answer for what’s the best way to engage with social media while also still using the platforms as tools to better our lives and communities. Like so much about life, I have a feeling the right balance is going to depend on what answer is right for you as a person.
But I’m not throwing my hands up. I’m going to keep trying to figure out how to minimize my distractions, so I can engage with life as I want—and avoid falling down any more stairs.
Questions to Help You Decide Where You Want to Give Your Attention
If you’re looking to reclaim some of your attention this year and considering how you might choose to engage with certain apps or technology, here are the questions I’m going to be asking myself.
- What habits do I want to build around phone usage and app usage that will help me achieve my goal of being more present and connected?
- How can I stay informed about politics, political action, and advocacy without consuming so much media I am left feeling depleted, disconnected, or distressed?
- If I’m feeling off while on an app: Is engaging with this (social media, website, news source, etc.), putting me into a flight/fight/freeze state that will prevent me from taking action?
- If so, how can I reclaim my attention and shift my focus to something else?
- What’s one action I can take right now?
An Ironic Way to End This Blog
If you have any helpful thoughts or considerations to add to the conversation, always feel free to reach out and let me know! You can find me—and DM me–on the following social media platforms:
Ack, the irony! It’s almost too much! Just know I’ll be trying to figure out healthy usage as I continue to engage with these platforms.
