What I Learned Taking One Month off Social Media

I took the entire month of January 2024 off of social media (no Instagram, no Facebook, no scrolling or checking in!) and it was the most incredible month and the absolute perfect way to kick off the year. I’ve never really taken a true break before (and I’ve been doing this since 2014!) so it really was the reset and rest that I needed as I prayed about what’s next for me, our family, and this blog.

If you want to read a little more about my heart behind the social media break- I recently wrote a full post you can catch up on here! Long story short, at the end of 2023 I had really lost myself in a number of ways. I feel victim to the comparison game and felt so very far from being “good enough” and I also lost me in the process. Who I am, who I work to be, and my unique brand of joy that I feel called to share with the world. Stepping back and taking the month off of Instagram and Facebook really allowed me to refocus and recenter and remember and strengthen my core values. An unexpected bonus was the amount of brainstorming and creative thinking I was able to do- I’m so excited about the new content I have to share here on the blog and over on Instagram!

So today I want to share everything I learned during my month off of social media- and if you have any thoughts or questions please drop them in the comments!

Pink Sweatshirt Dress (Size Small, runs oversized) / Plaid Tote Bag c/o (size XL) / Nike Air Max Sneakers

Practical Lessons Learned Taking One Month Off Social Media

1. Move or Delete your icons– Truly practical advice, muscle memory is real and I cant tell you how many times in the first week or so I’d try and click on my IG app out of pure muscle memory! Moving it kept me from accidentally clicking on the icon (I put my apps in a “DO NOT USE” folder on the last page of my phone).
2. Check where your links lead to before clicking– so many links these days lead to Instagram pages instead of websites, so hover over links before you click so you don’t accidentally click in and fall down that IG rabbit hole!
3. Make sure you know where events are taking place or have contact information before closing down the apps. – Silly, but true! I signed up for a book club in Jan but realized I didn’t have anyone’s contact info or a location set yet so I missed it last month. I guess there is always next month! ha.

Personal Lessons Learned Taking One Month Off Social Media

1. My Anxiety Decreased– this might be a no-brainer but I was shocked by how quickly the ever present ball of anxiety in my belly evaporated when I took social media out of the mix! All of a sudden I didn’t feel constantly behind (between motherhood, work and pumping out content I perpetually feel behind!) and could breathe! I also felt like I could better concentrate on whatever task I was doing because there wasn’t this social media checklist constantly running through my head!
2. My Joy Increased– hand in hand with decreasing anxiety was the increase of joy I found in my month off social media. I think the biggest part of that is when you’re not comparing yourself or battling feeling less than, you can truly embrace where God has you and find so much joy in that! I certainly did 🙂
3. I Stopped Comparing Myself– since this was a big impetus for taking a break, I am thankful that I relieved myself of the pressure of comparing myself to others. Whether conscious or unconscious, social media makes us compare everything in our lives; from life stages to career path to number of followers. When I stepped back from the fray, I was able to fully embrace that God has me right where I’m supposed to be, and even if my life doesn’t look like others it’s no less worthy or wonderful. It was a much needed reminder and truth that really continues to reverberate for me.
4. I Shopped Less– this was not part of my intent for the month, but I quickly realized how much I was being influenced to buy all the things from being on IG. It was refreshing to shop very little, and when I did I bought things I truly wanted, not just random Amazon dresses that you get and realize are terrible quality! I also came to realize how I had kind of lost my style over the past few months from trying to be like everyone else, and through my break I really rediscovered my style and furthermore what I want it to be now that I’m in my working mom era. 💕
5. I Felt More Content– it’s likely no surprise that the above four lessons overall led to much more contentment in my life. When you stop comparing, lessen your anxiety, find joy… it really just least to a cozy contentment and appreciation for right where your life is at!

So Why Go Back to Social Media?

I’ve actually thought a lot about this, as I did have numerous thoughts about “do I want to get back on social media” and “is it worth it ?” But in praying through what God wants for my life, I still feel very clearly that I have something worth sharing and if I can keep in perspective that IG and FB are just apps, I can find a better balance in my life. I also truly missed the community I’ve built on social media! I have so many great mom friends on there and we’ve supported each other through lots of life stages- I’m not ready to give that up! And from just a “fun” pov, I still love fashion and sharing my colorful style and it’s a fun escape from the daily grind!

All these factors have led me to getting back on social media with a refreshed and healthier outlook for 2024!

in conclusion, if you’re thinking about taking a social media break I can’t recommend it enough! I am actually planning on maybe taking a week or two off quarterly just to continue to have a chance to reset, refocus, and let the creativity flow. Would love to hear your thoughts!

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Thanks for stopping by y’all! || Gentry