Life after Facebook.

Apparently I shocked the world the day I deleted not only my facebook, but my ridiculously time-consuming Zynga Farm. Initially the "cold turkey" (excuse the Thanksgiving pun) way of quitting was an adjustment. I never realized how much time I wasted on either/both of those activities until I counted how many times I sat down during the day expecting to log onto....nothing. I quickly assessed that I would have to fill the "wasted" time with this bizarre concept other people call "productivity". I have compiled a small list of things I now do instead of turning my brain into a rotting pile of mush:

* I CLEAN- Yes, I actually took some of my "free time" and cleaned some areas of the house I would hauntingly look at and think "I will just look at facebook/check my farm and THEN clean that clutter". Instead I just get off my lazy ass and clean it.

* I RUN- I signed up to run a 5k at my kids' school. Training for this gave me something to do and discipline to stick with a schedule for keeping myself healthy. Sunday November 13th I ran my first 5k and made my best time yet.

* I DO THINGS WITH MY KIDS- I actually sit down and eat meals with them. I play board games and walk to the park with them. I grab stale bread and get on my bike to feed geese with them. I paint my daughter's nails. I play xbox with them. I watch movies with them. I ENGAGE WITH THEM.

* I AVOID DRAMA- I have stifled at least a half a dozen of them with the simple phrase " I don't have a facebook anymore!"

* I SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS- I go shopping, or out to lunch, or just hang out without fear of missing a harvest time and having my strawberries wither.

* I SPEND TIME WITH MY HUSBAND- I shit you not, the words "I just have to harvest these ______" has left my mouth at 10pm before I could hang and watch a movie with my spouse. Unacceptable.

* I LIVE MY LIFE FOR MYSELF- instead of pretending to live an interesting one just so my facebook followers won't be bored.

* I CAN GO A WHOLE DAY WITHOUT TURNING ON MY COMPUTER- The mere thought of this pre-facebook deletion would have sent me into seizing panic attacks. Now if my power goes out my reaction is "meh".

* I SPEND TIME ON A GAME I PURCHASED- instead of wasting time on a supposedly "free" game that is designed to get you to spend actual money.

* I ENJOY LIFE- this one is self explanatory.