Do you need a social media detox? This is the question I found myself asking at the beginning of the summer. In today’s world, we live and breathe on the Internet. But oddly enough, the question of social media wellness doesn’t come up often enough. Of course, staying connected has benefits – it’s simple to get the news, catch up with friends or get a recipe for tonight’s dinner. But an overuse of social media platforms can have a pretty serious impact on our mental and physical health, as well as on our overall wellbeing. Studies have linked social media to increased stress, depression and anxiety. Speaking from personal experience, I can totally see it. I experienced all of those emotions myself. The scary part is, you become so enthralled by your daily social media routine that you hardly notice how it’s affecting your state of being. So, this summer I embarked on a social media detox. Why did I take this step? How did I do it? What did I learn and how did the experience change me?
Read on to learn more about what happens when you take a social media detox…
The Why
Before I elaborate on the why, I think it is important that I tell you a few things about my social media habits. I work from home and run my blog in my spare time. My blog started out as a hobby, stemming from a desire to share my passion for beauty and healthy-living with other like-minded individuals. My aim has always been to create meaningful content that inspires and empowers, that helps people live their best lives by making informed decisions about the products and services they consume. I use Instagram and Pinterest to connect and share. And I am beyond blessed to have met so many kind and inspirational people on these platforms. But overtime, I found myself constantly comparing with others and less present in my day-to-day life with my family and friends outside of social media. It’s still hard to admit to it, because it’s all very out of character. Yet there I was, mentally-drained and in an unhealthy relationship with my social media and people I never met in person.
The How To
I decided to change what I was exposing myself to on a daily basis. Initially, I started out by limiting my time on both Instagram and Pinterest to 3 times per day. But I didn’t notice much of a change in my overall state of being. Giving up all my screen time didn’t seem practical. Yet something had to give. I realized that although both Instagram and Pinterest could be a place of discovery, inspiration and creative ideas, Pinterest is less interactive. It took less of my time and more importantly, less of my energy. Thus, I chose to log out of my Instagram account and only sporadically go on Pinterest.
What I learned
The first thing I immediately noticed is how much time I actually had once I put the brakes on my social media! I used this new-found time to read and listen to Audibles. I discovered some great authors like Liane Moriarty and quickly devoured several of her books. My favorites were: What Alice Forgot, Big Little Lies and The Hypnotist Love Story. I listened to books on self-improvement and self-discovery. In this category, I recommend two books by Dr. Joe Dispenza: Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself and Becoming Supernatural. I re-listened to The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz. It’s the kind of book that provides motivation when everything else fails! And of course, I read some parenting books. The one I’ve found very informative and helpful is No Drama Discipline by Tina Payne Bryson and Daniel Siegel.
Secondly, I realized that most content on social media is highly curated. Meaning, people will only show what they’re comfortable showing. We really only see snippets, highlights of someone’s life. So what if you’re not hiking in the Himalayans, lounging in the Maldives or getting the latest PR releases? There are so many other ways to make your content engaging, such as sharing life experiences, humor, or simply sharing something you’re really passionate about! Do not be discouraged by what other people choose to post. In the words of Dr. Seuss: ‘Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You’.
Thirdly, I realized I’m actually saving money by not being on social media! That’s because I wasn’t constantly tempted to try the latest anti-aging product, age-defying gadget and simply shopping for things I didn’t need.
How I’ve Changed
After a 3-month break, I am now back on social media. I will admit that initially, Instagram was the hardest to stay away from. I found myself wondering what Instagram friends were up to, what was happening in our beauty community, what new products brands were releasing. I realized another thing: social media is highly addictive. And once I broke off the addiction, l found myself more present in my day to day life, in my day to day relationships with family and friends, genuinely and actively wanting to participate in life. I found myself saying Yes to new adventures. We spent several weeks in Europe, a life-changing trip I wrote about in a previous blog post here, but that I have yet to share on my social media. I volunteered at my son’s school more and hosted more parties and playdates at my house.
I started meditating again, this time using the mediation technique described in Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Dr. Joe Dispenza. I sorted thru my thoughts and gained clarity on what it was that I wanted to accomplish with my professional life and my blog. I started working out regularly again and focusing on eating more plant-based meals throughout the day. My body feels stronger and healthier. My mind is more focused and I find that I am more productive.
Once I’d logged back on Instagram, I took an inventory of the accounts I was following. Social media gives a false sense of connection with people. So, I unfollowed those accounts that I lost touch with, accounts that I wasn’t interested in and didn’t need to follow daily. This allowed me to follow only those accounts that I was interested in seeing, with content that I found engaging, inspirational or informative.
I also realized that I invest a lot of my mental energy into my social media. While in the long run it’s not realistic to take several months off, a short break is sometimes necessary to recharge and replenish. I’m still working to find a healthy balance between the time I spent on social media and the time I spent outside social media. I am constantly monitoring my actions and have become intentional of the time I spend online.
If you Plan to Take a Social Media Break
- Logging out from your social media accounts is the first step toward avoiding the temptation to scroll or check feeds. If you don’t want to log out of Instagram but still cut back your time, turning off notifications is a step in the right direction. It removes the pressure to go online.
- If you have close social media friends you’d still like to keep in touch with, reach out to them via email, text, phone or What’s App.
What are your thoughts on social media? Have you ever taken a social media detox?
What a wonderful, much needed, honest piece. You hit the nail on the head with everything that relates to social media. I’ve taken the break and was too scared to go back to deal with everything. I miss some parts, great people like you. But, I’m unable to keep a good balance per my shortcomings. I admire people who take a break and go back. I almost have some sort of PTSD where I just cannot. I am enjoying all your new posts since your detox immensely! I’m so glad you took the time for yourself, Cat! ❤️
Hi Kate, it is SO wonderful to hear from you. I think about you often and miss your beautiful energy. So happy you enjoyed this post, as it’s a bit more personal and very different from my usual content. Social media can be quite tough and has a lot of negative aspects that are not apparent right away. They sort of sneak up on you. I too struggled with getting back into the swing of things. The longer i waited the harder it got. I started with small steps. I created a schedule and had content for a week in advance. I’m also much more intentional of my time online meaning I don’t spend hours on IG anymore. Hope all is well with you. How is Charlie? He’s the cutest lil’ pup! Sending lots of love and positive vibes your way, ~ Cat L.
Very honest post, thanks for sharing. I’m glad you were able to disconnet from social media and connect with yourself and your family. I never posted in a more professonally manner and was taking a lot of my time and now I randomly post…so I can imagine what you were going through. I’m glad you are back, I did miss your posts but what I missed the most was just hearing from you. What I like about Instagram is that I have been able to “meet” beautiful and inspiration people like you. Sending love your way 💕😊
Thank you Karol so much. I greatly appreciate you taking the time out to read my post and leave such a kind and thoughtful message. I’m so grateful for your words. Social media can definitely be a balancing act and while I haven’t quite figured out the right balance for me, I am more intentional of my time spend online and have been monitoring it more closely. Hope all is well with you. Looking forward to seeing your posts. Have a wonderful week ahead, ~ Cat L.
My dear Cat, thank you so much for sharing this honest article with us. And also I very much appreciated some books reccomendations.
You were and are my inspiration and you always were there to motivate with any of your words. I don’t have time for Instagram now because of my constant business trips. But I still can’t remember how much time I was dedicating to it and how much time I wasn’t dedicating to my family and my life in general. When I’ve seen the name of your article in my e-Mail, I knew it’s a must read. Again, thank you so much for being so honest and opened.
I wish you the best and of course a wonderful rest of the weekend.
Very kind regards,
Mar
Hi Mar, so so happy to hear from you. I have missed seeing your beautiful posts, but I’m glad to know you are well and focusing on your life, work and travel. Social media can definitely be a rabbit hole, meaning we often lose track of the time spent on these platforms. I think awareness is the first step in dealing with and monitoring our actions. Wishing you all the best dear friend, I was so happy to read your comment. Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Hugs and kisses to Bhalu as well. He is missed! ~ Cat L.
Great Post Cat and I see this topic surfaces the Internet Frequently. I’ve read just last week how social media can cause depression.(that saddens me). I have taken short breaks here and there as I had to find a balance. I feel that people find it hard to stay away as they miss that social
Connection. I too have unfollowed accounts who I have thought just didn’t interest me and was of no substance. We control how long we’re connected and remain on the site daily. So glad you were able to take that trip to Europe and enjoy family time and play dates. I must say when I’m not on the gram I find so much calm in writing in my blog. It takes me away from the crowd as it’s just me gathering thoughts without any notification interruptions.
Thank you, Felicia for stopping by. I’m so happy you enjoyed this post as it’s a bit different from my usual content. You’re right, we find it hard to stay away and miss the social connection because social media is indeed highly addictive. I personally think that checking in with ourselves and monitoring our actions and the content we expose ourselves to are steps in the right direction. But of course, it’s always easier said than done. I love reading your blog because it breathes positivity and you’re such an inspirational person. So grateful to have crossed paths with you! All the best, ~ Cat L.
Balance is key you are so right Cat, yet very difficult especially if you are a hardworking individual who like to see results. Good on you for taking a break I am sure it was worth it.
Yes indeed, balance is key but it’s always easier said than done. I’m still struggling with working out that balance. Hope all is well with you and your beautiful family. ~ Cat L.
This was a good read! Thanks for the book recommendations! I used to feel pressure to post on my blog and instagram often, but now I just go with the flow.
Thank you for stopping by. Yes, same here. Blogging started out as a hobby but along the way it can begin to feel like a job with deadlines and tons of pressure. I’m still working to figure out my footing but for the most part, just like you, I’m going with the flow of things. Hope you have a wonderful week ahead. ~ Cat L.
Hi my darling Cat,
Fantastic post! It resonates so much with what I recently posted on IG and yes I could not agree more with saving money. The same reason I unsubscribed from brands newsletters, it’s not possible to keep up with all the launches, also perfect to avoid temptation to buy.
I love the moments I spent with my loved ones I treasure them.
Thank you for your friendship and support!
Xxx
Thank you Adri for reading and for your comment. Social media can have benefits too, for instance meeting kind and inspirational people like you. But it definitely is a balancing act, at least for me. I adore seeing your posts, especially when you feature the little Green Diva. Hope you two are having a wonderful week, ~ Cat L.
Yes, the wonderful connections ❤️ Wonderful souls like you 🙏🏼 The Green Diva thanks for loving her too 😘
When I saw on Instagram that you wrote a post about your social media detox, I was so excited! You’ve talked about so many aspects of social media that cause a lot of us anxiety and stress. It really is addictive too. I think about all the times when someone is trying to talk to me while I scroll through Instagram. “What did you say?” I would ask as I temporarily look up from my phone.
Blogging started out the same way for me too. Instagram comes with blogging of course, and that’s where I have found myself in an increasing sense of urgency, or even competition. I’m quite hard on myself and I always feel like I’ve fallen behind. It’s just another thing to beat myself up about. I’m not pretty enough, not creative enough, not fast enough – just not enough.
Things are getting crazy as I finally get close to the finish of grad school and I’ve had a sort of forced social media detox as well. It has been a very helpless feeling that I can’t do everything. It has given me a lot of perspective though. What do I enjoy about social media; what do I miss? What parts are the most toxic? I love your idea to cleanse upon return and remove those parts that you don’t need in your life.
Thank you for this honest post, Cat! I always love to see your content because I can tell you are so thoughtful. This post especially resonates with me and I think it’s a really important read for all of us!
Thank you for stopping by, Jenn. I tremendously enjoyed reading your beautiful and thoughtful words. Needless to say, I can relate with the feelings of not measuring up, often times falling short of expectations I impose on myself. I’ve also realized that the resolution has to come from within. As you say, social media is necessary when running a blog. I still struggle with not allowing social media to take over my life and my emotional state of being. Yet more so than ever I am drastically monitoring my actions and the kind of content i expose myself to.
I am very happy to hear you’re fast approaching the finish line for grad school. Keep your eyes on the prize, Jenn. It’s such a tremendous accomplishment! I am very excited for you and cannot wait to see the places you’ll go. I admire your work commitment, dedication and above all the kindness and thoughtfulness you always show in our interactions.
Sending lots of love and positive vibes your way,
~ Cat L.
Cat,
I agree with all your points. I am glad you were able to take a much needed break and come back with a new sense of purpose. I am working on limiting my screen time as well it’s helped immensely with keeping track of screen time and so forth.
I appreciate your honestly and as always, your posts are always so well written and thought provoking.
xx,
Dom
http://www.calibeaute.com
Thank you for stopping by, Dom. Social media can have its benefits no doubt, but it can also be time-consuming and dare I say, addictive. I’m so happy you’ve enjoyed the post as it’s a bit different than my usual content. Keeping track of screen time is definitely a step in the right directions and something I’ve been mindful of as well. I enjoy your content and am so grateful to have connected with people like you. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving week. ~ Cat L.
What a real post 👏🏼 Thank you for sharing your thoughts and above all, being real and present to the truth! Mental break is a necessity and although I haven’t disconnected for months, even the smallest breaks do help! xo
Thank you, Anxhela. Yes, so true. Even the smallest breaks away from social media, preferably away from technology and the cellphones help a great deal. So happy you enjoyed the post. ~ Cat L.
Thankyou for sharing this great piece. I feel
I very much understand how you felt, I try to be present and I also have that pressure or niggle
To always make sure I’m present on Instagram. I often feel I don’t have the energy and notice also that many things I engaged in I don’t so much and times passes quickly and I’m missing the moments. Did it feel peaceful after the initial discomfort of logging off?
Hi Luisa, thank you for stopping by and taking the time to read and comment. To be honest, I did struggle with not checking Instagram. It truly felt like fighting off an addiction. Once I became engrained in my day to day activities and got used to the new routine, I didn’t really miss it any more. The thoughts of what others were doing and what was happening on IG sort of dissipated from my mind. But it took time and it required me to completely log off of IG. I felt more present in my life, more content and more aware of what was going on day to day. I will also say that the longer I waited, the harder it was to get back on Instagram. I think at the end of the day, it helps to check in with ourselves and figure out what it is that will help us live our best lives. Thank you again for reading. So happy you enjoyed the post. Lots of love and positive vibes, ~ Cat L.
Hi Cat, thank you so much for doing a post about your digital detox. I was really curious to hear what you thought about it and how it turned out. Plus I feel really honoured that you decided to keep following me on IG.
Lots of love,
Desi
Hi Desi, thank you for stopping by and reading my post. It’s a pleasure to follow someone as real, authentic and inspirational as you are. Thank you also for checking in on my during my social media detox. I’m very grateful for friends like you. ~ Cat L.
The funny thing is that I look to you as someone who has it all and yet you’re looking at others thinking the same thing. The lesson is that we’re all lacking something somewhere but that’s just being human.
I know I used to feel very envious with people on Instagram, especially when I had more goals and aspirations (that makes it seem like I’ve given up now, lol). It still happens on occasion but I try to always turn inward and ask what it is about that person’s life that is making me feel that way. What would have to change in my life to live the life of that other person and figure out if there’s some key component that’s causing that desire. For me, it usually comes in the form of professional success but as I’ve learned to separate my self-worth with my profession, that seems to not be as much of an issue anymore. A title won’t define my life, but the actions I make and that’s all we can do—right?
Anyway, I really enjoyed reading your experience Cat. You’re right in that it’s about finding a healthy balance and I know if anyone can do it, you can.
Thank you for stopping by, Wayne. I am very humbled that you read my blog and took the time to comment. I love some of the points that you bring up. Our insecurities and sentiments of lack come from our human nature and the solution does rest inward. In other words, we can’t expect our external world and circumstances to help with how we feel inside long term. It has to come from within. Two books I have found extremely helpful with this endeavor of self-reflection and self-growth are Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Dr. Joe Dispenza and a more recent read, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. Thank you also for having faith in my ability to overcome this experience and my emotions. I am very grateful for friends like you. All the best and sending lots of positive vibes your way, ~ Cat L.
The detox from social media is definitely needed and you make a lot of great key points and give good advice on how to go about it . I’m glad you were able to take the time away and enjoy so many other things, especially that amazing vacation with your family .Social media to me is way of keeping in contact with family and friends, so I’m usually never always connected ,but after reading your post I see why its important to do so. Great Post Cat! Your pics are breathtaking !
I believe in this! A social media detox is one of the most important things we can actually do! A break is always important !
Love this article Cat! I can definitely attest to many points you made. I think taking a month or two break from social media really helps to re-organize and re-prioritize many aspects of life, and with the current obsessive surge with social media, it’s something many of us need to think about. And Breaking The Habit of Being Yourself has been on my reading list for so long! I think I’m gona finally take the plunge and get back into reading for myself. Thanks for this great article.