When I was in 7th grade, my entire church went on a fast. I was only thirteen, but I decided to take on the challenge. I’m going to be totally honest, I didn’t go into the fast in the right frame of mind. I didn’t go into it to grow closer to God and become a stronger Christian. I was a chubby middle schooler! I went into it to lose some weight.
By 5 p.m., with only a carton of orange juice in my belly, I crashed. I was not the type to nap but that’s what I was doing when my mom got home from work. I was weak, shaky, and just totally out of it. My mom talked to me about it and mentioned giving something else up. I ended up giving up on the fast but it’s never been very far from my mind.
Media fasting is an idea that I heard about probably a year or so ago. I don’t remember where I first heard about it but it really appealed to me. I am so attached to technology. I check Twitter multiple times an hour. I love the blogging community so much that I feel an expressed need to catch up on blogs daily. And writing blogs is something that brings me so much joy and happiness. I love TV. While I don’t watch too many hours of TV a day, I still have a lot of shows I do watch. (And love.) And, honestly, who could deny loving Facebook drama? My attention is pulled in so many different directions. My focus shifts constantly. It cuts into my quiet time with God, my prayer life, and quality time with my family.
I’ve been feeling so stagnant and dull in my life lately. While I’m taking on challenges, achieving some great things, and being totally honest with my feelings, I still feel like I’m not doing enough with my life. I feel like I could do so much more, but I’m so scared to take a leap of faith and do it.
So I took a week off from the media world. It wasn’t a true media fast since I still did watch TV (although no more than I usually did) and did spend some time on the computer. I stayed away from all social media and blogging. When I was on the computer, it was mostly for school.
At first, it was weird. When I woke up on Monday morning, I immediately reached for my phone to check what happened on Twitter while I was sleeping. And then I remembered. Media fast, media fast, media fast. And honestly, being off Twitter/Facebook/blogs/etc. wasn’t as awful as I first thought. I missed it at certain times but not as much as I thought it would. I felt so much more focused. There was a certain peace that came from being away from it all. I didn’t feel a need to check Twitter just in case I missed something important. I didn’t care what drama was going down on Facebook. And while I began to severely miss my blogging friends and reading about your lives, it felt good not to have a need to read every single word you wrote and analyze whatever lame comment I happened to leave.
During my fast, I finally established some quiet time with God. I sat down and wrote out a five-year plan, as well as smaller yearly goals to accomplish. I figured out our finances and why we still seem to be struggling, even after downsizing. I worked out a lot. I napped a lot. I was calm, peaceful, and happy. (But not so happy that I didn’t miss YOU guys!)
I loved doing this. I loved it so much that I want to start doing monthly weekend fasts. And I want these to be true fasts where I completely step away from the Internet and TV. I want to use the time to be engrossed in the Word, pray, and strengthen my relationship with God.
Even if you don’t have the same goals as me, I still encourage taking a break from the Internet, even if it’s just for a few hours or a day. Just to get away from it all and refocus your attention. It doesn’t have to be about faith. In the end, this fast was good for me as an individual. I really feel like it brought me from stagnation to hope. I have goals for the future. I have plans on how to achieve those goals.
Ah my break will be coming up pretty soon… I want to do a texting fast. That would really help me out.
I love your weekend fast idea… I might try that on for size.
So so so happy that it worked for you and that you got that quiet time you have been craving. And would it be out of line to say that I missed you?? ha ha.
Best,
Hannah Katy
hello dear,
really enjoyed this post and i have been experiencing less media too! i blog a little less, sometimes after work I don't even turn on my computer til right before bed time. it's refreshing! there's a whole world for us to experience outside the internet and sometimes we forget that and don't even realize it
I can't imagine doing a fast … of any sort (although I did go an entire year once without drinking a drop of soda. Well, 364 days.), so I applaud you!
And, have I mentioned I love your new 'do? 🙂
I love this!! I think the longest I've gone on a media fast is a weekend – it's funny how when I was overstressed the thing I cut out was the thing I usually turned to to escape from it. But it can definitely creep up on you and start to take over what could otherwise be more important – like you said, in your time away, you've spent some time with God, which is so valuable.
Totally missed you though 🙂
It's good to hear that your media fast was an overall good experience. Maybe i'll have to try it if I EVER get that much courage, highly doubt it though.. I'm sure I could fast something else that takes up lots of time. Maybe I could start with a text message fast? Who knows.. anyway. Glad to hear things are good and I'm glad to have you back 🙂
Congratulations, on your fast going so well. I need to spend more time with God and less time complaining about my internet not working. It's true, when it doesn't work–which is often– I just focus on that fact.
It really is amazing what God can show us when we stop and listen! Have a great day and stay awesome. 🙂
This is a great post. I deleted my facebook account over a year ago because I felt like it just wasn't good for me. Now, we don't have actual TV, we just watch some things online or from netflix, which helps. I KNOW the feeling of needing to cut back for some peace from all the technology. A week or so ago my computer wasn't available. I ended up taking a two day break besides a quick check of my email one of the days (with hubby's computer). It was actually really nice and I got so much yardwork/outdoor time in. Good for you for taking these steps, I think most of us could use a break!
I'm so glad your Media Fast went well for you 🙂 I have a friend who dedicates every Sunday to zero-connections. She doesn't open her computer, shuts off her phone, absolutely nothing to do with networks or media or anything; and she says it's the best day of her entire week. She gets that sometimes you need to connect, but there's never a need to always do it. I'm kind of jealous she does it, and hope to one day get myself to the point, too. Isn't it crazy how unnecessary some of our daily tics and habits are?
I went on a similar Fast when I was in Europe, although I did check it every second day or so – but not for long – no time at all compared to what I spend on social media now – and it was wonderful and freeing. A few weeks after returning I'm totally addicted again 🙂
I wouldn't be able to do a week long one because I HAVE to use social media for a job. But I think doing it for a weekend would be really nice 🙂
I'm so proud of you for doing this and WANTING to do it again. I think it's a fabulous idea and I know that I totally need to do it as well.
Fasting is good for health.
I think I could go without TV for a while but not iPhone/Internet. It's the first thing I do in the mornings even before going to the bathroom and last thing I do before going to bed. It's insane!
One of my 101 in 1001 goals is to not use the internet, my cell or watch TV for an entire day. While it's only a day, being away from these things would be HARD for me. Still, I want to do it. We'll see.
Great post! I routinely step away from social media most weekends and after a while, it become routine. As soon as we break that cycle of always HAVING to be plugged into to the constant barrage of info, its amazing the peacefulness that results. I'm glad that you did this. And it gets easier. Promise.
Fasting is good for health.