Unplug from Social Media: A Journey to Living in the Present
Welcome to my blog, where I share my personal journey of unplugging from social media, and how I learned to stop endlessly scrolling and start embracing the present. In a world dominated by social media, it’s easy to get lost in the virtual realm, but too much of it can lead to disconnection from the real world and the people we care about.
Stepping away from social media for six months was like taking a deep breath after a long day. Today, I’m back, but with a refreshed perspective and a renewed commitment to balance.
Starting afresh with a new account feels liberating, like turning over a new leaf while still cherishing the lessons learned along the way. Yes, deleting my old account might seem drastic to some, but it was a necessary step for my mental well-being.
In the posts to come, I’ll be sharing the highs and lows of my social media hiatus and how it’s impacted my life, especially on Instagram, my digital home for the past half-decade. Join me as I navigate this journey of rediscovery and reflection.
This post is all about unplugging from social media.
Unplugging Yourself from Social Media for Better Mental Health
The Pros and Cons of Social Media:
Social media undeniably has its merits. It connects people from all corners of the world, fostering unique friendships and enabling the exchange of knowledge. Thanks to these platforms, I’ve encountered fascinating individuals sharing life-changing content that I might never have discovered otherwise. Additionally, it serves as a personal portfolio, allowing you to showcase your life through images and captions. For years, I used Instagram for my business account, which initially helped attract more readers to my blog, but eventually, I realized that I wasn’t enjoying it as much.
Something shifted within me. My DMs became inundated with people who, upon closer examination, were clearly attempting to engage my business for product trials that always had a catch. Then, there were the sugar daddies promising wealth and luxury, or coaches sending identical messages to countless recipients – all of which seemed more about money than authenticity. To make matters worse, I noticed that I was seeing fewer posts from friends I genuinely cared about. Instead, my feed was flooded with seemingly perfect individuals living their flawless lives on tropical islands, boasting about how anyone could achieve the same with just an hour of work per day.
As I scrolled, I’d often find myself daydreaming, wondering what it would be like to live such a life, whether a particular training or a pair of yoga pants would transform me into a better version of myself. The hours spent scrolling continued to mount. After a taxing day, I would succumb to the allure of the sofa, my phone in hand, scrolling away, daydreaming, and gradually numbing my senses. The more I scrolled, the more discontented and frustrated I became with my own life. Strangely, even though I recognized the negative impact, I couldn’t stop.
The Addictive Nature of Instagram:
What makes Instagram, and social media in general, so addictive? In my experience, it’s the act of creating and sharing something and receiving engagement. However, before I deleted my account, I noticed that I had reached a point where I was no longer enjoying the creative process. As a naturally creative person, this was disheartening. I found myself creating content solely for the purpose of posting, content that I believed would garner engagement.
I even posted things that I knew were effective for others, even when I wasn’t in the right mindset for that type of content. When these posts received only a few likes, it left me frustrated and questioning my self-worth. It’s astonishing how a social media platform can have such a profound effect on one’s psyche, and I can’t help but wonder how many others are going through the same experience.
Social Media and Self-Worth:
Social media platforms are designed to be addictive because, let’s face it, the more time we spend scrolling and numbing our lives, the more revenue these companies generate. The worse people feel about themselves, like they are an unfinished project, the more money the business gets in who are marketing those perfect lives.
So as a reminder, never let a social media platform, likes, shares or saves telling you your worth. You are amazing, who you are as a person away from your social media. What you you create is magical as it comes from within and from the right energy not from lack.
What Scrolling Actually Does:
Scrolling, liking, scrolling, commenting, scrolling more and poff there went 2 complete hours. You make yourself some dinner and you see a notification from your social media app, you take a bite of your meal and open the app and there you go, check how many likes you got on your new post and feeling a bit bad because it’s less than the post last week so you starting scrolling again, with a energy of lack.
Poff another hour have went from your day, and now it’s almost time for bed. You go to the living room open up netflix and continue numbing yourself. You are so addicted to your phone that you can’t even watch a whole movie without checking if there’s any new notifications from Instagram. After the movie you go to bed, but first, check your phone again. When the alarm clock wakes you up on the following morning the first thing you do is open any notifications from Instagram or other social media apps. If you’ve got a bad comment or no new likes this might determine your day already in this point. Frustrated you already start thinking about your next post, how you need to make the perfect post you might start scrolling again, in the same energy of lack…
Have you ever stopped to notice just how insane this pattern is? Stepping away from social media for a while has given me a clearer perspective on it. It’s absolutely mind-boggling! We’re here on this planet to live, to make a difference, not to spend hours mindlessly scrolling, consuming content that we won’t even remember the next day.
Why I Quit Social Media:
I decided to step back from social media because I was craving real connections—those genuine, vulnerable conversations that make your body tingle with excitement. Shifting my focus towards more meaningful activities became a priority for me. Creating inspirational blog posts to support others on their healing journeys became my passion. I also felt eager to explore new opportunities at various spiritual and holistic events.
Interactions with individuals who were constantly distracted by their phones left me longing for genuine connections. I made a firm decision to be fully present and engage wholeheartedly in every interaction. Moreover, I realized that there’s a whole world out there waiting to be explored, loved, and cherished. When we’re constantly glued to our phones, we miss out on the small things—the beauty and wisdom of nature.
Embracing the Present:
Every day, when we wake up, we have a choice: we can continue to numb ourselves or we can embrace the beauty of each moment.
Since childhood, I’ve always been sensitive and connected to nature, feeling a profound connection to something greater than us. I remember speaking to the trees and the water. During my teenage years, I began to suppress my natural inclinations, striving to conform to societal norms and appear “cool.” It was only after my father’s passing in 2012 that I embarked on a healing and spiritual journey, rekindling the connection I had long neglected.
For the past 6 months leading up to my social media break, I found myself drifting further from that profound connection I once cherished. The whispers of the wind and the wisdom of the trees seemed distant, drowned out by the noise of social media. I began to question my own experiences, feeling a sense of disconnect from the spiritual world I once embraced.
But one day, during a walk in nature, clarity found me. It became evident that social media was robbing me of the daily embrace of nature, replacing it with mindless scrolling and superficial connections. In that moment, a gentle whisper from the wind nudged me to break free from this cycle, to reclaim my autonomy.
So, guess what I did as soon as I returned home?
Upon returning home, I took decisive action. I made the life-changing decision to delete my business Instagram account, freeing myself from its grip. In its absence, I found solace in the simplicity of genuine connections and meaningful messages on my private account. That evening, instead of reaching for my phone, I stepped outside to gaze at the moon. In its gentle glow, I rediscovered the profound connection I had been missing, feeling the numbness fade away as I embraced the universe once more.
[[ UPDATE: As mentioned earlier, I’ve returned to Instagram with a renewed perspective. Now, I approach it with authenticity, wisdom, and a sense of fun. If you resonate with this journey and want to join me, feel free to follow along below! Instead of spending hours on the platform, I now dedicate just a few minutes each day to stay connected. ]]
Conclusion
I hope you found this post helpful in some way. I’m not suggesting that deleting your Instagram account is the solution for everyone. But consider taking a break from social media, perhaps a week or even a month-long detox. There’s an entire world out there waiting to be explored, loved, cherished, and seen. Real connections with people deserve your undivided presence. After all, it’s the human experience we’re here to embrace, not a continuous cycle of numbing ourselves.
This Post Was All About Why You Should Consider Unplugging From Social Media.
I hope this post brought some healing vibes your way! Check out these other posts you may like:
