We all know how insanely addictive Instagram can be, hence the title of this post. I’m just as guilty as anyone else for spending a great deal of time on the app. It not only allows me to stay in touch with people around the world, but supports and generates new business. So, it’s a double edged sword. This past week, Instagram went down for over six hours. Yes, you read that right. (Insert eye rolling emoji here). When it came back up, I polled my 7,000+ followers and asked what they did when Instagram was down. The results may surprise you…
My initial reaction when Instagram was down
I’ll be honest, I was sitting in a doctor’s waiting room with nothing to do so I pulled open the app. Ready to scroll through my feed, I noticed that terrible little red warning sign. You know, the one that reads “can’t refresh feed.” Ugh. I pulled down a few times in an attempt to refresh it. I assumed it was an internet issue. I was holed up in a small room in the middle of building with God knows how many other devices competing with mine. Not to mention the ton of other medical equipment on site.
What happened next? I sat there frustrated. Why? Because much like the rest of us, I’ve somehow unlearned how to sit still and wait without distraction. It’s funny how we can feel so unproductive in this way. You know, doing something that many would categorize as wasting time.
I decided to move on and browse the web after a few failed attempts at reloading the app. Onto more screen time. But then I got home and it happened again. My perfect wifi wasn’t the fix I needed, I saw those same damn words – “can’t refresh feed.” Ugh. Annoying (and ridiculous, I know).
After it came back up
It had pretty much been a full day when Instagram was down. I’m sure this felt like an eternity to many. I polled my 7,000+ Instagram followers and asked what they did while it was down. The responses were incredible and exactly what I was hoping for. They weren’t focused on what you’d think. Cue the suspense…
We live in such a digital age that it’s easy to get caught up spending all our time staring at a screen. When one app goes down, we hop on another. If that one has an issue, onto the next! There are endless options for distracting us from doing things that are good for our mind, body, and soul. These are the things that distract us from doing the important work!
Here’s what my 7k followers did when Instagram was down
I posted a question in my Instagram stories asking my followers to send responses of what they did. I love to engage with my audience and I was curious to know how they spent their time. I had high hopes they weren’t going to answer with more screen time. Gladly, my hopes were confirmed. I received a variety of answers that fell into four main activities…
They spent time in nature
The first response I got was my followers spent time outside in nature. The very act of Instagram going down caused them to rediscover the great outdoors. This is such a simple thing to do with incredible benefits for your mental and physical health. Some said they worked in their gardens and others went for a walk.
They read a book
Ahhh yes, another classic non-screen time activity. Personally, I love this one as it’s something I do on the regular. Who doesn’t love to soak up a good book? I love that my friends on Instagram went back to the basics and spent time reading. There is much to be learned from this activity. It has many benefits for slowing our minds down, unlike screen time.
They were productive
A little dose of good old productivity for ya! Amongst the productivity responses, one of my followers mentioned they got to organizing. They organized an entire room they had been putting off. Not only did they feel good getting this done, they also mentally reaped the benefits. Having an organized environment helps us achieve more. This is because we have the ability to think more clearly when we’re not distracted by chaos around us.
They went to the movies
Ok, ok, this one is still screen time, but a classic version of getting lost in fun. One of my followers said they went to the movies and binged a few while they were there! I love that while this is still screen time, they purposefully made it a point to find adventure. They intentionally did this outside of finding it in a device in the palm of their hands.
Summary – Sex, drugs, and Instagram? The 4 things my 7k followers did when Instagram was down
While it may seem silly to write an entire post on when Instagram was down, it’s an important reminder. It reminds us all to spend more time away from the screen. Finding other activities is good for our mental health. Too much screen time can lead to depression and anxiety. This is especially important for our youth. A lot of them have never experienced life without social media. Take time this upcoming week to put your phone down and enjoy all the earth has to offer. Get outside, move your body, read a book, or meditate!
What are you going to do?
Share your thoughts with me in the comments or on Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn or Facebook. Follow me while you’re at it, I love to connect!
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