In November 2024, I made a vow to step away from the news and newspapers – I desperately needed a break. Now it’s September 2025, and I still haven’t broken that vow – my mind, body, and soul thank me for it. This summer, I took things a step further and deleted all the social media apps from my phone – Instagram, Facebook, and even X, (if that’s still what it’s called). My brain had felt like it was slipping into atrophy, and the constant noise had left me overloaded on every level.
Instead of scrolling through social media apps and attending to every instant message, I spent my time this summer in moments of silence, meditation, hikes, gardening, golfing, working out at the gym, reading books, listening to fun podcasts, and the occasional teas with friends. It has been so refreshing and so good for my soul. Eliminating news and social media has been the best gift I’ve given myself in years. It allowed me time to touch base with my inner truth once again. Something that had been disappearing slowly by all the noise of social media and negative news.
As October approaches, I’ve yet to return to social media or resume watching the news. Many people have asked me, “When will you be back online?” – a fair question, given that as an entrepreneur, my business benefits from a social media presence. But I’m not rushing back. I intend to return only when I’ve developed a clear, sustainable plan that protects my well-being and prevents me from falling into the same patterns that once left me depleted.
As such, here is My Personal Declaration:
- I will not make myself available 24/7
- I will not spend my days chained to social media or feel pressured to respond instantly to every message
- I will not visit my sites every day, instead I will only visit each platform once a week – and never for more than 15 minutes
- I will not waste precious time scrolling aimlessly through other people’s posts
- I will not check social media accounts before 10 a.m. in the morning, or after 5 pm in the evening
- And for now, I will continue to have a black out on all written and televised news
I will always put my health on the front burner – because my emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being is not for sale. If this approach costs me business, so be it. I would rather lose business than lose my health. I once heard someone say “Everything felt so important, my plate was overflowing. But when I received a serious diagnosis, suddenly the only thing that was important was my health and how to get better.” That truth has stayed with me.
This is my commitment to protect my health, my time, my energy, my piece of mind.
Rosita Hall, Professional Speaker, Trainer, Coach
www.rositahall.com rositamotivates@gmail.com
@hallrosita (twitter)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rositahall/?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile_pic
