Yes, you can take a social media break. (No, the world won't end.)
A few times a year I take a break from social media break, and I'm here to tell you the world won't end. In fact, it may be the best medicine for what you need right now.
Before you write it off as a possibility, let's walk address some of the excuses you may be telling yourself head on.
Excuse #1: It's not a good time.
How many times have we told ourselves, "once I get through this, then I can X again." I'm just as naive. Then something else comes to keep us from doing the thing that will really help us and propel us forward.
I'm not convinced there is ever a good time for so many things in life, but perhaps you can look for the better or not disruptive times for you.
I've come to realize it's not about finding the time. It's about making the time. In making the time you get to support yourself and create some space for something that really matters for you.
Excuse #2: I wish I could but I need it for my business.
Instagram is one of the biggest drivers for my business too. But it's not what directly converts to sales. For me, it's showing up as myself and a full human is what gets the best business results. In order to do that I need rest too.
We've been programmed to have to be on all the time or otherwise we're going to miss an opportunity (scarcity mindset getting in our way there). Yes, there are times where I really do need to be super connected, but other times when I can coast.
Of course my business is a 1-woman show and not an empire. Just because you're the one always running social media, what if experimented with someone else doing a "take over" for the week to take some pressure off of you.
Like so much in life, it doesn't have to be completely on or completely off, maybe there's some middle ground you haven't considered yet. That other possibility may be what helps your business get to the next level—but you won't know until you try.
Excuse #3: I tried it and it didn't do anything for me.
It's taken two years of me doing this to fully see the benefits. And the results aren't always instant or visible. It's more that I feel lighter and my brain has more space to think. Sometimes that doesn't always kick in until week two of my break.
Stepping away from social media is an exercise in getting comfortable with the discomfort. (I do find it gets easier with each day, and I'm always surprised how much I don't miss it despite loving it as a connection tool; both can be true!) I highly recommend building in some time to reflect and journal as you go through the process if you want to see how it supports you.
Here are a few insights I've gleaned after my most recent two week break:
During my social media break it didn't instantly create more space (days didn't feel like had more time), but I did have an overall feeling of lightness and presence in what I was doing, even it it was subtle. When I zoomed out I realized I finished 2 half finished books in a weekend that I'd been working on for over a month, and got multiple blog posts up (I rarely make time to blog), so clearly there was more space even if I didn't feel it in the thick of it. I can't help but think social media gives us a skewed view of what it means to be productive (hello quantity), so it's interesting to rethink our metrics for "success."
I knew I got dopamine hits from likes (particularly from certain people). Taking a break from that was healthy for me but I needed to make sure I wasn't replacing it with other dopamine (in my case my MYP Slack community). This is still something I'm watching. I don't know that I would have questioned it had I not lived through it.
I really didn't miss social media at all, but realized that for me my favorite way to use the platforms is as a research tool and for connection (I don't care about followers or algorithms). I think that some of the addiction is that DMs on Instagram can become too much of a communication method with some people, so I'd rather move some convos with friends to text. I prefer to explicitly tell people to text or email me to move the conversations away from the platform that sucks me in.
It's good to take a break even when you don't think you need it. I actually was finding a good rhythm and most importantly HAVING FUN with my sharing right before my break. Stepping away was good for perspective and a reminder to me for how I want to show up when I'm connected again. (I want to show up as me and I don't care what could get me more followers and likes, I'm here to share adventures to help inspire others to look at the world around them through a new lens.)
I tend to take 2 week breaks three times a year after launch periods for Mapping Your Path. Selling (err, reframe: transfer of enthusiasm) is always draining for me even when I do have fun with it (there's a mind game when the majority of people wait until the last minute to sign up and you feel like all your efforts are for nothing). My breaks allow me time to recover from the mental game, but more importantly, to spend time connecting with my community who are there for a reason and are ready to show up for themselves. Let's face it, I need to reconnect with myself too and feel centered and grounded again.
I've also learned over the years I can set my own rules and boundaries. Being super strict isn't always the best way. This time I had 4 "cheats" but they were on my terms. I knew I was attending or a part of four events I wanted to celebrate. Sure I can post about them later, but I wanted to share them on Instagram Stories while it was there for the organizers to see and share. The way I handled this was putting up a Story that said I'm chiming in to celebrate something but I'm not checking messages or looking at my feed.
The main reason I did this was for accountability for myself. I also want to normalize that it's OK to take breaks. Also, I know no one will see every message I post, so I figured it's a good reminder for anyone who missed the memo (I do get business inquiries through DM at times so I don't want people to think I'm ignoring them).
I'm sharing this post too to share my experience and prove that the world won't end if you cut yourself some slack and give yourself a break. You never know what you might invite into your life.
Have you ever taken a break from social media? Share your experiences in the comments!
Special thanks to Tiffany Han for being the first person to challenge and inspire me to experiment with a social media break! I never imagined it’d become a regular practice, but I’m grateful for it.
P.S. My favorite alternative to social media is my Mapping Your Path 3-mo workshop + community. It’s an incredible place, and I love meeting and connecting with everyone who joins. Sign up to learn about upcoming cohorts.