I have been scrolling incessantly this week and it has impacted my sleep, my mental health, my productivity, and my focus. what’s wild is that I love creating on social media. I love documenting the everyday and seeing reactions to The Summer I Turned Pretty and recipe ideas and productivity hacks and morning routines and daily vlogs. I love them, truly.
but I have been feeling for a while that my relationship to social media is unhealthy, which isn’t something I am proud to admit. frankly, i’m a little (a lot) embarrassed.
I don’t know what the solution is or how to find balance because I truly don’t think there is a way to balance it. at least not right now. one of the reasons i stopped sending out weekly newsletters was because the noise of the world, big and small, left me feeling completely and utterly frozen.
I am scared. I am exhausted. and it feels like all the time I spend scrolling is not helping ease those feelings, but rather exacerbates them. i’ve never been one to bury my head in the sand, and I hope you know by now I am passionate about participating in and preserving our democracy.
but i’ve got to do something about my relationship to social media that will allow me to continue to share with the community i’ve built and love, while not stealing hours of my week. it’s not fair to myself.
Some Kind of Famous by Ava Wilder—I have loved Ava Wilder’s book since How to Fake It In Hollywood came out and I am truly so excited to be reading her latest. It’s out October 28! Thank you to Dell for my copy.
How to Break My Heart by Kat. T. Masen—This book is…entertaining. But I don’t think I like it? I have the print and audio, and I really like the narrator (she did The Simple Wild audiobook so she feels like a familiar friend) but I’m not loving it. It’s pretty clunky. Thanks Atria for my copy!
The Summer I Turned Pretty—I LOVED episode 10. I think it will be an episode I add into my annual holiday rotations. I always watch the Christmas episode from Season 1 of Gossip Girl + all the Thanksgiving episodes, the Christmas episodes of The Office, etc. I’m hosting a finale party next Wednesday and I am not ready to say goodbye to these characters. It’s been a really healthy and fun aspect of my week. And one of the few hours I haven’t been tempted to scroll.
Football is Back—The NFL kicked off their season last week when we were in Vegas and I am still in disbelief that the Bills pulled out that win late Sunday night. 99 out of 100 times, that game does not go out way. I’m in two fantasy leagues (year 3 of my book girlies league!) and I love beating the boys. It’s truly so fun.
I shared our meal plan on Instagram last Sunday and it seemed to be helpful for a lot of people. Here’s one recipe that’s tried and true and so fast and easy plus one I am going to make next week!
Broccoli & Cheddar Quinoa Casserole—I add chicken sausage for extra protein.
Italian Wedding Orzo—My favorite soup with a twist! We’ve loved a lot recipes from this site.
Steph Boher’s Month Without Social Media—This is a video I watched this week that kind of inspired my introduction to today’s newsletter. It really got me thinking and I know I’m better off being on my phone less.
Cozy Oversize Henley—This fall I want to be cozy and put together. I am loving this top.
If It Makes You Happy Crewneck—Trying to talk myself out of this purchase…and it’s not going well. I LOVED this book and the Fall vibes are truly immaculate.
Cute and Comfy Coloring Books—Coloring has been a huge thing for me to stay off my phone while watching TV. I love this Fall one!
my brain is full and I am exhausted and I need to figure out how to do all this, which I love, without getting lost in that, that is standing in my way.
thanks for being here. I hope you have a restorative weekend.
until next time,
phoebe
I think a lot of us feel the same about social media. By the end of the day my brain feels so loud from all of the stimuli. I'm working on paring down who and what I follow to clear certain spaces for specific kinds of media consumption.
I think many are feeling this way. I’ve felt it for several months. I try to spend less time online and it helps but it’s also my work so catch 22! I think we are in the cusp of a shift in social media.