Social media overwhelms me and I’ve decided it’s time to simplify. Don’t worry – the blog is NOT going anywhere!! But I’ve been contemplating over the last few months about how I spend my time and WHERE to spend my time.
Until yesterday, I’ve been running a bit ragged, trying to keep up with 3 Facebook pages, 2 Instagram accounts, 2 email lists, this blog, and a very weak attempt at Pinterest. Not to mention several business networking groups. I’ve been blogging since 2010 and joined Instagram in 2013, then began adding ever more social media outlets to the lineup to keep up with “the next best thing.”
The result? I’m honestly getting a little burned out. I spend way more time on screens that could be better spent at the sewing machine!
Because a blog post is more fun to read with pretty pictures, I’ve sprinkled in a few pics of my latest finish – HST Remix . I often have deep thoughts while quilting – it’s very therapeutic!!
What I’m Saying “Yes” to:
So here’s what I’m keeping: the blog, Instagram, and my Facebook group.
What I’m Saying “No” to:
What I’m ditching: my Facebook biz page, personal Facebook updates, two email lists, my business Instagram, and Pinterest (Gasp! Sorry folks, I’m just not a pinner!!)
What I’m NOT going to feel guilty about NOT doing: Twitter, YouTube, Instagram Stories, Facebook Live, Periscope, Snapchat, etc. What I AM going to enjoy: making and sharing what I want, when I want, where I want.
If I make it – and others want it – they will find it.
Dense machine quilting makes me happy. I’d rather spend more time creating, and less time managing social media.
Since making that decision to simplify only yesterday, I woke up feeling much lighter today. I’ve realized I don’t need to post ALL THE THINGS to ALL THE PLACES, or worry about whether I cross promoted or over-promoted, or forgot to mention the latest and greatest: here, there and everywhere.
I can simplify. I can make. I can share. And I can focus on quality over quantity which better aligns with my minimalist leanings.
You Can Still Follow Me Here
By the way, if you DO want to follow what I’m doing, and keep up with the blog, you can easily subscribe to it. Here’s how:
If you are on a computer, there are two options in the right-hand side bar. (1) You can enter your email underneath where it says “follow my blog!” and you’ll get an email each time a post is published. Or (2) scroll down a bit further and click the button that says “follow me on bloglovin.”
This is HST Remix, one of my QuiltCon entries. Whether it gets accepted to the show or not, I enjoyed every stitch of this huge 90″ x 90″ quilt! It was made entirely on my home sewing machine.
If you are reading this from your mobile device, it’s a bit trickier to find the signup box. You’ll have to scroll way, way, down, like past a million blog posts until you get to all the “stuff” at the bottom of the screen. Then you’ll see the box to enter your email, or the Bloglovin button. But they are there if you persevere!
Whew – that felt so good to get it off my chest!! I’ll post again when there’s something more to say or show. Now it’s time to start on the next quilt….
Christa Quilts 
I can’t say I blame you….keeping up with social media is mind boggling! Life is short & we all have only so much time in a day for creating!
Personally, I like blog posts the best. I just don’t have a smart phone, so I don’t get onto Pinterest or instagram much anyway. Good for you in making this decision!! Hugs, H
That is awesome! I am glad I did not start a tierneycreates Facebook page, I tire with keeping up with the my personal fb page, I like Instagram and blogging! Congrats on saying NO and curating your social media presence 🙂
Congratulations on rejoining the real world
Your blog is delightful
I read this blog post and thought great idea! It really was easier when we all just had blogs!
I love when I get your blog updates! And I am glad you keep the blog – I like IG a lot also but some times I feel tired of paying so much attention to that little screen. For me IG is like fast instant life and blogs are a quite place to be and enjoy. Best regards from Spain!
Good for you! I am glad you are keeping the blog as even though I don’t write a blog I enjoy following and commenting on blogs. I purposely choose not to be on any other social media, it takes up too much time.
Good for you, Christa! We are too ‘plugged in’ these days. Since phones became ‘smart’ they are controlling our lives. I wasn’t going to be one of ‘those girls’ who had all that stuff on her phone; alas, I am! I try to stay off FaceBook–other than the groups I am on (including yours). I love seeing quilts on Instagram, and I do admit that I pin them on Pinterest. However, I do not cruise Pinterest like I once did. Too much time is wasted on the computer. We need to go back to socializing and communicating with one another. Our children won’t have social skills unless we teach them. Oops, I just fell off my soapbox!!!
You are so right! It’s a GOOD soapbox Becki. Get back on it and I’ll be on mine right next to you..
Way to go! 🙂
👍
Been there!! Ha ha – And I decided that blogs are the overall best – I get to show all my photos, and tell my story and I have as many words as I want to use – so I , like you, Love to blog!! Enjoy some stitching!
Thank you for sharing your struggle and solution. I spend far too much time reading blogs and cruising the internet that could be better spent on quilt making and sewing. I’m glad you decided to keep the blog, as that is where I find my best ideas and get help with issues. I’ve never had a Facebook account and can’t imagine trying to keep up with one. Thanks for all of your designs and machine quilting hints, tips, and ideas over the years!
I so appreciate this approach. I have kept my facebook personal and blog and instagram are more for my quilting. Pinterest I use personally, not so much for quilting. It can be way too much. Hooray for you and figuring out what you need to do!
I’m with you on the social media thing – there’s far too many things to keep up with! I’m hating instagram’s latest algorithm (excuse me while I vent). I had it so I could see what the people I follow had posted every day just by checking in, now it’s all over the place and I’m missing stuff and it comes up on my feed 6 days later – seriously exasperated with it! You watch they will wreck it and we’ll all have to move somewhere else soon.
You go girl! I admit debating if I should comment or not, trying to have less screen time myself. Enjoy!
LOL!! Less screen, more machine 🙂 Thanks for the kind words!!
Christa Watson Instagram @christaquilts website/blog: ChristaQuilts.com Click here to join my facebook group: Quilt with Christa
Less screen, more machine… I think you should have that put on t-shirts and sell them! 🙂
Haha! That would be a great idea!!
Christa Watson Instagram @christaquilts website/blog: ChristaQuilts.com Click here to join my facebook group: Quilt with Christa
I have been saying for some time now how people don’t know how to act like normal human beings for all the social networking etc. They waste so much valuable time on nonsense instead of doing something constructive. I know I am spending more time on my sewing machine & crafting and especially this winter I am looking forward to being able to get unfinished projects done. Wise decision you made, only wish more people would do the same.
Very understandable, we only have so many hours in the day!
I enjoy your blog and hoe you find the balance you are looking for.
I completely get where you’re coming from. I’ve faced a similar decision. I’m glad you’re keeping the blog. I know it’s more fashionable with a lot of people to move to Instagram, but I’ve always preferred the more in-depth sharings of blogs. I hope you enjoy your holidays!
GOOD FOR YOU!!!!! ( from a lady in her sixties who can assure you that life is short – savor your days!)
Smart decision!! I follow you on your blog and IG, so I am all set!!! Love all you do and hope you gain some precious time in your day to do what you like!!
Good for you!!!! I have mostly given up Instagram as well. I still have little kids and I don’t want them seeing me check my phone 50 times a day.
Love the quilt I saw it earlier on Instagram but so much better on the blog along with its story. So glad you decided to keep the blog, my preference and I do feel a little guilty that I don’t have one but I try very hard to to limit screen time, I just want to play in my studio. I did join Facebook just to keep track of our kids and grandchildren but I don’t enjoy it very much and only check in once or twice a week. I do instagram and enjoy following many quilters and stitchers and sometimes connect with some blogs although I try to limit that just want to sew I guess.
I’m glad you’re keeping the blog as others have abandoned blogging for facebook. I don’t do other social media and, trutg be told, I should really reduce the number of blogs I follow. I think you made a wise choice.
Bravo for your social media decisions. I think we all spend too much time on screens! I love HST Remix. The quilting is wonderful. I love that ther are so many variations of designs included. Bravo for that, too.
Wow! You were involved in a LOT of social media!! Yikes, I don’t blame you for cutting back. I am glad you are keeping the blog though. I don’t do any of those other things. I just follow blogs. I will sign up for your blog since you are quitting the newsletter though. Good for you!!
Smart. I get 2 emails from you – one newsletter and one blog. I only need one so it will be easier for you. I will check out your facebook page.
I still think blogging is the best! Good for you for keeping focused and reducing the stress of it all! I have to admit I don’t get Pinterest at all and Facebook is a black hole!! I don’t always have time to leave comments but I love reading the in-depth stories that blogging allows 🙂
I have not succumbed to FB, Twitter, or Instagram, and just a little bit on Pinterest. The email are enough and I have some control over that. I’m glad to see there are others who are feeling there is just to much social media going on.
Haha yes you are smart!! I’d rather sew and then just share 1-2 places rather than a doze, but it took awhile to realize that. Cheers!
Christa Watson Instagram @christaquilts website/blog: ChristaQuilts.com Click here to join my facebook group: Quilt with Christa
On Mon, Dec 4, 2017 at 12:16 PM, Christa Quilts wrote:
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Good for you. You need to be happy.
Good for you. I was getting stresses just reading what you were doing and know I’d never keep up with it all.
Your quilt is fabulous! Love the colors. And with you on the social media thing.
Time to so is great. Best of luck in your future. Relax and do what you enjoy.
Bravo! All the different options can feel overwhelming but as both a content producer and a consumer, I find it easier on BOTH ends to have just one or two places to follow someone!
Bravo to you! I applaud your decision to do less social media and more creating. I have decided to reduce my time on the computer and more time in my sewing room, so I can relate. I look forward to seeing more of your lovely quilts. You are such an inspiration to those of us who quilt on our home sewing machines
I ONLY have a blog. That’s it. And, you are right, it gives me much more time for sewing.
Spending more time sewing is a way better option. 🙂
I don’t blame you! I wish sometimes we could all go back to just having blogs where we share. It gets overwhelming. I do love IG but I don’t get a lot done because of it 🙂
BRAVO! I spend way too much time searching, browsing, looking, etc. instead of creating. I hope to follow in your footsteps and spend less time on the computer and more time on my machine. Love the quilt above. Did you quilt it on a “regular” sewing machine? or a quilting machine?
Yeah!!!!!!!! Lighten was my word for 2017 and it included all aspects of my life. I felt much better after I limited my social media. It increased my productivity in the sewing room and my mood improved because I was doing what made me happy and I was not “hearing” all the whiny people either.
I am happy the blog is staying!
Good for you. I don’t do facebook,twitter,instagram etc; at age 65 time is too limited to spend it on only the most precious things.
Well done on your cleansing, peace of mind and Quilting will help you to move forward in happiness and that is more important than anything else.
Good luck for the future.
Bravo on your decision! Social media can feel so much like a job sometimes, and there’s so much it’s impossible to completely keep up. So, kudos to you for choosing to be honest about it and tone it down! We should all spend more time on actually creating, which is what we love to do in the first place.
GOOD FOR YOU GIRL! It’s very easy to over commit these days and drive yourself crazy. (Very short trip for me.) Paring down is a good thing. I also had to learn how to say “No” – it can be hard to do.
You did what I have sworn to do as the new year rolls around. It is so time consuming, keeping up with social media, and you 100% correct in saying the time would be much better spent making something!! Thaniks for your enthusiasm!
Way to go, Christa – I sometimes feel I also read more than I quilt, which can get very frustrating. I love following your blog and will continue to do so! Enjoy your time with your machine. 🙂
I’m so glad you are going to continue to blog. I gave up reading most other social media quite awhile ago. Now, I pick and choose whose blogs I want to read.
So wise! Don’t burn out in front of a screen! And our inboxes get overwhelming too. I want to feel excited to receive an email or social media notification not dread the list in my inbox getting longer and longer! Enjoy your stitching Christa and I for one will look forward to your posts popping up in my inbox ☺
I love your choices of what your sticking with. Social media is crazy with all the different things going on. I enjoy your blog. Hugs,
Thanks Sandi! I really enjoy blogging but feel like I was neglecting it due to all of the other social media commitments!
Christa Watson Instagram @christaquilts website/blog: ChristaQuilts.com Click here to join my facebook group: Quilt with Christa
I applaud your decision! Quality is ever so much better than quantity and people are very good at sniffing out quality. I look forward to your creations…