Rolodex Brain: Confessions From a Social Media Break

What I Learned From a Social Media Break (That No One Talks About)   I didn't take a break from social media with some grand plan in mind. I took a break because I was tired. What I didn't expect was to find out how tired and how much of that tiredness had been hiding in plain sight.   In this episode, I'm sharing what came up during my time away: the subtle overwhelm I didn't realize I was carrying, the constant rolodex of "what should I post next" spinning in the back of my brain, and the noise underneath the noise including AI-generated "women" selling perimenopausal women beauty standards that aren't even real.   I also share a framework that's been rattling around in my head since I heard it in a recent webinar with my longtime teacher Tracee Stanley and her guest, author Shannon Algeo, on the real differences between real-world space and online space — and why our nervous systems know the difference even when we don't.   We talk about: The overwhelm I didn't know I was carrying until it was gone Why Instagram sends me a "look what you're missing" email almost every day (sometimes two) and what that says about who these platforms are really built for What it's like to catch up with a friend when you genuinely don't know what they've been up to anymore How online spaces can quietly become an echo chamber, even when you don't realize you're standing inside one Why I notice more than ever who shows up consistently, and who I actually feel connected to Real world vs. online, through Shannon Algeo's framework: embodied vs. disembodied, synchronous vs. asynchronous, one-to-few vs. one-to-many, and the high bar of entry and exit in real life vs. the low bar online What I'm choosing to build instead: shared sacredness, embodiment, stillness, being slow to anger and quick to forgive, connection to nature and awe, and connection to our ancestors and transcendent self   If you've ever wondered whether it's just you feeling the hum of low-grade overwhelm from being online, this one's for you.   Connect with me: 🌿 Website: andreaclaassen.com Work with Me: www.andreaclaassen.com/services