How can you get the most enjoyment out of the fun things you do?

Have you ever known anyone who was obsessed with posting about every little thing they do on social media?

I used to have a co-worker, and for her, I swear that posting about her vacation on Instagram is what she looked forward to more than the vacation itself.

Be honest, have you ever felt that way?

It’s the modern-day dilemma when we do something fun: we want to enjoy the experience, be present in the moment, and not be distracted by our phones.

… But at the same time, we’re really excited about the idea of sharing the experience with others. It’s in our nature as humans to be social, after all.

Here’s the problem. 

Planning to post something online about an awesome trip, or carnival, or museum, or family reunion, or lunch with your friends while you’re still experiencing it actually makes you enjoy the experiences LESS. 

That’s right, it detracts from your fun!

Think about it: if you’re doing something awesome, but you’re constantly thinking about what pictures you could share online or what punny caption you’d like to make on your Instagram post… well, you’re probably not actually being present in the moment.

Studies have shown that taking pictures of an experience can help enhance our experience and can help us remember the visual aspects of it better!

However, studies have also shown that if you take photos of an event for the purpose of sharing them online, well, that actually undermines the experience and makes it less enjoyable overall.

Why the difference?

Well, when you’re taking a photo (or video) for the purpose of posting it on social media, you’re most likely concerned about getting the best shot, making it look cinematic, and making yourself look as fly as possible. You might not even realize that you’re doing this, but your subconscious does!

Because of that, not only will you feel a sense of self-consciousness and anxiety (even if you don’t realize it), but you will most likely engage with the experience less. 

You would have much more fun if you just didn’t plan on posting about it.

Do you ever feel annoyed by how much time and attention your phone takes away from you? I highly recommend checking out my course, Take Control of Your Phone, to reduce your phone usage by up to 4 hours a day. It’s helped me save over 2,000 hours of time.

Storytime!

A few years ago, I went on a weekend girls’ trip to Seattle with my friend. After a few hours of exploring Pike Place Market and walking along the bay, we embraced our touristy side and rode the Seattle Great Ferris Wheel over Elliot Bay.

The first thing we did when we boarded our car? Take selfies, of course!

Here’s the thing. I took a quick picture of myself with a partially obscured background, took another landscape picture when the ride started, then put my phone away to enjoy the ups and downs of the Ferris wheel and all the accompanying views.

My friend, on the other hand, spent the first half of the 8-minute ride taking multiple pictures of herself with differing facial expressions, then spent the entire rest of the ride swiping through those pictures, selecting her favorites, playing with filters, and crafting the perfect Instagram post… while the ride was still going! It drove me nuts.

Have you ever had a friend do something like that? Or have you been inclined to do it yourself?

If you’re focusing more on how your photos will look on your Facebook profile and/or how many likes and comments they’ll get, that’s a sure sign that you need to take a step back and evaluate how you’re using social media.

How to balance enjoyment and photo-sharing

If you’re striving to live a life with more joy and fulfillment while being present in the moment, here are some tips to getting the most out of your experiences (while also getting some photos to help you remember your day!):

Tip #1: Don’t take photos over and over, hoping to get the perfect shot.

You simply don’t need that many photos of a single thing!

(My special talent is blinking in EVERY PHOTO that is ever taken of me, so I always recommend getting a couple of pictures, just in case that happens, but there is NO WAY that you need 20 pictures of the same thing with the slightest adjustments.)

Tip #2: Take a photo at the beginning of the event.

Rather than anticipating it or constantly having the pressure of taking photos throughout the event, take that obligatory picture of your friend group or your kids together at the beginning of the experience.

Then just enjoy the experience. Resist the urge to take out your phone and get more photos that would be “even better” to post. You already have a great photo, remember?

Tip #3: Save the sifting through photos for later.

Repeat after me: take the photo, exit the camera, put your phone away. Don’t spend time looking at the slight differences in the way your hair falls in each picture. 

Trust that the pictures you take will be sufficient for you to have a happy memory of the place.

Tip #4: Try going somewhere without posting about it on social media.

This is my personal favorite tip! Not everything needs to be posted. Learn how to take pleasure in doing things just for YOU. 

Feel a thrill of joy at savoring a moment that only you are seeing. 

It can certainly be a good thing to share pictures and stories with others, but realize that you don’t have to share every single thing you experience.

If you really want to relive the memory with someone, try sending the photo directly to the person you’d most like to see it. It will make them feel much more special than coming across the picture on Instagram!

Conclusion

Life is so much better when you can find moments to enjoy your experiences while being fully present in the moment. Posting about your life on social media, though it has its place, can detract from the joy you feel during a fun day.

So, next time you’re at a county fair or out to lunch with your friends, try this simple tip: don’t post about it on social media.

Tell yourself that the photos you take are for your own memories, not for anyone else to “like.” Don’t worry about them being perfect; just take photos of moments that you want to remember.

Trust me, it will help you enjoy the experience even more. 

Best of luck!

Before You Go…

It can be tricky to stop using social media, especially when you’re so used to checking it every day. For a simple process to reduce your social media use (without missing it), check out my course, Take Control of Your Phone. It will be your first step in taking back ownership over your time and enjoying life the way YOU want to enjoy it.