Around Thanksgiving the Lord asked me to take a break from Instagram. Life was draining the life out of me and I was using Instagram as an escape, under the guise of helping others with the content I shared. On December 1, I deleted the Instagram app off my phone. I didn’t even write down my password so I had no way of sneaking back. And then I lived my life.
I planned to go off for the month of December, to be more present during the holidays. It’s been a month and I’m reflecting on what I’ve learned during my IG-less days:
Lesson 1: I was oversharing my life.
I was sharing tiny aspects of my life that [maybe] mattered in the moment but not in the grand scheme. Is it really helpful for someone to see what kind of creamer I’m putting in my coffee on a Tuesday morning? Maybe you care, maybe it doesn’t actually impact your life.
Lesson 2: I was comparing various parts of my life to people I’ve never met before.
I thought I would have withdrawals from Instagram. Instead I felt free! Free from the pressure to show off that I have a good life, free from feeling like I need to photo document every milestone or special occasion to prove it happened. Free from needing to prove to someone (myself?) that maybe, just maybe I’m a good wife, mom, daughter, friend, sister, etc.
Lesson 3: I spent more time watching other people’s kids than playing with my own.
Ouch. This realization really hurt but I’m grateful I had it. In December I played with my daughter the most I ever have and some of my favorite holiday memories were just sitting on the floor, looking at our Christmas tree, being present with HER, not her + Instagram.
Lesson 4: Social media turns my time into someone else’s money.
Yup, as gross as it is social media isn’t designed for my mental health or yours. It’s designed to keep you on the app longer and longer to engage with each notification. In fact, notifications such as likes, hearts, comments, replies and shares activate the same hormones in your brain as drugs and alcohol. Look it up. (I’d say Google it, but try DuckDuckGo or Ecosia instead 😉 Then someone somewhere sells my data. Taking a step back helped me remember that.
Finally…
Lesson 5: Facebook isn’t any better than Instagram.
I went off IG for a month but not Facebook. Sure I connect with more people I know in real life and I ADORE my group beautifully hippie. But it’s no secret that FB owns IG and the mission is the same: monetize your time and create engagement instead of true connection.
I can’t say with certainty that I will go dark on social media anytime soon but I do plan to dim the influence that social media has on my life.
Side note:
If you’re a parent of little children right now you are a pioneer. We are the first generation of parents who HAVE social media. And it is an interesting road to navigate. Navigating social media as a parent is going to look different for every household but here’s what I’ve come to realize:
My daughter is adorable and I have loved sharing her on social media because she brings joy to people. But my mission isn’t to bring you joy. My mission is to help women and mamas make healthier choices for themselves and their familes.*
A month off of Instagram taught me a lot. My very best takeaway was just gratitude for the life I live and the freedom to live it without showing it off.
If you are feeling burned out and burdened by a particular social media platform, I can’t encourage you enough to listen to that feeling and act on it. Unplug. Reset. Take. A. Break. Live a couple weeks without Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok or whatever else is wearing you out. I can’t wait to hear what you learn!
(*If you’d like to join this mission, you can check out joining Lemongrass Spa as an ambassador for just a dollar this month.)
The Nontoxic Journal 