If I didn’t write books would I be on social media?
The simple answer is no, the somewhat more complicated one is probably.
If I did not write books I would have no need to be across book sale sites, so there’s half my web pages gone. I also would have no need to blog, so no website. No need for a Facebook page or even profile, Tumblr, Stumbleupon, LinkedIn, Google+, Youtube channel, Twitter, or even Instagram or Pinterest.
I’ve been doing this for five years and I started because I knew when I was published that I would need a web page or site for people to go to to check things out.
So I started a blog.
I started it because I needed a place to vent my frustrations with the world and certainly didn’t expect some of the bullshit that has come with it.
After five years I’m exhausted, and find it happens around Oct / Nov of every year. That’s why last year I decided to take Dec / Jan off, not only to get a massive amount of other stuff done, but just to take a break in general.
It was great. I didn’t really miss anything, didn’t need to get online everyday, only every few days to check emails and make sure spam and shit wasn’t being left. I had no pressure to come up with posts so I had the time to make a huge list of things to talk about.
But even now, it’s only just March and I’m exhausted. Taking a break definitely made me realise the impact being online has on my health, which sadly sucks every xmas time because my body is clearly so exhausted by then that it easily picks up germs and I’ve been sick ten xmases in a row.
I have cut and culled back my social media and this year have been scheduling my posts so that helps as I don’t have to get up early to whip one out.
And it all led me to wonder, if I didn’t write and have this business, would I be on social media?
The answer would be no.
Sure I’d still get online, buy stuff on eBay, peruse social media and other websites for celebrities and what not but there would be no need for me to get on any of these sites as myself, except maybe Instagram or Pinterest, but even then it’s a long shot.
Imagine what life would be like if these websites didn’t exist. It would be like before, not exhausting!
Cheryl says
It's really hard to find balance with all things Internet. I have reduced my blogging to just Tuesdays for the winter because, I too just needed a break. I wanted to spend more time on other interests without being preoccupied with blogs and blogging. Still…I don't have a handle on it. While I have reduced my writing, I still read tons of other peoples blogs.
Sometimes, I think the only way to handle this is just close down my blog and go cold turkey on all blogs. Haven't figured out long term what I am going to do.
L.J. Diva says
I think for people who don't have a business you can just keep it to one or two days a weeks as I did in the beginning, now I blog three days a week and schedule my posts, but I work on other businesses during the week as well, so in all, I'm online 6 days a week. And if I'm not online, I'm still on my pc writing books and getting things done.
It's a matter of balance with the amount of websites you're over and keeping things simple is the way to go. If Twitter is of no interest, no need, try Facebook. If collaging stuff is your thing then Pinterest, otherwise, there really is no need for a non-business to be over so much social media.