10 Lessons From My Social Media Diet

Recently I embarked on a monthlong social media "fasting" experiment in order to focus more on writing. The following are my somewhat surprising, slightly alarming findings and observations:

1. I am something of a procrastination virtuoso. When deprived of my distraction of choice, I simply invent a new one to take its place. Examples: Wandering the aisles at BJ's Wholesale Club; purging my paperback collection; offering to host a pre-holiday direct sales natural foods party for a friend.

2. I have comically bad timing. November was National Picture Book Month. I am a picture book author. Enough said.

3. After 13 years of marriage, my husband and I would definitely lose The Newlywed Game were we asked to play today. I know this because despite multiple attempts to guess the Facebook password he reset and kept secret from me, I couldn't hack, I mean log into my account.

4. People who quit Facebook gain an average of 5 lbs. And by people, I mean...me.

5. Some moments are harder to let pass than others without posting about them on Facebook or Twitter. Examples: My Uncle Dave leading the family in a rendition of "Let There Be Peace On Earth" before Thanksgiving dinner; Christina Aguilera's pink afro on The Voice.

6.Without Facebook you have to remember birthdays. And send a card.

7. Robbed of social media's barrage of election commentary, snarky political banter and ludicrous aggrandizing nonsense—I had absolutely no idea who to vote for. (Just kidding!)

8. My kids like me more when I'm not checking the twitter feed on my phone in the middle of a conversation.

9. I like me more when I'm not checking the twitter feed on my phone during a conversation.

10. Social media is great—in moderation. And it's at its best when used as a forum/community to lift-up, cheer-up, help, serve, give, laugh, share, illuminate, inspire, and occasionally... procrastinate. ;)