Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Youtube, Tik Tok, Twitter, WhatsApp. What is your social of choice? For me, Facebook and Instagram make scrolling effortless and monopolize my time. A few weeks back I did a two week social media break from Facebook and Instagram. I deleted them from my phone and had two weeks without any scrolling or liking. It was eye opening and I learned a lot about myself.
Social Media Break: What I Learned
I didn’t miss scrolling nearly as much as I thought I would.
The pretty pictures, the ‘keeping up’, the immediate gratification dopamine hit. I didn’t miss it as much as I thought I would. There were times my body subconsciously went to scroll, but I really didn’t want to. I enjoyed not being tethered to an endless supply of information. After the initial shock, it was freeing.
What I missed most was keeping up with my in-real-life friends. I missed seeing their babies and what they were doing each day. I missed a few influencers whose pretty pictures and words inspire me. But most of it, I could never see again and be happier for it.
I’m on my phone way more than I should be.
I intentionally kept track of my phone use during the social media break because I thought it would be interesting to see how much I used it without social media in play. It was shocking. I averaged about 1 hour 30 minutes on my phone during the detox, which means there is a good chance I average more with social media. To get real, that’s 547 1/2 hours in year, which equates to almost 23 days a year my eyes are glued to a tiny screen.
Jesus, be near.
Although it’s frustrating and discouraging how much I am on my phone, knowledge is power. Knowing what I know now, I am able to make a change.
Our phones and the apps we use are created to keep our eyes on the screen for as many minutes hours as possible. They are addictive on purpose because we all know: more eyes equal more money. I need to keep this in mind and give myself grace as I try and move in the direction of less phone time.
Boundaries are the key to change.
Some people think boundaries are restrictive and they are, but many times that can be a good thing. I found when I put certain boundaries in place during my Social Media Break, I was on my phone less. Deleting Facebook and Instagram from my phone was a boundary that didn’t give me the option to scroll. On Sundays I left my phone charging by the bed in our room and my phone use was extremely low on those days (and I didn’t miss it).
Boundaries are a tool I use to force myself to do the hard thing. The why behind the boundary matters. I want boundaries in play with my phone use so I spend less time with my eyes on a screen and more time present with my people.
What will I change?
After taking a few weeks off social media and intentionally focusing on screen time, there are a few changes I want to make. I took the time everyday to journal my thoughts on my screen time use. Journaling helped me reflect and make decisions on positive changes to reduce my phone use.
Apps and Boredom Scrolling
Facebook will continue to stay off my phone and I will only add it back the days I am on Facebook Live. Instagram will come back, but with the boundary of not using it in the evenings during family time. A hard and fast rule I am trying to implement is to eliminate boredom scrolling. Like everything else in our lives, I want to be intentional when I consume the content on Facebook and Instagram. I want to be in control of my screen use, not the other way around.
Keep Boundaries in Play
During the social media break, it worked to keep my phone charging by my bed when I didn’t want to use it. Adding the friction of keeping my phone in the bedroom was a good boundary. I plan on trying it out during school times, evenings, and weekends when it makes sense. When my phone isn’t close and in view, I rarely think about it. When I can lay eyes on it, it is a constant temptation.
Technology is an incredible blessing and I am grateful for it. However, it can ever so quickly become a distracting addiction.
Like The Minimalists say: Scrolling is the new smoking.
Yikes.
The biggest thing I learned during my social media break was this: Boundaries are the simplest way to make lasting change.
Tell me: Have you ever taken a social media break?
It’s good to take a break from social media. I gave up FB and online games for Lent. I feel more “present” in my daily life now. I may be missing on others’ big moments—but really being aware of all of the real blessings going on around me, has been so worth it.🥰
Kim, that’s amazing! I have heard from a few others who have given up social media for Lent as well. I’m so glad it has been a good experience so far for you! 🙂
Love this Vanessa! I also just did a detox about a month ago….I deleted all social media off my phone but before that I actually even closed my accts so I am not tempted to go back. The only ones I still have open are FB & IG and only IG is back on my phone. What amazes me is how much my relationships & productivity have grown! We all need those “down” times though and I would resort to scrolling….now I have a simple color by number game on my phone that I use when I’ve heard “mom” one too many times that day! Haha! I find my attitude stays so much more positive bc I’m not putting in the negative found while scrolling. Thanks for sharing, I learned even more from this blog!!!
This is SO good, Nikki! Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I agree about the negative found while scrolling. There is a big change in my mindset and presence with my family when I’m not on FB as much. Thanks again for sharing and reading! 🙂