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What's your breaking point?
Everyone has a breaking point. You know, the point at which we have to sit down, throw in the proverbial (and often temporary) white towel and say to hell with it ... for now.
Urban Dictionary loosely defines social fatigue as an "overuse of social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ where clashing opinions can wear out a person's tolerance." In essence, interaction on social media platforms is addicting, and this addiction is wearing people out.
Generally speaking, humans are very reactionary creatures in nature. We feel, think and take action based on others in our community. We respond. We friend, unfollow, re-follow, tweet, post a picture, comment, +1, de-friend, record a video, write a blog, stare at our walls, peruse boards of pins, check in, search, download and place tiles on a game board – mingled in with our actual daily obligations to work, family and friends. I'm tired just reading this.
I've always had a high tolerance for many balls whizzing around my head at once (#TWSS) but lately, the thought of disconnecting from social outlets in my personal life has been creeping its way front and center into my head. I'm getting tired. There, I've admitted it. This is a pretty significant milestone in my social life.
There was a time ... OK, fine, still is ... where I live, breathe, eat, digest everything that is social media. This is fueled by my desire to constantly learn, observe and practice what I've been taught. I constantly function in the "Do it. Learn from the mistakes. Do it better. Repeat." cycle. I like this mode, but there are times where I need to take a break or my cerebellum will resemble the leftovers of a Gallagher show.
I think it may be time, but I'm not sure. I like my personal social communities, a lot. I like interacting with people I know, and those I've never met – some that are a half a world away. I also struggle with shutting down and stepping away for a bit – I don't do it well at all, I never have and never will. It's how I'm wired.
So I ask you – how do you know if it's time to take a step back from your social accounts?
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