I'm Reactivating Twitter
I write this with a twinge of dread. Do I really want to go back on Twitter? Can I handle it? Will it be too distracting, too anxiety-provoking?
The clock is ticking. I deactivated January 8 (and wrote about it here). I have 30 days to reactivate before my profile is permanently deleted. So, it’s now or never.
I had needed to deactivate Twitter because it was so activating and reactionary. I had lost sight of my priorities. I needed time away to refocus on the most important things in life: health, home, loved ones, and maintaining my responsibilities toward my businesses.
I was beyond my capacity, with too many irons in the fire; I still am. Around the time I deactivated, I tried hiring a virtual assistant, and got flaked on. Only today have I found someone new who seems promising. Over the next few months, I hope to be able to hand over a large chunk of the things I find most mentally taxing: scheduling, emails, miscellaneous tasks, and yes — some social media management.
A social media break has been long overdue. During the past month, I have only opened Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok briefly for functional purposes, such as finding a certain person or business.
Exercising restraint with social media is about more than just protecting my mental bandwidth, though that is a worthy goal in and of itself. It’s also about integrity: greeting the public with dignity and intention. I had started to lose my poise.
During my time away from Twitter, I completed an intensive branding process with a brilliant designer whose focus is empowering compassionate businesses. Her workbooks prompted me to reflect deeply on my values so as to align my outward presence with my inner virtues. That has been an important and necessary step before stepping forward into the public arena again.
The thought of re-engaging in Twitter seems scary and overwhelming, if only for its potential to absorb time and mental bandwidth I need for other things. But I don’t want to lose the valuable and inspiring connections I gained during that whirlwind first 3 months of engagement, or the potential to share my writing and future podcast on that platform.
So, I’m coming back, but with boundaries and intentions. I won’t be reading every comment, or responding to every DM. I might even let someone else handle those things for me.
If we are personally acquainted and have exchanged messages, or you’ve left a comment on my blog I’ve yet to reply to, please bear with me. The next few months are a very busy time for me both personally and professionally, and I have to put my blinders on to protect priorities. Once a VA is familiar with my priorities and procedures, she will be better able to sort out important messages, arrange meetings, and so on. And, there still might be some things that just have to be let go.
After publishing this article, I will reactivate Twitter, post this, and step away again.
Here’s to finding — and keeping — our balance.
Edited to add:
For those who have been following the drama around activists threatening my career, I still haven’t heard anything from the board about it. My letter was forwarded to the compliance department, but there was no response. Meanwhile, my license has been renewed according to normal policies and procedures.
The board’s quarterly newsletter announced that they are quite overwhelmed and under-staffed, so I imagine they are behind on things like this, and will either delay or dismiss allegations that don’t hold much weight. I don’t want to assume so prematurely, or tempt fate with hubris, but so far, everything is fine. I am living my life and conducting my practice as usual.
