Morning Habit #1: Avoid too much Social Media

Welcome to 10 Habits for a Purely Fantastic Morning Routine. These habits are in no particular order whatsoever. That being said, I will focus on this habit first for several reasons.

1. It is the first thing I do in the morning.

Somewhere along this life journey, I decided browsing Facebook and Pinterest would be the best way to help me wake up. I actually end up lounging in bed an extra hour. Catching up on pins and posts and completely useless knowledge from “Buzzfeed.” It takes away the golden minutes of my morning.

2. Nothing worth reading about typically shows up in the morning feed.

Facebook is full of posts about weird dreams, dramatic night fights, and how upset everyone feels about getting out of bed. Pinterest users have spent their insomnia hours pinning ambiguous quotes about relationships and late night food craving recipes without legitimate links. Nope, nothing good to see here people. Wait till 4pm. That’s the best time to scroll.

And for that matter, I really don’t think anyone really wants to hear about 1.6 mile run in the morning. Or see my fabulous pin about arranging picture frames. No, I think I will wait till I’ve done something more significant with my day before I post for my 15 seconds of attention.

BONUS! I still come up with a really great Facebook status every morning. You know, the one you can’t get out of your head. But instead of posting it online, I text it to one of my sisters, or write it in a letter. Now I am reaching out and connecting on a personal level, which is great! Bam: building real social skills before 9am.

3. My immediate pursuit of social media is idolatry.

For instance, if I replace God with social media, each of these verses accurately describe my habit:

Psalm 5:3
O ~~Lord~~ Pinterest, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and ~~watch~~ scroll.

Psalm 90:14
Satisfy us in the morning with your ~~steadfast love~~ Facebook status updates, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Mark 1:35

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, [s]he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there [s]he ~~prayed~~ repinned 15 outfit ideas and 9 recipes.

I do not want to replace time with my Lord and Savior with the worship of people and things. I greatly value how Facebook helps to connect with students, friends, and co-laborers in God’s Kingdom across the planet. But it does not exist to ease my waking in the morning. Or to curb my boredom. I value my Facebook FRIENDS more than that.

Pinterest is the same. I really appreciate how many helpful hints and creative ideas I’ve received (and used!) from this site. Pinterest has also been an effective agent to spread the word of God’s work in my life through this blog. I am still in shock how many people repin from the “Bible Study Tips” series everyday. I hope it is helpful.

But I feel like Jesus has become just another pin among many gods. The things we put our attention to, spend time with, talk about… that is what we worship. The Bible is reduced to something I scroll through on my Youversion app after all other apps have been exhausted.

But no more!

I will not give my precious morning hour(s) to social media. Or TV, Netflix or Youtube, for that matter. I will seek Jesus first, while He may be found. I will give Him the honor and attention He deserves.

Today is my first day. And it was difficult. I was annoyed at how many times I reached for my phone out of habit. Well a new habit is forming now, and it is clearing up my AM schedule for greater things!