My "social" experiment.. 📱
How one week into a social media "detox" is going...
So far, I have only been off all social media for one week. It’s not much, I know, but I think many of us could begrudgingly agree that we spend far too much time on certain apps, from the time we wake up to the time we go to bed. So, one week is like an eternity in the social media world! 🤣
In the past, I was actually off Facebook for about 3 years, and it was great. I had only gone back on to create a page for my Beautycounter online events. I could honestly do without Facebook for the rest of my life… I find much of it to be negative and draining. However, I have many family and friends that keep up with our life and kids’ lives on it. But… given that Facebook has only been around since 2004? 2006? (I remember being one of the first of my friends to get it when it was only for college students, and I had just got my CU Boulder e-mail address - what a time to be alive!) 🤣Now I’m really aging myself… I can just see my grandkids reading this like, “Grandma! You were one of the firsts to get Facebook??” lol. But we have lived without it for hundreds of years. We can survive without it. We can stay connected without it.
However, Instagram has been my weakness. I think there is a lot of good that can come from it, but lately, it has just been too overwhelming. I have a page called “Rooted Latch” to support postpartum women and families. That is my passion, and I have loved supporting so many women and families behind the scenes - whether that is just a supportive message, answering lactation questions as a CLC (when general and appropriate and knowing when to stay in my lane), making free content for learning purposes, and just having a community of understanding and support - something so important for all parents, a virtual village if you will.
But lately, the algorithm is annoying and exhausting to keep up with. That’s not why I do this and as a mother of three kiddos, I don’t have the energy for that. I want to teach my kids how to be true to themselves and to live a slow and happy life. Right now, I would be a hypocrite if I continued on IG the way it is. Having to post “reels” frequently just to stay on your community’s feed, dealing with negative comments and having to always justify yourself and your intentions (I once had a comment on a post that I breastfeed for attention…. yeah). People get behind a keyboard and think there are no consequences regarding their words to others. It is absolutely mind blowing. I just don’t need that negativity in my life.
I also have so many thoughts to write down, ones that require more than the allotted amount on an IG post. I am multi-faceted, as we all are. While postpartum support is my passion, there’s so much more to me! I love having this space on Substack to allow my creativity to flow.
So, what have I noticed already?
My brain just feels… quieter.
How I used to just naturally find my way to that app, spend too much time, and not even realize how I got there! (Like I didn’t even intend to click on that app - my finger just took me there on autopilot!)
I sat in a Starbucks having coffee this week and noticed they had really cool oar paddles hanging from their vaulted ceiling as decor. Why does that matter? I never would have noticed it if I was just scrolling my phone while waiting for my coffee. I literally looked up from my phone. I listened to the music playing and just enjoyed relaxing.
I surprisingly don’t miss much.. I miss the community and discussions, but not the app itself.
How much negativity I no longer see.
How much these apps rule our lives… now I notice how much people are on their phones around me and it’s a bit mind blowing. But that was me, too. Or how discussions usually start with, “Did you see that meme on Instagram?” or “Omg this girl on TikTok…”
How I no longer have to try and master the algorithm just to make sure my content is seen by my community. It makes the work far less fun when you can’t organically post.
I am detoxing from posting random things to my stories.. like I don’t have to post my beautiful breakfast… I can just enjoy it. It feels weird to even say that.. but that’s what we do! Like, “oh this thing is so wonderful! I MUST share it!” (I’m not bashing that, I genuinely loved sharing happy parts of my day - the glimmers if you will, but it’s a bit freeing not being able to and just enjoying them for what they are).
I’m reading my books a bit more.
Being new to Substack, I am spending some time here learning how to set up my newsletter (and getting creative with design and ideas for articles - I have a few drafts in the wings I’m looking forward to completing). But even if I spend some time on here, I’m focused. I’m reading one article at a time, then pondering it a bit vs swiping through stories and reels like a robot - like, did I just blackout?
I’m more present with my family. Shocker. I think it’s easy to fall into denial that our phones are distracting us (It was for me 🙋♀️).
Instead of scrolling my phone in the morning with my coffee, I’m either reading, writing, or getting a few chores done and then sitting and enjoying coffee with my husband (and annoying him with how much I’m now talking in the morning lol). Today I watched some DIY videos on homedepot.com - did you know they have tons of webinars on how to do just about anything?? *finds tool belt* 🛠️
Okay, I’m not saying all technology and social media is bad, but I am feeling a bit Ron Swanson about it all at the moment. 🤣
So all this to say, it has only been a week but wowza… I can definitely go longer! I am in a place this year of, “If it doesn’t serve me well, I can do without it.” That has rung true for alcohol (over 5 months sober), finding the right job to fit my life (switching from management role to float nurse so I can work less days and leave work at work), and now social media. What’s next?? I’m up for challenges this year. 😂
Have you tried a social media break? How did it make you feel? Did you change habits when you went back or fall into the same routine? I’d love to know! Comment below ⬇️
xo,
Natalie