Why you need to quit Twitter quick

Let me tell you why you need to quit twitter quick. And before you remark on the irony of me posting this on twitter, read on!

It’s been two months now since my last tweet. I was off on holiday, and I felt like deleting some social media apps. So I took the plunge and went cold turkey – no more twitter, and no more Instagram. I am not the first and I won’t be the last, but I have not looked back. So this blog is me telling you why you need to quit twitter quick.

And yeah I know it is called X now, that annoyed me too. And forgive the irony if you found this blog through Twitter. I am keeping the link from blog to social media so that you can read this top notch content!

But I need it for work!

I think the most common thing I used to tell myself was that I needed twitter for work. I mean, I guess I posted a lot, uploaded photos and liked others posts. But actually, do I need twitter to do my day to day job? The answer is no, I don’t need twitter to do my job. September has come and gone and at no point did my students benefit from me being on twitter. Not one person has missed my tweets, or expressed a desire to know what I am doing every day. I am present at work, for the students I teach, and that is a good thing.

And what’s more, I don’t feel that pressure to try and post something every day. Whilst I know my posts might have been nice and encouraging, I am fairly sure that everyone has been okay. So I will keep the link between blog and twitter so that I can get my content out there. But I won’t be checking for likes, you can make any comments you wish at the bottom of this!

I have something to say

Having taught in a classroom for over 20 years I do believe that I have stuff to say. I know that my experiences can and do help others in their day to day work. But so often social media forces us to try and say something all the time. We need to keep up with the inspiring tweets, useful content and social commentary. This can be draining and can also lead to us saying things for the sake of it.

Now I do want to share my views, thoughts and feelings on music education. But I think there are others ways of doing that. I am going to try and blog more so people pick and choose what they read. Alongside my blog I will continue to contribute to Music Teachers Association & Music Teacher Magazine. I am sure that without Twitter I can still find a way to share my views and support others.

And ultimately, if anyone wants to know what I think, they will ask or email!

Steering Clear of Trouble

I have in my time been known to cause some issues on Twitter. The odd comment here and there, an ill thought through tweet or a late night message after a long day. All of these things can cause issues that I now want to avoid. Often in our haste to reply, like or retweet, we fail to fully think through the implications. I love a good debate as much as the next person, but I can get carried away.

My “Toxic Positivity” has also got me into trouble at times. So now I am just aiming that into being positive with my students. Not being on twitter means I can focus my poistive vibes on my work, my colleagues and my family. Hopefully now I am not on Twitter I will make more friends and not upset anyone!

The weight of the world

Did you notice how politically toxic twitter has become of late! I won’t go into politics here, but I must admit I was getting sick of it. When I sit down in an evening I love reading positive stories about music education. But I don’t want to get bombarded with politics. It was becoming really toxic and horrid and that was another reason why I decided to quit.

I am aware that knowledge is power and we need to be aware of the world around us. But my world is wide enough at times with a family, a job, a dog and a load of students who need me. I do my bit for the environment, I do charity work and I aim to make the world a better place. Reading too much about politics and humanity gone wrong isn’t’ always the answer to dealing with it. Leaving twitter has given me the chance to reflect on what I can impact and what I can’t. I am really not that important in the grand scheme of things, and my tweets are probably the same.

Mental Health Impact

By the end of last year I really was burnt out. A hard year of work, lots of challenges and a few really tough times along the way. I don’t think I ever really switched off, and scrolling through twitter really was the last thing I needed. After a long day at work, reading about all the issues in the world really wasn’t good for me. And to be honest, even the positive stuff was hard at times. I have always been Mr Positive, but I realise that it can be tough to read that stuff when life is hard.

When I quit twitter I found that I suddenly had more headspace. No longer was a scrolling in bed, on the sofa or on a dog walk. The app was gone, the scroll was over and I could finally focus on other things. I felt a bit out of the loop at first. To be honest, my own loop is spinning fast enough, I don’t have much time for more.

So has it helped my mental health – 100%, completely, absolutely. I guess this is the main reason why you need to quit twitter quick. I can enjoy life a bit more. I am no longer worrying what people think of what I say. I am not getting into debates that go sour, or receiving messages that demand my attention. If people want to get in touch they know where I am, but I am more in control of that. Quitting Twitter has made a world of difference. I am so pleased to have a little more control over my mental health & wellbeing.

I do miss some things

I do miss some things about Twitter. I miss some of the people who I have never met but follow and enjoy. It is sometimes nice to know what a choir is singing, how a concert went or what someone is eating for dinner. Mindless and simple information like that can be refreshing and enjoyable. I miss seeing photos of students making music, or pictures of events taking place that are clearly positive for music education.

I also miss the interaction that is so easy to have through likes, retweets and comments. It is sometimes good to know your work is appreciated, celebrated or admired. That kind of social praise is nice and gives you a warm feeling inside. But I have realised that often I don’t need that, and I also get it every day from the students I teach. Whilst it is nice to received public support, ultimately I can get by without it. So I do miss some things, but I am happy to take the rough with the smooth and I will hopefully find those things in the blogs, magazines and articles I read.

Why you need to quit twitter quick

I get it, you maybe do need Twitter for work, and I get that. You might also enjoy it, have more self control than me or set yourself better boundaries. All I can say is that since leaving the world of tweeting, I am happier. I am no longer drawn to the debate, obsessed with the scandal or worried about the entire world in one scroll. I can find out what I need to know, share positives and engage with work without it. I haven’t had anyone tell me they miss me, or suffer as a result. I think it has been good for me to realise that life will go on without me tweeting, and lets face it I only had about 3500 followers, who knows what I have now.

That’s my journey. You might like to use this as a chance to think about your relationship with social media. My work has continued, my brain is a little clearer and it would appear the world has continued to turn. I am now focusing my energy on the things that matter. I hope that my role with MTA will continue to give me opportunities to support others. If you have read this and want to get in touch, please do, my inbox is always open. And if you quit twitter and have the same experience as me then let me know. It is. brave new world and I am enjoying every minute of it.

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