The end of something marks the beginning of another. The end of the Summer holidays marks the start of an new academic year. However somethings don’t have a clear beginning or an end. It just happens subtly. Over time it becomes just part of life. This is what I feel about Social Media.
Social Media was growing when my then Home Educated children were less than 10 years old. I was not on any Social Media platform but eventually did as I wanted to be aware of the world that my children were growing in. We had many conversations about it over the years and continue to do so now as young adults. It has been enlightening hearing their insights as they navigate the influence of Social Media in their lives.
They like myself recall a time when Social Media was NOT part of their lives. Over the years it has gradually become just a part of life – no real beginning or an end. At times, have felt compelled to see that it is essential for me to show up on Social Media – that was how I could share my ideas and connect with like minded people.
I have gained inspiration and even made friends who continue to connect with to this day. My creativity has been stretched as I am able to see various Artists at work in their studios. Inevitably the algorithms continue to serve me endless streams of posts and reels in response to my Likes, Saves & Shares. My scrolling became just part of my daily routine.
This year, something shifted.
At the beginning of the year, I decided to invest more time in nurturing my own creativity. I am after all always ‘championing creativity’ in the classes I run. Cheering others on in experimenting with an idea to trying a new medium. Encouraging children and adults alike to trust the process and not worry about the outcome. I wanted to go beyond just preparing for my sessions and nurturing my own creativity.
Making time for creativity has always taken effort and time. It is far easier to start a craft project than to complete it. I have several unfinished cross-stitch and knitting projects which I started years (possibly decades!). Over the months, I have been making a conscious choice to consume content less and to be more intentional in creating. I have taken various measures to limit my time scrolling on Social Media. I am not short of idea thanks to numerous wonderful ideas from saved posts from scrolling.