I quit social media for a year – was it worth it?

Ever considered leaving social media? A year ago, I took the plunge, deleting all social media apps from my phone to break free from the virtual chains. In this blog, I tell you about why I did a digital detox, the benefits, the challenges, and ultimately, if I think the decision was worth it. 

Why I decided to do a digital detox

In the fast-paced world of digital connectivity, social media has become an integral part of our daily lives. Leaving social media wasn’t easy, given its role in modern networking and business promotion. In the eyes of my 10-year-old stepson, I became a real dinosaur! I definitely lost points in the ‘stepmum’ popularity contest. 

The decision was fueled by a desire for authenticity, genuine connections, and a healthier work-life balance. As someone who advised clients on the impact of technology, it felt right to practice what I preached.

Was quitting social media worth it?

Quitting social media was definitely worth it. It improved my relationships, helped me connect with nature, and boosted my mood.

Stronger Relationships:  It’s crazy what you learn about someone you have known for years, when you both actually actively listen to each other. Without the distraction of the virtual world, I had more quality time with my partner and friends, more meaningful connections and genuine moments. Focussing on in-person interactions really deepened my personal relationships, leading to more face-to-face conversations. 

Connecting with Nature: I started to appreciate the beauty of the present moment and connected with nature much more. It helped me foster a deeper commitment to environmental awareness and reconnect with my core values. As a society, we seem to have become more fixated on snapping pictures to document our day than appreciating the beauty of the moment. Disconnecting from social media helped ground me, and I felt more comfortable in my environment. 

Mental Clarity and Wellbeing: I felt free from the pressure of fitting into social media moulds and experienced more self-love and self-appreciation. It felt great to step away from those downward/upward comparisons and information overload. Without the constant social media distractions, I was more present at work, and more connected to myself, my emotions, my intuition and my creativity. 

Was it hard to quit social media? 

Yes! Despite all the many benefits, quitting social media was a challenge. As an entrepreneur and someone with family in France, I faced issues personally and professionally.

Driving Marketing and Networking Strategies: Adapting to a social media-free business landscape required a shift in marketing strategies. The absence of social media poses clear challenges for entrepreneurs. Although I tried to explore diverse avenues, such as networking events in person and real stands at exhibitions… All of this in-person work led to more social media requests. 

Keeping Up with Trends and News: Staying updated on industry trends and maintaining a presence became a real hurdle, highlighting the need for alternative strategies. I felt like I was always the last to know and the world around me was moving too fast for me to follow… 

Navigating Distance in a Digital Void: Maintaining connections with those miles away became challenging. My family and friends in France felt more disconnected from me and my life, and nurturing those long-distance relationships required more deliberate effort, with regular calls becoming essential in the absence of social media’s seamless bridge.

Should you quit social media too?  

I think most of us need to find a balance between embracing the wonders of digital connectivity and creating boundaries to protect our wellbeing. If you still think quitting social media might be for you, I want you to really reflect on your true motivation behind this decision.

What I learned is that my decision to do a digital detox ran deeper than I thought. It was easy to justify quitting social media because I passionately advocated the benefits of staying off social media to my clients. But in reality, I quit because I wanted to avoid confronting my own impostor syndrome, and hide from my fears and insecurities. So, despite the apparent advantages on paper, the true intention behind my decision might not have been as noble as it seemed. 

As I teach my clients, intention is everything. The exact same action can be good or bad depending on which intention and emotion fuels your decision. In this case, my action was fueled by fear, and the outcome was that I denied myself opportunities to benefit from the good parts of social media.

I encourage you to ask yourself these questions next time you want to make a change in your life:

  • What decision do I want to make?
  • What feelings are driving this decision?
  • What are my true intentions? (It’s okay if this is a mix of ‘helpful’ and ‘unhelpful’ intentions – the most important thing is that you are honest about them so you can make an informed decision)

What next…

I cannot deny that the decision to leave social media was pivotal, resulting in improved mental health, genuine connections, and focused productivity. Yet, it also emphasized my fear of being inadequate. Additionally, this experience showed the need for balance in our tech-driven society. Social media, when used mindfully, can be a powerful tool, and avoiding it is avoiding all the benefits that we could gain from it as entrepreneurs. 

My pledge is to find a middle ground, embracing the benefits of digital connectivity, without sacrificing well-being or the beauty of the present moment. 

Noticing that social media can bring you down or distract you? At RESET, we help people re-evaluate their relationship with social media and consider the potential benefits of a RESET (pun intended) to find a new balance. While the journey may not be easy, the rewards are undoubtedly worth it.

I have put a quiz together that will help you reflect on your relationship with social media. It’s really quick to do and you will receive a recommendation from me based on your answers. Take the quiz here.

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