Thoughts on Social Media While living Abroad:

A little over a month ago I moved abroad to live and work for a year. These are a few of my initial thoughts about social media and how my relationship with people, social media, & writing have evolved.

Willingness to Reach Out: Living 10.5 hours in the future of the majority of people who I know has emboldened me to reach to people not in my direct social circle. I have never been afraid of strangers. However to reach to people in a direct way is new for me and I am happy for doing it. There is less of a pressure because by the time someone would respond I will be asleep.

If You Have something Nice to Say Say It: Building on the previous point I am a firm believer in complementing people & encouraging them on their endeavors. Thinking of how you can give value or someone who might enjoy a video you just watched is always a great way to make a connection. Do not get caught up on reciprocation if you genuinely believe they might enjoy it.

The People I Care About the Most Have Not Left: I have stronger relationships with some people since I left. I think part of it has to do with when it is so easy to interact with someone we are less inclined too, yet when we cannot always communicate we cherish it more. It surprised me who has reached out to me since moving which I am grateful for.

I am on Social Media Less: What we know subconsciously is that social media is incredibly distracting & addictive. My strategy since moving has been to only go on when I have something specific to do. With this rule in place I am less likely to linger on social media & waste time. This has freed up a lot more of my time to watch TED Talks & other educational videos.

I am Writing More: I am thinking about social media in a whole new light of how to give value to people. A factor in this change is that I am running all of my company's social media but it has extended to my own personal brand too. I am a goofball at heart, but have shifted towards thinking how each post can prove insightful or add value to the lives of people reading it. I am blogging more, & doing more lengthy posts which I love as I am a writer at heart.

Thanks for reading feel free to add thoughts or comments!

-Tim