What I learned after a month-long digital detox
Towards the end of 2024 I started to notice something - I was experiencing more anxiety, procrastinating more, and just generally felt like I lost my spark towards all things creative (which is terrifying because I’m a full-time artist and creative entrepreneur!).
These prickly feelings also coincided with an increase in screen time, particularly with social media apps like Instagram and Facebook. So, I made the decision to start 2025 with a lil personal challenge - to give up all social media for the entire month of January…
…and I loved every second of it.
I was actually surprised how much I didn’t miss being on social media and TBH I’m already dreaming about when I can do this experiment again.
The timing of the experiment also couldn’t have come at a better time as I was simultaneously presented with the opportunity of a lifetime in January - to study under one of my biggest musical inspirations - Brian Eno (thank you School of Song!)
So, today I want to share with you some things I learned, and what I’ve decided to implement moving forward.
6 things I noticed from being off social media for a month:
The first week was rough: As my body was unwinding from all the information and constant surges of dopamine, I became SO fatigued and could barely peel myself off the couch. It was really interesting. But after about day 5, I started to feel life slowly re-enter my veins. From there, things felt MUCH better.
I procrastinated WAY (!!) less: Often times I’ll dread doing things around my apartment like dishes, laundry, and even cooking. When I was offline I actually found myself doing these things with ease (and with possible enjoyment lolol). I found myself eating better, making healthier food choices, and exercising more.
My mind was much more quiet and I generally felt much less anxious: I often find myself reciting in my head possible responses to messages, and even possible captions for posts/stories. When I’m active online I also find my mind constantly thinking about “could this be shareworthy?!” and it was so nice to have a break from this (and from being perceived in general!)
Social media is … social: As an introvert and highly sensitive person, social media takes up A LOT of my energy. Even when I’m not posting, consuming other people’s lives takes up a lot of mental space. When I zoomed out - I realized that social media is quite literally being social - so when I spend hours online (whether I am posting or not) - it was the equivalent of being around people, which drains me.
Checking my phone was a coping mechanism: I realized I use my phone as a coping mechanism and way of distraction - checking emails, messages, my menstrual tracker lol … you name it. The very act of “using my phone” in some way was like a pacifier for me.
I barely took any photos of myself during the entire month (and it felt so good): This was maybe the most interesting and unexpected thing. I took a few videos of me playing keyboard which I needed to take to send to a client, but that was it! I realized how social media can really make us a bit too obsessed with ourselves (not in a healthy way) and it was really refreshing to take photos of things I actually wanted to capture i.e. making hot chocolate and beautiful sunsets.
The one question I’ve been asked by most people - how did your business do while being offline?!
And well, I’m happy to share that potential clients DO NOT forget about when you’re offline! This was really cool. I would say my email inbox felt as busy or maybe a lil even more busy than usual which was really hopeful.
When I eventually logged back into Instagram (which is my primary social media tool) - I had a bunch of unread messages of people mainly sending me memes, non-time sensitive messages and just one message from an acquaintance who was alerting me of a potential opportunity. Meh! Not the end of the world.
Reclaiming your attention - a low tech diet.
For the last week of January, I intensified the social media detox by following a low tech diet, which was prescribed as part of our final assignment by Brian.
Here’s how I went about the challenge:
I deleted all apps off my home screen - INCLUDING EMAILS!
I hid (and required face ID) for any apps that could pose a potential distraction i.e. Messages, WhatsApp, FB Messenger
I limited the use of my phone (i.e. checking it) to 2x daily for messages
I limited checking emails (which I was only doing on my laptop) to 3x max daily
I kept my phone on “do not disturb” for the entire 7 days, only allowing phone calls to come through
I wrote in a NOTEBOOK for tasks and ideas to minimize using my phone’s calendar and note function
I’d say while the social media detox was amazing, the addition of the low tech week aka relying way less on using my phone was profound.
Moving forward…
It’s now been just over a couple of weeks of being back online and I’m already noticing how sensitive I am to the online environment (and how my mind has become much busier).
However, I want to share with you a few things I’m planning to continue moving forward:
Keeping my home screen clear (see photo below - that’s literally what it looks like when I “unlock” my phone)
Keeping emails off my phone as long as possible - which means only allowing myself to check them when I’m at my laptop (this has honestly been my fave life hack ever)
Checking emails 3x day max on my computer
Trying to consume as little as possible and making a greater effort to check in on fam + friends offline
Staying off my phone as much as I can!
I can honestly say I felt sososososo much more clear, less anxious and generally happier and more connected with myself and with life in general when I was following a low tech/no social diet. That being said, I know there are so many ways social media can be used for good if it can be done intentionally (and without getting sucked into the dark side of it all).
All this to say - if you’ve been feeling a bit fried, I HIGHLY encourage exploring what a lil social media/tech break could look like for you. I would say in an ideal world, you need at least a week break if you’re used to using your phone often, because our bodies need a lil time to adjust to the change.
With love & ease 🩵✨
B
