One good thing leads to another, and deleting social media apps from my phone has, Alhamdulillah, led me to read more, focus better at work, and generally become more productive.
The Decision to Delete Social Media
In mid-December 2018, I decided to delete social media apps from my phone—Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. A few weeks later, I removed LinkedIn as well. This change wasn’t abrupt for me because I still had other sources of entertainment on my phone, such as Spotify (for music and podcasts), YouTube, Google, and the WordPress Reader.
I didn’t quit social media entirely; I still logged into my accounts via the web browser. This method added extra steps, making it harder and more tedious to access, resulting in me scrolling through feeds only once every two to three days at first. Now, I comfortably scroll just once a week. But hey, I still have those accounts—I’m not a weirdo!
A New Year’s Resolution
On the first of January, like many others, I wrote down my annual resolutions. Most of the goals were similar to the previous year’s, except one: to read more. My main objective was to improve my writing and be more mindful about how I spent my time.
I picked up a book that had been sitting in my Kindle app for two years and finally finished it. Then I bought and downloaded a few more books. Kindle can be synchronized with Goodreads, and that feature is brilliant.
Embracing Goodreads
Goodreads is also a social medium, allowing users to add and follow people, update reading progress, and share good books. I’m currently among Malaysia’s top 50 readers, top 23 librarians, and top 32 reviewers. This achievement suggests that not many people in my country use Goodreads compared to other platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
When I first started using Goodreads, I ambitiously set a goal to read 12 books in 2019. Initially, I was unsure about achieving it because I had only read two to three books the previous year. As of mid-February, I have already finished nine books and feel grateful and accomplished. Alhamdulillah.
Reading Amidst Life
I don’t read books all the time; my daily routine and commitments remain the same. I work from 9-5, pick up my kids after work, feed them, and spend time playing and drawing with them before bedtime. Additionally, I attend a weekly halaqah and maintain social connections with my family (parents, siblings) and friends.
I watch YouTube frequently and sleep a lot—I just need it.
I’m not ready to delete the YouTube app from my phone.
Making Time for Reading
Do I have more time than you? Probably not. I just replaced the habit of scrolling social media with reading. The time I previously spent launching Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, I now use to launch Kindle. I also carry a physical book with me at all times. Last weekend, I went to the public library and borrowed six books.
Reading time is made up of small chunks of time I claim here and there, similar to how one might scroll through social media. I read during my 15-minute commute to the office and another 15 minutes on the way back. Any idle time, such as waiting in line to buy food, at the ATM machine, while waiting for a friend, and before bedtime, is used for reading.
If our social media feeds came to us in the form of a book, I guess we’d all have read millions by now.
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