deleting it feels so freeing & finally pushes you to look away from these glowing glass screens & take in the real world!!! putting my phone on grayscale also helped me so much as i had to look around me for color & life and wasn’t able to get that same hit of dopamine from my phone 🫶
Grayscale is such a good idea. It’s only when you take a step back that you realise it’s all designed to keep you clicking and scrolling (pretty obvious, especially for someone who works in advertising - but still!) thanks so much for reading!
I’ve taken a social media sabbatical every summer since 2018 and am currently on my yearly hiatus now + WOW. I honestly feel no need to return. I feel free! I’ve doubled my books read!
But the idea that you need it to build a business or have that elusive “built in audience” that publishers want nags at me… I know it’s possible to build things a new, more sustainable way + am on that journey, but also! I’m tired.
This post reinspired me to give this some serious thought. It seems more and more people are looking for a new (vintage?) way of building communities / businesses / readers / creative outlets, and I love that journey for us. 🫶🏼
Loved reading your comment Kayli, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. Wowza - that is some sabbatical ritual and I kind of love that idea. It is crazy that it's become almost an essential part of life (I didn't even talk about LinkedIn but that as a platform in particular is basically the only way to get a job at this point). So glad you're on this journey too and it's going to be interesting to see how things shift going forward - there seems to be a lot of us feeling this way, so something has to give...right?!
It was honestly so refreshing! I’m back on Instagram now as I navigate promoting my work / social media, but have a much more detached way of being with it.
All of this! Social media is 10% good and 90% trash. I enjoy the 10% by only having access to IG for a very limited time. I have an IPhone which has the screen time lock feature for social. I asked my husband to type in a secret code he only knows which locks me out of my social media after I’ve used up my screen time minutes. It’s perfect. I get a lil dose of connecting with friends, a few culture moments and then I am out! I also take 30 straight days off every quarter which helps.
That’s such a great way to do it. Like I said in my post, I think there’s a lot of people saying ‘it’s bad, quit!’ but you can dip in and out when you want to once you find the right thing to work for you, rather than just going cold turkey. Love this - thanks for reading
It’s honestly so hard because it feels like such an essential part of life. Not going to lie, separating my Instagram out into my ‘real’ IG where I just follow friends has been really helpful for this, as it feels like I’m just checking in on people I know when I use it, rather than things I don’t really care about - so there are defo ways around it without having to quit cold turkey. Thanks so much for reading Kayla ✨
Loved this! As a fellow 25 year old that also decided to quit social media this really spoke to me. I first deleted them temporarily until I turned 25, but after my birthday I couldn’t bring myself to install them again. I’ve felt so free since not having instagram is insane. No more comparison, no more getting involved in any type of drama and no more keeping up with celebrities lives. now I’m just Pinterest, Kindle, Substack and vibes lol. So happy to see that I’m not alone hahaha 🩷🩷💕💕
aww Mel, you’ve literally made my day with your comment! Live for the vibes you want, not the ones someone else is selling you! And don’t compare, just be yourself for sure ✨ thanks so much for reading and commenting - it means the world!
I really enjoyed reading your post and it resonates with me and my relationship with Instagram and TikTok. I haven’t deleted those but trying to reduce my screen time and make room for reading or other activities than being hooked to my phone endlessly scrolling.
This resonated with me so much ! I work in fashion PR so social media and all things influencer is a huge part of my life. But I’m also 36 and a mom who recently relocated to another country so I have a love hate relationship with platform ! I want to keep up to date with friends and family and I have to keep up to date with culture and trends etc but honestly you idea of having an account for work might be a good option for me. Thank god for this platform .. my hope is that I can migrate here permanently 🤣
Thank you so much for reading! It's so interesting to hear other people's experience - same but different in their own way. I think there are definitely ways to get around the bad side of it by basically just taking as much control over your socials as poss, and figuring out how to make it work for you!
Loved this read! I quit social media for a while pre-covid because it was getting crazy. I came back a couple years later with a new account and now have a much healthier relationship with it after a period of seeing what life is like on the other side. Think that’s the thing, i freaking love the internet and love internet humor but there is a vvveerryyy thin line between enjoying it and being absolutely consumed by it
Thanks Danny, and that’s so interesting, I totally agree - I think there’s quite a black and white view of it sometimes. You love it or you hate it, you have it or you don’t, you’re on it all the time or never. It’s okay to dip in and out and tailor it to you because you’re the one using it!
Congrats on your newfound freedom! It really does hijack your brain, huh? Sheesh! So happy to see more people walking away from it, it's gonna make the world more human again I think.
I related to this so much- I’m 23 and have always had a at-arm’s-length relationship with most socials except Instagram. didn’t get on Facebook til I was 19/20 for family only, rid myself of toxic twitter at 17, and TikTok really only did it for me during 2020. but releasing Instagram this past month has felt so refreshing, it’s felt different for me entirely. I still miss my influencers, the ones who I followed since their start and feel like I owe them my attention, but everything about the excitement of it all is fading, I’m finding a new emotional regulation, I can read and write and create instead of consume, all while feeling fully authentic and not spoon fed what to feel or say or do. I have passions that are MINE, and not what a 24hour story says I need to be passionate about. It’s been so freeing. I’m so glad you wrote about this, and I hope others can experience this light and liberating experience as well 🫶🏼
I resonate with this so much! I have deactivated my account after being a serial Instagram user and honestly I decided I didn’t want to tell everyone what I was doing all the time (or see what everyone else is doing) but it was always how people found my writing. I literally decided tonight I would reactivate it to share my latest post on here but honestly I didn’t want to post it - then I checked if anyone liked it about six times. I think I was happier writing into the void 🤣 x
It’s all about balance for sure Kirstie. If you haven’t already, check out @Emma Gannon - I think she wrote something a while back about not using social media to promote herself!
Hi Cesca! Just found your post and all the comments from people who deleted their socials and I must say – how amazing!
Your words really resonated with me. I deleted most social media at 21, and like you, it was tougher at first but such a value add. I remember the feeling like most of your social circle narrows down at first, but you learn your ways and start being more creative to connect with people. December 1st marks 2 years and it truly feels like a milestone.
Glad despite the hardship this has been valuable for you. Love to see more people being more mindful and making real connections 🤍
Hi Andrea! Thank you so much for your wonderfully kind comment - how lovely!! 2 years is amazing, I hope it’s made you feel more peaceful ☺️ thanks so much for reading ✨
i came across this post in such a defining moment!!! it inspired me to check on my media consumption and i’ve already bid adieu to a couple of my socials, alongside a ton of stuff that wasn’t actually helping me on ig.
Thank you for sharing your experimentation with it. I’ve been off IG for some weeks now and my life is quitter and simple. Like you mentioned, I do enjoy the social aspect of it and keeping up with friends. As much as I hate the feeling of being a loner who isn’t in the loop, this time away is necessary. I want to reconnect to what matters to me in real time.
Deletes apps - feels good. Reinstalls apps - feels bad. Deletes apps. Best move ever.
Haha it’s a funny funny thing!
literally me all Q3-4 😂
deleting it feels so freeing & finally pushes you to look away from these glowing glass screens & take in the real world!!! putting my phone on grayscale also helped me so much as i had to look around me for color & life and wasn’t able to get that same hit of dopamine from my phone 🫶
Grayscale is such a good idea. It’s only when you take a step back that you realise it’s all designed to keep you clicking and scrolling (pretty obvious, especially for someone who works in advertising - but still!) thanks so much for reading!
This is genius ⚡️
I’ve taken a social media sabbatical every summer since 2018 and am currently on my yearly hiatus now + WOW. I honestly feel no need to return. I feel free! I’ve doubled my books read!
But the idea that you need it to build a business or have that elusive “built in audience” that publishers want nags at me… I know it’s possible to build things a new, more sustainable way + am on that journey, but also! I’m tired.
This post reinspired me to give this some serious thought. It seems more and more people are looking for a new (vintage?) way of building communities / businesses / readers / creative outlets, and I love that journey for us. 🫶🏼
Loved reading your comment Kayli, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. Wowza - that is some sabbatical ritual and I kind of love that idea. It is crazy that it's become almost an essential part of life (I didn't even talk about LinkedIn but that as a platform in particular is basically the only way to get a job at this point). So glad you're on this journey too and it's going to be interesting to see how things shift going forward - there seems to be a lot of us feeling this way, so something has to give...right?!
I love the concept of a social media sabbatical!
It was honestly so refreshing! I’m back on Instagram now as I navigate promoting my work / social media, but have a much more detached way of being with it.
All of this! Social media is 10% good and 90% trash. I enjoy the 10% by only having access to IG for a very limited time. I have an IPhone which has the screen time lock feature for social. I asked my husband to type in a secret code he only knows which locks me out of my social media after I’ve used up my screen time minutes. It’s perfect. I get a lil dose of connecting with friends, a few culture moments and then I am out! I also take 30 straight days off every quarter which helps.
That’s such a great way to do it. Like I said in my post, I think there’s a lot of people saying ‘it’s bad, quit!’ but you can dip in and out when you want to once you find the right thing to work for you, rather than just going cold turkey. Love this - thanks for reading
Quitting social media is constantly on my mind, but I’m afraid I’ll grow even more distant from friends. An eternal struggle: peace or connection🥲
It’s honestly so hard because it feels like such an essential part of life. Not going to lie, separating my Instagram out into my ‘real’ IG where I just follow friends has been really helpful for this, as it feels like I’m just checking in on people I know when I use it, rather than things I don’t really care about - so there are defo ways around it without having to quit cold turkey. Thanks so much for reading Kayla ✨
I stopped getting on both, and it’s been so freeing!! 🕊️
Loved this! As a fellow 25 year old that also decided to quit social media this really spoke to me. I first deleted them temporarily until I turned 25, but after my birthday I couldn’t bring myself to install them again. I’ve felt so free since not having instagram is insane. No more comparison, no more getting involved in any type of drama and no more keeping up with celebrities lives. now I’m just Pinterest, Kindle, Substack and vibes lol. So happy to see that I’m not alone hahaha 🩷🩷💕💕
aww Mel, you’ve literally made my day with your comment! Live for the vibes you want, not the ones someone else is selling you! And don’t compare, just be yourself for sure ✨ thanks so much for reading and commenting - it means the world!
I really enjoyed reading your post and it resonates with me and my relationship with Instagram and TikTok. I haven’t deleted those but trying to reduce my screen time and make room for reading or other activities than being hooked to my phone endlessly scrolling.
Thanks so much for reading Giselle - I’m so glad it spoke to you
This resonated with me so much ! I work in fashion PR so social media and all things influencer is a huge part of my life. But I’m also 36 and a mom who recently relocated to another country so I have a love hate relationship with platform ! I want to keep up to date with friends and family and I have to keep up to date with culture and trends etc but honestly you idea of having an account for work might be a good option for me. Thank god for this platform .. my hope is that I can migrate here permanently 🤣
Thank you so much for reading! It's so interesting to hear other people's experience - same but different in their own way. I think there are definitely ways to get around the bad side of it by basically just taking as much control over your socials as poss, and figuring out how to make it work for you!
Loved this read! I quit social media for a while pre-covid because it was getting crazy. I came back a couple years later with a new account and now have a much healthier relationship with it after a period of seeing what life is like on the other side. Think that’s the thing, i freaking love the internet and love internet humor but there is a vvveerryyy thin line between enjoying it and being absolutely consumed by it
Thanks Danny, and that’s so interesting, I totally agree - I think there’s quite a black and white view of it sometimes. You love it or you hate it, you have it or you don’t, you’re on it all the time or never. It’s okay to dip in and out and tailor it to you because you’re the one using it!
Me too
Congrats on your newfound freedom! It really does hijack your brain, huh? Sheesh! So happy to see more people walking away from it, it's gonna make the world more human again I think.
I related to this so much- I’m 23 and have always had a at-arm’s-length relationship with most socials except Instagram. didn’t get on Facebook til I was 19/20 for family only, rid myself of toxic twitter at 17, and TikTok really only did it for me during 2020. but releasing Instagram this past month has felt so refreshing, it’s felt different for me entirely. I still miss my influencers, the ones who I followed since their start and feel like I owe them my attention, but everything about the excitement of it all is fading, I’m finding a new emotional regulation, I can read and write and create instead of consume, all while feeling fully authentic and not spoon fed what to feel or say or do. I have passions that are MINE, and not what a 24hour story says I need to be passionate about. It’s been so freeing. I’m so glad you wrote about this, and I hope others can experience this light and liberating experience as well 🫶🏼
Loved reading this comment and so glad you can relate so much!
I resonate with this so much! I have deactivated my account after being a serial Instagram user and honestly I decided I didn’t want to tell everyone what I was doing all the time (or see what everyone else is doing) but it was always how people found my writing. I literally decided tonight I would reactivate it to share my latest post on here but honestly I didn’t want to post it - then I checked if anyone liked it about six times. I think I was happier writing into the void 🤣 x
It’s all about balance for sure Kirstie. If you haven’t already, check out @Emma Gannon - I think she wrote something a while back about not using social media to promote herself!
Hi Cesca! Just found your post and all the comments from people who deleted their socials and I must say – how amazing!
Your words really resonated with me. I deleted most social media at 21, and like you, it was tougher at first but such a value add. I remember the feeling like most of your social circle narrows down at first, but you learn your ways and start being more creative to connect with people. December 1st marks 2 years and it truly feels like a milestone.
Glad despite the hardship this has been valuable for you. Love to see more people being more mindful and making real connections 🤍
Hi Andrea! Thank you so much for your wonderfully kind comment - how lovely!! 2 years is amazing, I hope it’s made you feel more peaceful ☺️ thanks so much for reading ✨
i came across this post in such a defining moment!!! it inspired me to check on my media consumption and i’ve already bid adieu to a couple of my socials, alongside a ton of stuff that wasn’t actually helping me on ig.
such a refreshing reading!!!
Thank you so much for reading and commenting Ana! Hope your scrolling feels more mindful now - long may it last! ☺️
Thank you for sharing your experimentation with it. I’ve been off IG for some weeks now and my life is quitter and simple. Like you mentioned, I do enjoy the social aspect of it and keeping up with friends. As much as I hate the feeling of being a loner who isn’t in the loop, this time away is necessary. I want to reconnect to what matters to me in real time.