I Stayed Off Social Media for 40 Days: Here’s What Happened

I have a love-hate relationship with social media (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok). I love the opportunity to share encouragement and inspiration. I love connecting with family and close friends. And I love learning new ideas.

But oh, how I have struggled with it all over the years.

I've broken up with Facebook and Instagram twice. I've taken short breaks along the way. But I have always found my way back, thinking that maybe, just maybe, things would be different.

They never were.

And now I know why.

I took 40 days off, and here is what happened.

I was more productive.

Without the constant noise of fast-paced social media posts in my head, I was able to focus and tend to my home and family without distraction. I was able to be more consistent with our homeschooling activities, more consistent with our chores and responsibilities.

I was able to record my YouTube videos again. I was able to write and journal and read more. I produced, and it was so fruitful.

I broke the addiction.

I didn’t realize how addicted I was to the constant dopamine hits until I had to constantly stop myself from clicking on those apps. I moved them over on my home screen, thinking that if I didn’t constantly see them or the alerts, I wouldn't feel the need to click. But the habit was still there.

In the quiet spaces of my days or in the struggles, I reached for my phone more times than I'd like to admit. I had to force myself to put my phone down, to take a step back, to pray instead of escape.

But it worked. Eventually, I no longer struggled, and at one point, it flipped. I forgot they were even there. It was so freeing.

I was less anxious.

I had more peace. I didn’t have the weight of the world at my fingertips. I could just be and focus on what was in front of me. I could laugh more, engage more, be more present.

I didn’t realize how much social media was affecting my mental wellbeing until I jumped on for a mini-binge shortly after my fast. Within 30 minutes, I was overwhelmed and anxious and just not in a good place. Two days of that, and I was just done. It no longer seemed worth it to me.

I started exercising again.

For real this time.

Over the past two years of moving and doctor visits and all the things that came with being poisoned by mold, I just couldn’t get into a consistent rhythm with anything I tried. I had a lot on my plate, and honestly, there are seasons like that for all of us.

What I didn’t realize, however, was how much more lethargic I would become after a ten-minute scroll on social media. I instead opted for a ten-minute stroll, and wow! What a difference it made! Getting outside felt so good, and the more I made it out, the more I wanted to be out there again and again and again. It's been so good to feel alive again.

I can think more clearly.

When I’m still and allow myself to sit in the quiet, I can think. I can process and focus better. I can hear from The Lord. Some of my best ideas and inspiration have come from just allowing my mind to rest.

I’m seeing more and more how greatly social media impacts our perceptions and distracts us to the point of stagnation. Or at least it did for me. Stepping away has allowed me to know my thoughts rather than be confused by someone else’s. It’s given me the conviction to walk in my faith more boldly and operate from a place of knowing.

Where I've Landed

I could go on and on. And the sad reality is that I know I am not alone. The more I dig, the more I’m seeing that these issues with social media go beyond my experiences. “The Social Dilemma” exposed quite a bit on it. More and more studies are confirming the link between social media and depression, anxiety, lack of productivity, behavior regressions in children, and more.

So why do we do it? Why do we scroll and scroll and scroll for minutes and hours on end?

For many, they’ve never known a world outside of social media. For others, it’s not really a problem for them.

For me, I longed to learn, connect with family, and minister to others when I was able.

What I’ve learned through all this, however, is that I will need to find other ways to do those things apart from social media.

I grew up in a time before cell phones. I had a childhood full of imagination, adventure, and creativity. It’s what I have fought so hard to give our own children.

I often long for that world, that quietness, that stillness.

Yes, I can appreciate technology and all the blessings that have come with it, but I also know how freeing it can be when certain boundaries are in place.

Goodbye, Social Media . . . Again

Because of this, I am saying goodbye to Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. . . again. I’ll keep my accounts live for a while, but you won’t see me visiting much anymore.

I’m an old soul. I miss the blogs and the slower pace of the internet. I miss the days before it all, when life was simpler, and there wasn’t a need to capture and share every daily experience.

Stepping away from social media has given me so much more clarity, and it’s helped me step into what I’ve known I needed to do for a long time now.

Let go.

Where I'll Be

I’m heading back to my blog and long-form videos on YouTube for those who could also use the quiet away from the noise.

Long-form videos, webinars, podcasts, blogs . . . they all require intentionality. Without the constant dopamine hits, they inspire focus and action, clarity and reflection.

It’s what I want for myself and what I long to share with others.

It's what I've wanted for a very long time. I was just too afraid to let go.

These 40 days have shown me that I can. And I am all the better for it.

Do you find yourself overwhelmed by social media? Have you ever stepped away? What have you learned through it all?