Sunday, October 7, 2012

Clear the Clutter... Clear the Mind

I have a bit of a problem. I am kind of a digital hoarder. It isn't that it has been a big problem, but since I have been actively writing online, I find I have a pretty decent collection of groups I belong to.

Now, I am not saying belonging to these groups is a bad thing. I find so much support from these groups. But as of today, I realized I belonged to about 10. A few of them weren't active and some I didn't even regularly stop by to see what was going on with. But mostly what I realized is because some are so similiar, I was getting the same post several times. It was overwhelming. I was missing alot of stuff that was going on my Facebook timeline.

I realized I was "grouped" out. 


You see, what happens is I have been getting link bombarded. Too many groups will do that. So today I did something I find completely freeing....

I left!! I walked away! I didn't even say Good-bye!


Ok, so I didn't leave all of them. These groups are fun and definitely serve a great purpose to get my creative wheels turning. What I realized is several of the groups have repeat members. What was happening is I saw there link here, there and everywhere. Now, I love to support other people and what they do, but all the links were getting lost and I was getting overwhelmed. And eventually, I just didn't click on any of the links.

So today I took my own advice - I cleared the clutter to clear the mind. While at first I felt a little guilty about dropping the groups, I feel relieved since I have done it!

20 comments:

  1. It can feel overwhelming sometimes--and I find that there is an ebb and flow in groups--resssssttt

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    1. Ahhh yes... but since I have cleared it out I am back to what facebook used to look like... Not seeing a million links! I feel so much better! :)

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  2. I'm like this too! A lot of them I joined, not knowing exactly what I was getting myself into. It IS liberating! Hopefully you feel less cluttered and overwhelmed. :)

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    1. I definitely do feel a lot better about my decision. I don't mind the groups... I just think it is pointless to have all the same members in each one! :)

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  3. Now, see, I had to do the same thing. Then slowly, people added me to other groups, lol. Just be careful of that. Yeah, I am wanting to be out of all the dang groups. Hehe. I can relate. I don't even see things my HUSBAND shares with me on FB, lolol. Fun post!

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    1. Me either... I think that is when I really noticed it... I missed what my husband posted! LOL

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  4. I'm in the same boat. I either added myself, or was added to groups that have the same members over and over. I finally learned about turning off notifications, but not before having hundreds of emails to deal with. I need to do as you've done and week them out.

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    1. Yeah - the emails get to be a bit much. My husband always laughs because I have my email attached to my phone. It is always dinging and going off. But hey - I manage it much better this way as well! :)

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  5. Oh same here. I have groups from writing, groups from collecting charms (Pandora and Trollbeads, mothers boards from both my pregnancies from my girls and the list went on. funny you should write about this, because just yesterday I did walk away from a few, because I too was getting way to overwhelmed and also as Richard said I decided to turn off notifications for most, because I hate my inbox looking like a absolute chaos. Could totally relate to this post!!

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    1. Glad you can relate. I felt a little guilty for a second there. I just wasn't sure if I was doing the right thing. But now that it is over and done with... I feel so much better! :)

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  6. ditto....my facebook feed is so cluttered and heaven forbid someone is in ALL the same groups I am and they are posting a new link in EACH one. Good Lord it clogs things up. I wonder if people even realize it. I've narrowed down my group participation and have left quite a few. I felt like I was going to miss something but the only thing missing was my sanity. Maybe we should make a Declutter Group? hehe JK!

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    1. Yep - the only thing I was missing is my sanity! Agreed 110% The groups all started with good intentions but then they just started becoming places to spam. And then people didn't realize that they belonged to multiple groups and posted the link like 10 times in my feed. Ok - maybe it is exagerrated a little but what I realized is... I just ended up skimming over everything and not actually clicking on anything. Suddenly the group served no purpose. So - are you starting that declutter group now!? LOL

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  7. Preach on, sistah! I have been trying to leave groups only to find that they are adding me back after a day or two. That REALLY annoys the hell outta me. Almost to the point of blocking that person that keeps doing it.

    This idea has been heavily on my mind of late and thinking, I too, will have to cut it down to about 3 instead of the 15 that I'm currently chained to. :)

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    1. See - that's what you get for being such a popular person! I just stay quiet and I don't even think they realized I left! Ha ha - now go declutter your feed and your mind... you will feel much better!

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  8. I have found myself to do the same thing. I was just getting overwhelmed. I had to walk away also..:-)

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    1. I am glad that I am not the only one. I tell you, it was a good decision but while thinking about it... I got really guilty feeling... and I shouldn't have! :)

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  9. Oh yes! Funny you should bring this up now, at the moment I have a few FB groups that I belong to. I won't give up on Bloppy Bloggers...the other one I was invited to, but I just don't have the time to check out other people's articles and post and share all day long. At most I can check out maybe one, and post my link. That's it - if that! Glad to know there are others out there that feel the same. Thanks!

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    1. I am loving Bloppy Bloggers... I am thinking that this group is genuinely active.. and not just active in leaving links. So I think that really has things going for them! I try to read what I can but I got little kids grabbing at my feet so sometimes I get distracted. Not to mention I got stuff that needs to get done around the house as well! :)Ahh - but we do what we can!

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