As I’m trying to reduce my use of social media (mainly desperately trying to post more stuff that are valuable – rather than whingeing), one of the things I’ve noticed is that I have much more time to do the things I love such as writing, creating, knitting and learning. It’s put me in a somewhat slower and peaceful state of mind (albeit the times when we go into lockdown again that spins me out) and let me say, I do prefer being in this state over being in a mad rush all the time.
I love this state of ‘non-busyness’ because I feel that it’s when I’m at my most creative, imaginative and relaxed. It’s when I do my best work.
Similarly, on the other hand I’ve noticed how disconnected I’ve been from my networks and how I need to actively keep in contact with friends and family directly or else I can go weeks without speaking to friends. (Family is an entirely different matter). I’m not too fussed with this as usually I can keep my own company so it’s not really a pressing issue because I know that when I do speak with them, we go all out and really enjoy each other’s company or do something spontaneous that holds me until the next exciting catch up.
Nevertheless.
I’ve been thinking about how I share this writing without social media and whether this should be a question I should be worrying about?
Part of me thinks no. I’m simply writing for myself here and getting my thoughts out into the ether.
It will have to be up to the reader to determine if they’re getting any value from my rambling thoughts. If they are, then I have a few suggestions for them and here they are.
Otherwise, over time, you’re going to see a lot more automated tweets in Twitter as I slowly reduce my use of these. You can always connect with me the old fashioned ways such as through email, or the contact form on this blog.
Follow in WordPress
If you are a WordPress author yourself, simply FOLLOW this blog on your WordPress account and you’ll see it in your feed.
Use RSS Feeds
I wrote an entire blog post on how to Use RSS Feeds and use a blog reader such as Feedly to keep up. It’s one of my most popular blog posts.
Read the above post where I have also attached ‘how tos’ so that you can get your blog reader set up.
Twitter and LinkedIn (Automated Tweets Using Buffer)
One of the sites I’ve been using and considering to use a lot more is Buffer where I have automated sending out the blog posts to Twitter.
That way, I push them out to Twitter but there’s no need for me to get into Twitter to interact or engage in there. I’m still in two minds and have been dabbling with the Jetpack plugin to use the ‘Share to Twitter’ option but I’m never really happy with this either. I have also tried If This Then That and also Microsoft Power Automate but again, I’m limited in some ways in making the post “visually appealing” like Buffer does.
If you’re going to rely on Twitter as being the place where you get updates from me, then I would suggest you put my account into some form of Twitter List so that you’re notified when I send them out.
What about LinkedIn?
Oh, by the way, only SOME posts are shared on LinkedIn and Twitter. I don’t like to automate this that every post goes out to LinkedIn because I don’t feel they’re the “right fit” for that platform.
The only way to follow me on LinkedIn is well, you are. If you haven’t otherwise chosen to Unfollow me when we first connected on LinkedIn, you’re following my every Like, Comment, Post on LinkedIn…sorry to break it to you. That’s why I don’t like LinkedIn either because they make it difficult for you to curate your feeds and the people you follow.
Subscribe to the Newsletter
I have an automated newsletter that is sent out every month with a collated lists of all my posts that go directly to your email. If you set up a Rule in your Email that siphons these emails into a separate folder outside of your Inbox, that way, you don’t have to see it build up over time in your inbox and keeps it a bit cleaner for you. Of course, you can unsubscribe anytime. I don’t use the email addresses for any promotion or services to you either.
I’ve been reducing my social media as well … pretty much off twitter, deleted(!) Linkedin, wishing I could delete FB but helping to manage it for work so need to keep my connection active but subscribing to your blog via my RSS reader (www.inoreader.com) and to your YouTube channel. BTW, nice job on the sweater with the knitted buttons. I should probably knit something that I can wear one of these days (other than hats and scarves …) One week until I take two weeks of vacation and go see my sister for the first time in almost two years(!) … Down time – cannot remember what that is like … looking forward to rediscovering the slow lane.
Hello Marika, so how’s it all going for you regarding the social media? What are you finding out? Have you got more time? It has its pros and cons and most of all, I have to fight these feelings of constantly thinking “am I missing out on anything?” When I get back online and read through my feed I realise, “nope. Haven’t missed anything!”. The knitting has given me so much joy because I think it’s because I actually WEAR it. So it becomes useful. I noticed that I need to have a project where I’m just not using stash yarn and bits and bobs that I find. I need to have something planned from start to finish, go and buy the yarn specifically for that project then start. I’ve also been trying to do something a little bit harder each time. For example, I’m currently knitting a yoke of a jumper called Forestland with some leaf motif around the neck. I’ve not done anything like that before and it’s quite personally satisfying. Enjoy the catch up with your sister – it’ll be fantastic I’m sure. Covid has turned our lives upside down but these moments like meeting family and friends are the best. Take care as always.