I learned a lot from quitting social media. 

For almost an entire year I didn’t have notifications buzzing in my pocket, constantly alerting me to what I was missing out on. I didn’t whip out my phone anytime I was experiencing something positive, feeling the need to document it online. 

My negative thought patterns lessened and I stopped comparing my life to others through their curated social media.

I think social media can be great for staying connected during a pandemic but people rarely recognize that it’s an addiction. And like all addictions, it’s hard to kick!

• Why I Quit Social Media
• How I Manage Social Media
• Time Limit – Apps
• Unfollow Accounts
• Morning Routine
• Night-time Routine
• Muting Accounts
• No Social Media Days
• Turn Off Notifications
• The No-Phone Rule
• The Benefits of Limiting Social Media

Why I First Quit Social Media

I first began limiting my consumption two years ago while traveling with my boyfriend, Alex. I would delete the Instagram app and re-download it only to post what crazy adventure we were up to! Then, I’d delete it again. 

But, every time I re-downloaded the app, that negative voice in my mind that compared me to others, grew. I developed jealousy like never before and became a lot more insecure.

My partner, on the other hand, was able to completely deactivate his account, without ever looking back. I envied how easy it was for him. 

I found I was making excuses to get back on the Gram and get another social media “hit”. That’s how people with addiction struggle. I justified it by rationalizing to myself – “I’m traveling the world, and I’m disconnected from friends and family. I have to show them all that we’re seeing!”

But looking back now, I realize that each time I justified getting back on for that social media high, it was doing more harm than good.

Soon after the pandemic hit, I realized how much time I wasted on it – scrolling, comparing, self-deprecating. As I became more self-aware, I recognized a switch in my mood and thought-patterns after logging back on.

I deactivated my account in April. Only to reactivate it once to post about our adventure traveling on the Wild Atlantic Way.

How I Manage Being Back On Social Media

Recently, I started a new account for my website. I promised myself not to use it in a social manner, keeping up with friends. But instead, as a platform to grow an audience for Balance With Danielle. 

And if I feel like it’s affecting me negatively again, you bet your bottom dollar, I will be deactivating it again.

Since I’ve been back on Instagram, I’ve made a few changes with how I use the app. I’ve noticed the negative feelings haven’t returned. It’s because I use these 8 simple changes to more positively consume social media.

Time Limits

There are many apps that deactivate your social media apps after a set time. I usually set it for 10 minutes, then you can no longer access the app.

You’ll get your dose of content and can put it away without being tempted to snap a pic of your oat milk latte at the Farmers’ Market. Instead, you can enjoy a lovely conversation with your friends, staying in the present!

If you use an iPhone, you can go into your Settings > Screen Time (get upset at how much time you waste on your phone). Then add app limits by selecting Settings > Screen Time > App Limits, for each social media app.

If you have another phone, you can download one of these apps:

• Offtime
• Moment
• Flipd
• Appblock

Unfollow Negative Accounts

I used to follow a lot of gorgeous fitness girls with the “perfect” body that was so far from my own frame. I would admire them, only to get upset and think, “I could never look like that!”. 

And that was true – I could never look like them because we had completely different body shapes, eyes, height, and skin tone. I now realize that that’s ok! But at the moment, I found myself wishing I looked different, ignoring my own positive features, always wanting to change.

Living like this, you’ll never be content with how you look. Trends change. There’s always going to be a different look that’s in fashion – a different body, complexion, or body shape.

You should be content with how you look and not want to change. You are unique and should never try to look like someone else. You’ll always fall short and you’ll never feel satisfied.

Follow people who share positivity and unfollow all those negative accounts that leave you feeling like shit. “You are what you eat”, but you are also what you consume. 

Want to feel positive? Surround yourself with positivity.

 Don’t consume social media first thing in the morning

A lot of us do this as a form of habit. When you ask people the first thing they do in the morning, their usual answer is to check their phone. Which is usually followed by a scroll through Instagram. 

If social media leaves you feeling negative, start your day off doing something positive.

Why not make your bed instead. If you’re reliant on your phone for an alarm, and the temptation is too strong, buy a physical alarm instead (I recommend light alarms).

Try beginning your day with some meditation or yoga. Use this time to check in with yourself, rather than checking in with others online.

You’ll begin your day more positively.

Don’t browse social media right before bed

Ever wonder why you can’t sleep, tossing and turning, even though you’ve spent the last hour staring at a small, bright screen in your dark room. Unfortunately, Night Mode isn’t as beneficial as we’d hope! 

Many doctors who specialize in sleep, recommend that you refrain from using digital screens in the bedroom. Your body reacts to the LED light from screens and thinks it is still daytime. This causes it to produce less melatonin, which makes it harder to fall asleep and reach that necessary amount of deep sleep in the night.

Try to develop a night-time routine that helps you switch off. This should also include keeping that screen switched off. 

Leave your phone outside of your room. Opt for reading instead. I find reading a book before bedtime is one of the greatest ways to fall asleep. 

Try it for a week! You’ll be surprised how not using your phone before bed will allow you to drift off to sleep easier and more soundly.

Mute Negativity

Do you find yourself rolling your eyes, scorning accounts that just grind your gears? We all have those acquaintances that you feel like you have to follow back.

Mute them! They won’t know, and you won’t have their stories and posts shoved in your face when you are spending your time on the app.

Chances are, the feeling is mutual, you may be muted by them too! Hey, it’ll only make you feel better.

Have No Social Media Days

Dedicate one day a week to absolutely zero social media. Want to document something? No problem. Do it in your journal or take a picture and save it to your camera roll. 

It can be during your Wednesday Self-Care day. Or on your Sunday Family Day. 

Delete the app for that day if you find yourself not being able to stop yourself. 

It might be hard the first time. I did warn you, it’s an addiction!

Turn Off ALL Notifications

Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, Gmail – anything that’s notifying you should be shut off. 

I try to limit notifications only to news and email. 

If you’re meditating or sleeping, make sure to turn your phone onto Do Not Disturb mode.

No Phones Rule

When I limited the amount of time I spent on my phone, other than losing it, I began to notice a few things. Specifically, how my friends and family were consumed by theirs.

I was truly appalled. 

All I could think of was, “Was I like that?”. Followed by, “Wow, how rude”.

When you stop using your phone as much, you’ll notice the zombies in their own digital world, not enjoying the present. You’ll be sickened at the thought of ever returning to that zombie life. #NewYearNewMe

Make a rule for those phone zombies to put it away when you’re enjoying that gorgeous dinner you made them. Turn the phones off and place them all in the middle of the table or in a box in the corner of the room. 

The Benefits of Limiting Social Media:

Less Unnecessary Comparison

Less time spent self-deprecating and being jealous that Lisa got that purse you never in a million years would have even thought of buying in the first place.

More Time in the Present

As someone who has spent too much time on social media, I felt like a new woman after giving it up. I now enjoy the simple things so much more. I don’t feel the need to ruin a nice moment or meal by snapping a pic and pulling myself out of the experience just to think of a caption.

More Time in General

The amount of free time you’ll have to spend on yourself is incredible. You can educate yourself on topics you never would have bothered before (I never thought I would enjoy discussing politics so much). Spend more time bettering your mental health (hello meditation and journaling). Exercise more and have that extra time to cook a healthy delicious meal. #betteryou

Take Up Other Hobbies

Just as if social media was a hobby you gave up, you’ll have time for another one. Play chess, learn the guitar, learn to code, or take a course in dog grooming. The world is your oyster and you can buy brilliant courses online for half nothing these days.

Better Conversations

Do you ever find yourself chatting with someone, only for them to receive a notification and get distracted? If you’ve never experienced somebody doing that before, you are that person. Limiting social media will let you become more present in conversations. You won’t interrupt the flow of a good convo just to check your phone, making whoever you’re with feel awkward. 

Doing Things Because You Want, Not For a Photo. 

They’re called experiences for a reason. You should feel them, and be fully in the moment. Who cares if your feed doesn’t see what food you just ate or the mountain you hiked? Everyone is so quick to scroll past it anyway, without a second thought.

Less Anxiety

I can promise if you experience feelings of anxiety, limiting your social media will only benefit you. Did you know that rates of anxiety and depression in young people have risen by 70% in the last 25 years? Recent studies show that social media addiction can cause social anxiety disorder.

If this hasn’t convinced you and you need more inspiration to quit social media, I would recommend watching The Social Dilemma on Netflix. It’s a real eye-opener!