What Happened When I Quit Social Media For A Month

I had never tried a social media hiatus before but last fall I was at my wit’s end. So I decided to cut it out completely. The accounts at stake included instagram, Facebook, and YouTube (unless I was watching a podcast). I started with just a week to reset, but I wasn’t missing it at all. So I just kept going without the urge to return! What happened when I quit social media for a month was life changing. A month is how long it took to start to notice these changes within myself. Now that I am here, I have no desire to go back!

Last fall, my anxiety was starting to get the best of me. My overthinking was ruling my life and I found that I never had peace from my own brain. I have always been intentional about giving context to posts when I noticed I was comparing myself to others. But at this point in my life, I was having a hard time keeping up. When it came to the comparison trap, it was related to “success”. At the time, I felt pretty directionless, so whenever I saw people posting accomplishments, it only made me feel worse about myself.

It has changed my life so much that I truly can’t imagine going back to scrolling. Everyone should take a break from social media long enough to notice changes. You absolutely won’t regret it.

Here is what happened.

1. I am able to focus for much longer

My husband, a friend, and I were watching a podcast that we were all interested in. Despite the intrigue, I noticed shortly into the podcast, they both kept checking their phones. I kept bringing their attention back to the content when the discussion seemed worth listening to. We had to rewind sections a few times to make sure they got everything. This was the first time I realized I had no issues staying focused on content for long periods of time.

I noticed I had no trouble focusing on a podcast video, which, isn’t created to be flashy and quick. They can be upwards of 3 hours and is just an interesting conversation between people. I too, would previously be on my phone during a podcast, I was used to listening to something and only getting half of what was said because I was scrolling instagram at the same time. I appreciate the content I do consume that much more since I am able to focus for the length of time that is intended. Overall, it adds to my interest in the content people create!

2. I am able grasp concepts and information the first time

I was a guest at a medical conference during the time when I quit social media for a month. The keynote speaker had a data, and medical jargon heavy presentation that was meant for an audience of medical professionals. Having been through two university degrees, I know what it’s like to sit through a lecture, not understand much, and just watch the clock for everything to be over. This is how I was expecting this to go. But the opposite happened.

I was completely engaged and had no issues focusing and paying attention. It was an interesting topic, but I have lost focus on talks directly related to my work! I felt like I grasped the presentation holistically, and even had questions afterward. This feeling of understanding left me with a ton of confidence. I felt capable and like I belonged in the room.

3. I am able to sleep more soundly

Sleep and social media have been a hot topic for a minute now. The blue light from screens and the stimulation that comes from content wakes up our brains and goes against our bodies natural melatonin rhythms. So getting better sleep wasn’t a surprise for me when I quit social media for a month. Even though we feel like we are relaxing watching TV or scrolling since we are sedentary, our brains are taking in loads of information and trying to process it in record time. The increase in cortisol makes sleep inconsistent and less productive, making you feel tired when you waking up and contributing to the adrenal fatigue you’ve been fighting.

I switched scrolling and late night shows for reading. I wake up the next morning on my own, or ready to go at my alarm (most of the time anyways, sometimes life is extra tiring). It also makes going to bed easier. I am ready at around 9pm to hit the hay and I don’t feel the resistance of screens fighting for my attention. Sleep is the most important thing for our health, so this impact has only contributed to my ability to be productive and attentive during the day.

4. I am more optimistic

With the lack of ways to compare myself to the rest of the world, the more optimistic I became for my own future. This was a breath of fresh air. The future feels more clear and less daunting. I have an abundant feeling of satisfaction with my current life and feel at peace with where things are heading for the future. This is because I no longer fall into the comparison trap from social media. I am more accepting of myself and my own desires instead of thinking my desires in life and business need to be like someone I follow on social media who is successful. I am able to show up most authentically as a result.

5. I am able to make better decisions

Since I struggle less with feeling inadequate from comparing myself to my friends and people I follow, trusting my gut on decisions has become easier than ever. It comes down to the simplest of feelings, if it isn’t a ‘hell yes’, it’s a ‘no’. I am less in my head about whether I am making the right move and come back to how making a certain decision makes me feel (or how I know I will feel if I push past some initial discomfort). Now, life seems less complicated and my brain isn’t ruled by worrying about if I made the right decision or not. I know that anything that feels right in my body will pay off.

6. I am able to think clearly and am clear on my goals

Without the content, voices, and opinions of others clouding my conscious, it has freed up space for my own ideas and thoughts to flow. My mind feels like my own and it is at peace. This has positively impacted my goal setting. Since I am starting with a clear mind, goals and what I aspire to work towards are clear as well. I don’t struggle with second guessing myself or even give space to thoughts that doubt if a goal is too much to handle. Quitting social media has given me the freedom to dream without barriers and the confidence to go after it.

In conclusion…

When I quit social media for a month, I didn’t realize how drastically it would change my life. It has proven to be the most effective way to catapult my efforts to be the best version of myself. There are plenty of benefits besides sleep that don’t seem to be discussed that absolutely need a spotlight in the conversation.

Social media isn’t all bad and it does have benefits to it. Social media brings community, education, and expression. Now I feel in control of my social media instead of it being in control of me and I am extremely intentional and aware of my usage. Limiting my usage to simply being a place to look for information when I am seeking it has been effective in keeping the positive effects in place. It’s the best of both worlds!