Good evening people of the Fediverse, it's been relatively quiet on my side here in the recent days.
I'm in the last year of my PhD, and though I am supposedly a part-time student, the amount of work requires an huge attention and especially focus. Hence, I have reduced my time on social media. I will check them regularly, but I will probably engage mostly in boosting (especially amplifying Palestinian campaigns) and my general rants will be rarer.

#SocialMediaBreak #PhD

dusts away some cobwebs

Happy New Year I guess?

#SocialMediaBreak #SocialMedia

For the change of seasons, I used to do all relevant #spellwork, #cleansing, decor, card pulls, and other seasonal #rituals in one day during the Solstices or Equinoxes. I've realized that's not really the move given my #AuDHD brain lol. So lately I'm slowly doing some cool tasks leading up to the #Fall #Equinox.

This is also my first change of season since deciding to do semi-regular screen breaks/dopamine detoxes, and I'm looking forward to it! I took my first ever intentional detox back in July, and holy shit, I felt so calm during it. Going forward, I'm planning on doing them for 5-7 days during Solstices and Equinoxes, so my first seasonal detox is coming up this Monday. I get overstimulated easily, so I'm hoping that disconnecting from so much stimuli semi-regularly is enough to keep me regulated. I'm thinking about adding a short 2-3 day social media break mid-way through seasons too if I need it.

#autumn #fallequinox #seasons #ritual #mystic #witch #witches #magic #magick #witchcraft #witchy #spells #Tarot #oracle #ActuallyAutistic #adhd #actuallyadhd #audhdetox #neurodivergent #neurodiversity #neurodivergence #neurodivergency #neurodivergentcommunity #screenbreak #dopaminedetox #socialmediabreak #MentalWellness #mentalhealth #break #SocialMediaDetox #detox #detoxing

Your Mind Needs a Break Too — Here's the Digital Reset You've Been Waiting For
#UnplugAndRecharge
#ScreenFree
#MindfulLiving
#TechFreeTime
#DisconnectToReconnect
#UnpluggedLife
#SocialMediaBreak
#PhoneFree
http://www.mindfulmomentsliving.com/2025/04/escaping-noise-why-digital-detox-might.html

🧠 Chachi Quit Social Media — And He’s Not Coming Back
No Twitter (X), no TikTok, no Instagram. Just Facebook and Blue Sky holding it down. We talk about his digital detox and what he’s gained by walking away.
Watch at www.AwesomeCast.com & www.SorgatronMedia.com!
#SocialMediaBreak #ChachiSays #DigitalCleanse #BlueSkySocial #AwesomeCast

Hi! Just peeking in to see how my social media peeps are. Life is pretty hectic at the moment so a break from socials has been helpful. I have a lot of things banked to post so they'll be coming soon. #SocialMediaBreak #Hello #Life

Suspending Meta

I posted the below to my followers on Facebook.

“I have made the very difficult decision to suspend posting on this (Meta/FB/IG) platform indefinitely.

Facebook and Instagram have been a home for me, a community, and my first steps into a world where I felt accepted and valued for who I was. However, I no longer believe the dominant culture of these platforms support the communities I care so deeply about. I cannot, in good conscience, normalize incivility while allowing Meta to generate revenue from content which I created, as they so blatantly cast aside standards meant to protect the very communities I cherish.

I would like to thank everyone who has been part of my extended family since sharing my adventures. I hope, in time, we can reconnect in other spaces that feel and are actually safe. Until then, please remember, I love you.

P.S. My other social links mattdobbins.com “

#ActivityPub #cherishingCommunities #community #communityProtection #contentCreation #digitalAccountability #digitalPlatforms #ethicalContentCreation #Facebook #incivility #Instagram #leavingSocialMedia #Meta #onlineCulture #onlineFamily #onlineSafety #platformStandards #Reply #safeSpaces #socialMedia #socialMediaBreak #socialMediaCulture #socialMediaSuspension

I'm announcing my Social Media Winter Break for the holidays.

I'll be off for about two weeks, being a mainly offline person for a change. See you in the new year, hopefully a better one than this one, one can but hope.

Happy Holidays, have fun and get into the new year safe and sound 🖤🎃

#MastoArt #holidays2024 #SocialMediaBreak

First of all, deleting my Facebook account has been one of the most liberating decisions I’ve made in recent years. Without the constant flood of other people’s curated lives filling my feed, I have more time to engage in things that genuinely fulfill me. I’m reading more, going to bed with a clearer mind, and waking up feeling more refreshed. I feel lighter, and honestly, more connected to my life.

Looking back, I realize that Facebook was actually making me feel lonelier than I really am. It’s ironic, considering the whole platform is designed to keep us “connected.” But scrolling through endless posts of people seemingly living their best lives—attending events, going on trips, spending time with friends—it had the opposite effect on me. It was like a constant reminder of what I wasn’t doing, what I didn’t have, and how much more “fun” or “fulfilled” everyone else seemed to be. Facebook often left me feeling down, disconnected, and frankly, depressed.

In stepping away from all of that, I’ve realized that what I need isn’t more social comparison or digital connection, but more time spent focusing on creating a life that is simple and meaningful for me. My life already has a degree of simplicity, and I want to nurture that even more. I’m studying and working toward personal goals, and I’ve started incorporating short daily exercise routines into my study schedule. It’s a small change, but even a few minutes of movement every day has made me feel more grounded and focused. I’ve also removed toxic relationships that were draining me. Now, I feel I can focus on myself and the few, genuinely supportive connections that matter.

Another crucial realization I’ve had is about the nature of control—or rather, the lack of it. Yes, there are terrible things happening in the world, and for a long time, I found myself getting consumed by that. Whether it’s doomscrolling through the news or getting caught up in conversations about issues far beyond my influence, it was feeding my anxiety and leaving me feeling helpless. I need to stay informed, but I have zero control over most of those problems. And while caring about the world is important, I’ve learned that I can’t fix everything. Trying to carry the weight of global issues is futile and harmful to my mental well-being. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that anxiety often comes from living in the past or worrying about the future. It pulls us out of the present, and that’s when we start to feel overwhelmed.

What has been transformative for me is learning to live in the now. By focusing on the present moment, I feel less anxious and more at peace. The world may be chaotic, but I don’t have to internalize that chaos. Living this way is also better for our brains. Neuroscience supports this idea. When we constantly engage with stressors or thoughts about things we can’t control, we keep our brain’s threat system activated. Specifically, the amygdala—the part of the brain responsible for detecting threats and triggering the fight-or-flight response—gets overstimulated. When this happens, it becomes harder to process new information, learn effectively, and think clearly. The brain can become stuck in survival mode, always scanning for threats, leading to chronic stress, fatigue, and burnout.

However, when we focus on being present, our brain operates in a calm and centered state. The prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for logical thinking, planning, and decision-making—works better when not constantly overshadowed by the amygdala. The result is we learn more easily, make better decisions, and approach challenges with a growth mindset. By stepping away from the digital noise and focusing on living more intentionally in the present, we allow our brains the space they need to function optimally.

For me, it’s not just about quitting social media and cutting out negativity. I’m more trying to create a healthier, sustainable way of living, both mentally and physically. The more I prioritize a simpler, quieter life, the more I realize just how much I was missing out on when I was constantly plugged into a system that thrives on distraction, comparison, and anxiety.

I’m not advocating for anyone to follow in my footsteps, but I do think it’s worth considering how much mental space we give to things that don’t serve us.

#StayPresent
#WellnessJourney
#SocialMediaBreak
#HealthyMindset
#IntentionalLiving
#SelfCare
#AnxietyRelief
#Neuroscience
#Wellness

Spent my afternoon walking in the woods. It was needed!
#Nature #NatureHeals #SocialMediaBreak #MoreGreenTimeLessScreenTime #GetOutside

Tired of notifications taking over your life? 🤯 Stop them with #QuietMode! 🤐 Come back to the calm of life 🤫
#InstaSilence #MutingInstagram #SocialMediaBreak #InstaLife #InstagramQuiet #Thenexthint
https://tecuy.com/what-is-quiet-mode-on-instagram/

Taking a break from everything for awhile - but I'm still keeping my breathing practice. No apps, no, feeds, updates, streams - just me on my own

Talk to you soon

#wimhof
#wimhofmethod
#socialmediabreak

It's been a while since I posted anything here - and even longer since I baked a sourdough bread.

This is one handsome brute of a bread.

#Homebaking
#Sourdough
#Bread
#SocialMediaBreak
#HandsomeBrute

On 7 May my wife & I packed up our camper van and headed off to Scotland where we toured for the next 11 weeks. I also took a complete break from social media.

3 things I recommend:

Slow travel - if you can afford the luxury of time, go slow.
Scotland - I can think of no better place to have spent 11 weeks exploring.
Social media - the break has been welcome, allowing a complete refresh while focusing on the real world around me with mine own eyes.

#slowtravel #scotland #socialmediabreak

Hi folks!
My annual social media break awaits as July begins. I'll be off the grid for a month, so see you in August!
(Just deleted my birdie account as a good starter.)

Wanted to leave you with photos from wonderful Tom of Finland exhibition in Kiasma, but for some reason my app doesn't want to upload photos at the moment. 🙁

However, strong recommendations to the exhibition, as well as the rainbow cake in the café. 🌈

#SocialMediaBreak #TomOfFinland

Big deadlines and projects in the next weeks, together with another family move (the second in less than 6 months), loooots of grading, and two conferences this summer — it's time for a little social media break for me to refocus and replenish my energy 💫 Enjoy the spring! 🌼

#MastodonBreak #SocialMediaBreak #Spring #AcademicChatter

Well, that was worthwhile. #SocialMediaBreak #SocialMediaBreaksAreGoodForTheSoul #creativity

#SocialMediaBreaksAreGoodForTheSoul #peaceout #SocialMediaBreak

I’m not going to be around for a little while, as I’ve had some bad news and need to process all that and take care of stuff. I love being on Mastodon, but just can’t cope with any SM at the moment. Be well, and I’ll be back when I can.
#mentalheathbreak #techbreak #socialmediabreak #invisibleillness

Having left Twitter, and being away from LinkedIn/Mastodon for the last 3 weeks meant that I inadvertently missed the flurry of photos and posts from #Davos. As someone with connections in both academia & industry, the "WEF time of the year" is FOMO inducing. Genuinely glad that I skipped that this year 😅

#WEF #worldeconomicforum #mentalhealth #socialmediabreak #phd #phdlife #academia #entrepreneur #entrepreneurshiplife