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August 28, 2020
Blogging & Business, Faith, Lifestyle, Motherhood

Stop the Scroll

This may be an ironic post to be writing on a blog but here I am anyways. Technology and the internet has opened worlds of opportunity and I honestly am grateful for it but is has also opened up a floodgate of new things to navigate. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

I watched as technology as we know it today grew into being. I remember rushing home after school to use our dial-up internet and put the house phone out of commission for 45 minutes. That’s all the time we were allowed because the home phone was a pretty important tool and our family was cellphone-less. I got a fancy flip phone for Christmas my senior year of high school and learned as quickly as I could to T9 text & make “Ridin‘” my ringtone. Before YouTube & Facebook & Instagram was Homestarrunner.com, AIM, and MySpace. We were just seeing all the fun & good that could come with being more connected but the simple life was slowly fading away.

These days my phone is practically attached at my hip. Sometimes I set it somewhere (intentionally or not) and come back stacks conversations waiting for my input. I even get the ” you never answer your phone” or ” let me know your thoughts ASAP” messages too. I feel the need to be ready to reply to the text, the Instagram message, the email right away as if the length of delay shows how much I care.

And with this extention of my arm, I take photos all day. I look up random facts. I sometimes reply to messages or answer my phone (it’s ironic how hard it is to do this when my phone is so frequently in my hand… anyone else relate?!) I also scroll. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​

I mindlessly scroll on Instagram, on Facebook, on news articles. I do it while I am nursing, watching a show, making dinner, playing with the girls, laying in bed – heck even while waiting at a red light. What feels mindless is actually impacting me greatly. It makes me less attentive to what is right in front of me. It makes me more aware of what I don’t have. It adds extra worries, stresses, burdens to my shoulders. And it is filling my brain with fluff.

Now clearly I am not anti technology or anti social media. Here I am writing a blog and I haven’t deleted any of my social media accounts because I love posting cute pictures. But I have started removing the apps from my phone for seasons of time. Lately it has been for the weekends but I’m even more & more less motivated to add them back. I love keeping up with my friends but I hate the way the scroll grabs me in and takes me away from what matters. I hate the way it makes me jealous or less than. And I hate that I spend more time watching stories and reading posts than I do reading my Bible. What we put into our minds is what we spit out of our mouths – for better or for worse.

So I’m here to say it is okay to stop the scroll. Deleting Instagram from your phone for a day or two isn’t just easy, it feels good! And mindlessly scrolling? I just don’t have time for that. My brain, my kids, my family, and my community deserve more of me.

PS: My new thing before bed instead of checking Instagram one more time is to read a Psalm. It never takes long, but filling my brain & my heart with scripture gives me a strength, courage, joy, and hope to face a new day than Instagram stories can never give me. Try it with me if you like!

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Hello + Welcome!

Hello Friend! I’m Elizabeth, a Colorado photographer, writer, & blogger. Most importantly, I am a Christ follower, wife, mama, sister, daughter, and friend!

Welcome to Oak + Oats! Here we look for the remarkable in the every day. We love photographing our daily moments, making memories, and sharing our favorite places here in this space.

Our happiest days are spent together – many of those with a camera in hand! My free time (ie: Nap Time) is spent behind my computer screen sharing our tips and stories with you! I’m glad you’re here!

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