This week I'm sharing about my decision to archive my Facebook Groups and greatly minimize my time on this social media platform.
What archiving a Facebook Group means
As of today, my Machine Quilting Block Party and Leah Day Quilting Friends Facebook Groups will be archived. This means if you are a member you will be able to search the group and see older posts, but the group will be frozen in time and new posts will not be allowed.
Social Media Addiction
I'm targeting Facebook specifically because this platform more than any others has become really nasty. People are horrible to one another and the algorithm that makes Facebook work encourages that behavior. It's also very, very, VERY addictive and I don't think most people understand how or why.
I've been reading and watching videos on this for awhile, and I found the following video very helpful for understanding the addictive nature of these social media platforms:
Affiliate link: I highly recommend Cal Newport's book Deep Work. This book was very inspiring to me to dig in, put my phone on airplane mode and stop allowing notifications to distract me constantly while I was writing and quilting.
I honestly don't think I would have ever finished my book Explore Walking Foot Quilting if I hadn't listened to that audiobook last summer.
This isn't who I want to be or what I want to be doing
I realized more than a year ago that Facebook was driving my husband Josh a bit crazy. He'd become obsessed with keeping our groups clean - free of spammers, porn, crazy people, and bullies. It wasn't an easy job and stuff would still slip through and get posted in the middle of the night so the first thing every morning he'd check his phone to see if the groups were okay.
This began hurting my feelings because hey - don't I get a good morning at least? And was this really good for us or our business? I didn't think so and I was starting to worry that it was causing Josh a lot of stress and anxiety that he didn't need to feel.
Ultimately I've had to tap into WHO I want to be and WHAT I want to be doing most - I want to be quilting. I want to be teaching you how to make beautiful quilts.
I don't need Facebook groups which require tons of time and effort every week to do that. I think maintaining these groups has been taking me away being the best quilting teacher I can be.
Let's go quilt,
Leah Day
33 comments
Perfect. Thank you. And good for you both. <3
Leah, ive been looking for a new post from you for so very long. Decided today to investigate and of course discovered your decision with which I agree. So glad you’re continue in other venues. I love your style of teaching and your public teaching persona. You are a breath of fresh air. Keep up the good work. Will be following you via your chosen modes.
Blessings, Patricia Morrow, Knoxville, TN.
Thank you being so honest and forthright about your decision to leave Fb. I, too, am reassessing my use. People and public events are making it uncomfortable and untenable in these times. Good for you and Josh for putting family first.
Thank you ALL so much for your kindness and support! Really, it’s amazing to me that I worried for so long about this decision and have found only support and understanding for this choice. Thank you!
I understand completely your decision to freeze the groups as I have had to leave some groups because of nastiness. It has staggered me just how cowardly people are in hiding behind a social media profile to denigrate others, grown women in quilting groups have verbally slaughtered others; the Quilt police have nothing on these women!!
I have just attended the Festival of Quilts and felt so at home there again with all the like minded people who just want to create beautiful pieces and, more importantly, encourage others to grow and learn.
Your teaching has inspired me to go for it in fmq and I thank you for all the effort you put into all your projects that help us learn and grow.
I have my fabrics for leaf peepers and cannot wait!!
Thank you both for everything you are doing in the quilting world x
Thank you for your heartfelt explanation, Leah. While I’ll miss seeing the quilts on your site and interacting with other FMQers there, I can find other groups to join for that which won’t take away from your goals and joys. I’m so glad you’re going to continue your on-line teaching because that is what matters! I improved my FMQ tremendously by taking your classes on Craftsy. You are so generous with your time and the content you provide for free. I am truly grateful for all that you and Josh have done for quilters. Be well. Happy quilting!
Way to go!!!! It is so important to re-evaluate our lives every once in a while to weed out what is not healthy for us or our family!
Good for you Leah. I am also part of some crochet groups on Facebook and the poor moderators are constantly talking about playing nice. Can you believe that grown women can be so nasty. It’s a shame. I love your quilts, what you do and who you are!!!!
You made the right decision. I hardly ever go on Facebook. I don’t really like it and I don’t have time. thank you for all the videos and things you do.
Good for you Josh and Leah-thank you for all you do. I hardly ever go on Facebook-I don’t really like it and I don’t have time for it. You made the right decision.
In February, I decided to spend less time on Facebook and other social media, too. I also felt I was paying too high a psychological/emotional toll by being there. Facebook has become a very ugly place to be, full of gossip and rumors and anger. I think most of us would be much better off if we dramatically limited our exposure to it, and spent more time doing productive things that made us happy and benefitted society.
I applaud your decision. I shall be sad to lose the contact of other quilters, especially as I live in a place where there are no others to have such contact with, but your reasons are so good and so right. One of the main reasons I ever check FB is to see your site, so I can go there even less now – another good thing. I mainly keep it for keeping contact with far-away friends and family, but there are so many who just can’t keep away for all the wrong reasons. I look forward to more tutorials and podcasts and good stuff.
Hi Leah,
Let me say I admire your decision. I’ve been feeling similarly and have recently been pulling back from fb. And for much the same types of reasons – so much negativity and unbelievable nastiness, major drain on time and energy, judgemental attitudes, and the addictive nature of fb.
I really like that you are able to connect with what is real for you and then come right out and express it. Good on you!
Best wishes going forward.
Seren
Hi Leah, good on you, i understand where you are going and support you wholeheartedly. look after yourself and enjoy what you love to do.
Thanks for being so open and honest! Family first. I love your videos. I will be watching and listening! God bless!
Agree with you totally! I’ve noticed that even bird pages [hummingbirds for example], people are judgemental, critical, etc. etc. Your description of a ‘cesspool of nastiness’ is right on. I’ll bookmark your pages. Purge your friends to only those you really know. I have friends with 2, 4, 600 ‘friends’ that I wonder about. I have less than 40 :) You do a good job, don’t be afraid, and your FB page is archived and will direct folks here. You and Josh take a break for a while and get reacquainted. I’m a grandma and you are at the beginning of your life and career. Look out for yourselves and keep your connection with each other. Thank you for all you have shared !
Congratulations…..I appreciate your honesty…..Facebook has lost my brother’s children. I rarely post. Thanks
Leah, you are a wise woman quitting Facebook and concentrating on your podcasts instead. I myself have slowed down reading my Facebook page as it’s such a waste of time. I also have been trying to convince my niece to stop playing video games. You are inspiring. Please keep up the good work you are doing as I hope one day to join one of you quilt-alongs. Right now I have too much on my plate.
Thank you Leah and Josh. I’ve been signed up to your FB groups for a while, but I’ve not been participating much – sadly life got in the way of quilting this past year. It’s not possible to do everything yourselves when you’re running a family business, and we quite understand you deciding to ditch Facebook.I’ve not seen anything but kindness on your groups, but sadly I know that isn’t the case with all online crafting communities. Wishing you both well, and everyone who’s been sharing their quilting photos in the group.
It sounds like you have made the right decision for you and your family. I agree that computers, social media, games, etc. can definitely be addictive and can suck up much of your life if you let them. I have seen others struggle with the administration of Facebook sites and it is a full time job
I will continue to enjoy your podcasts here and your Youtube videos. Best of luck to you both.
Thank you so much for your candid and heartfelt podcast. I wish you great success and have complete confidence in your ability to transition away from Facebook.
Huge kudos! I commend both of you, the Day Team, for your decision. Great podcast…so much of what I’m feeling about the addictions of social media and games….and I’m a 69 year old woman, for gosh sakes. Thumbs up and thank you for all you talents and commitments.
So sorry to see the FB pages closed. I really liked posting stuff here as I felt safe to post pictures of my work, as I always got a lot positive feedback. To be honest, I feel kind hurt to be losing this group, as this was one of my go to groups for posting. However, I understand why you are closing your FB groups and want to wish you guys all the best.
I understand. You and Josh offer such positivity at all Thank you!
!
Bravo!! Smart decision to leave FaceBook!
I applaud your decision to basically get back to your roots and passion of what and why you started all this in the first place. As our businesses grow and flourish its not difficult at all to get caught up in trying to do all the things on every platform and then trying to do everything to please everybody else that we get lost or both we and our businesses suffer. It’s all about balance and the most important root or foundation of yours is first and foremost you and Josh’s relationship being healthy in every way. I always marveled at how you seemed able to do it all from the first time I had the pleasure of finding you. It’s a unique and special gift and ability you share with us all so unselfishly that we are all probably guilty of not being thankful and appreciative enough of what you have offered and the privacy and time you have sacrificed. Thanks for all you have and still do and I wish you nothing but continued success.
I appreciate your podcast and your decision. I think all of us realize that social media, even less hostile places like Ravelry where i run fine groups, eat up our creative time. At best i sirens time reading interesting things—but not creating then. At worst i an trying to make viscous people play nicely. And even obsessively reading the news first thing in the morning leaves me feeling worse than if i had been creating. Thanks for reminding is that addictive behavior that increases our anxiety ACS makes us more sad can sneak in our lives before e know it
I for one am delighted you have made this decision, Facebook seems to be for little children, perverts and games. I totally know what you mean about addicted to it, I was addicted to one of their games a while ago now, Farmville, I spent a lot of money on their silly bits and was on it from first thing in the morning until late in the day. Thankfully now I only visit it when one of my neices/nephews tell me they have posted pictures or things. I never joined the quilting groups so felt I probably missed out a bit, now I don’t need to worry. I know it must have been quite a decision for you to make Leah, but I think you will not look back on it. Thank you for another very interesting podcast. Laura
Thank you Leah and Josh for letting us know. I think what your doing is great as I have witnessed how rude people can be. I know on a personal level about the video games and completely agree. Thank you so much for all that you do. I really want to join in on the quilt along. I’m having some personal problems with debilitating anxiety and panic. It ruins everything. I’m hoping it doesn’t interfere with this fun time your giving. Congratulations on all of your decisions. Robyn
I love your podcasts. I don’t blame you about Facebook. I love all what you and Josh are doing for this community. Your a great woman and I appreciate you and your family. Thank you for all your hard work.
Thank you so much! I heard your podcast about Facebook and so agree with you. Thanks for all you do for quilters. I first found you (unknowingly) way back with your video describing how to “customize” or “hack” a free motion quilting foot to make it operate more smoothly! And then later on I found you again while trying to learn free motion quilting! :)
This was not a decision we came to lightly. We really hope you understand. Also, I am a recovered World of Warcraft addict and being on facebook constantly just for moderation was not healthy for me personally.