Just switch off: the 30-day Whatsapp diet against stress
I have announced it for a long time. They did not believe me all. And then I did it. Just in time for my birthday (to climb the summit of impudence with timpani and trumpets directly on day 1) I switched off my mobile phone. Why did I do that? Maybe I wanted to backfire the world a bit for all the unnecessary BINGS I've taken too much over the last few months. It happens very creepingly, with the BING terror, but suddenly he overpowers you, at the latest when you have children and suddenly found in three hundred and fifty million Whatsapp groups on the most absurd topics.
Whatsapp strikes
Oh, it had started so harmlessly. With the nice feeling, a little picture of Mama, a quick info to the boss, a short one? Miss you? to be able to send to the loved ones, without long to chat or crashing with large image files, the capacity of GMX. Yes, it was wonderful. But then it started. Do you know these people who send three question marks after two minutes of non-response? Unfortunately, I probably know them all. Anyway, in my life they are a frighteningly common species: the Whatsapp-Stresser. Especially popular is the question:? Are you still alive? If you do not react immediately. The crazy thing is that life happens sometimes exceptionally so beyond the smartphone. In the real world. Unfortunately, I missed it more and more often, because my eyes stuck to the phone and danced my fingers over the keys, so as not to collect three question marks. Sometimes I really texted in the loo. The question was pretty close: How deep can you actually sink?
Time for a little social detox
So while the world around me was slimming down on low carb and disgusting golden milk after New Year, losing dress sizes or becoming more careful, I tried to slow things down with the phone. You do not always have to answer, I thought, but it was self-deception. For what was actually stressing me was not the question marks and not the news that came, but my sick urge to keep chattering on the phone or pushing the small button remotely to make the display light up. Researchers have found that this same push of a button creates a feeling of happiness similar to chocolate and is therefore addictive. I believe right away. CLICK! AAAHHH.
One month is long
I would really like to write more differentiated and divide my month into phases in which I found it more or less difficult, but it would not be honest. The truth is: it was cool. And that from the first day. Have thought about whether I have slightly sociopathic features, because I was so good with myself alone and even enjoyed it a bit that obviously many people without Whatsapp were completely overwhelmed to contact me. Maybe that's the way it is. But no matter, because I have learned three important lessons! First: Not everything needs my reaction 2. My life is just as beautiful, if only I am pleased about a beautiful sunrise and not thirty Whatsapp friends with me 3. The only one who can stress you at Whatsapp is you yourself Question marks do not matter if you do not see them. But the most important thing is that all the others have learned something too, namely: I am simply not permanently available. And not because I do not live anymore, but because I live. And that's not naughty, not brave, not blatant, that's healthy.
And now?
Meanwhile, the month is over. No, I do not jump from the digital windowsill and delete the app, so blatant even I'm not. But I understand that Whatsapp is actually nothing more than a mailbox, at least if you turn off the stupid blue check mark and the last online feature. You can empty it, but you can also leave it. When you do that, it's none of your business. When one responds, just as little. And now and then you should maybe make a digital holiday and unsubscribe the post. To relax once again. And yes, a bit, too, to annoy the world, because that's much more fun than worrying about it, when again three question marks light up.
