Recently, I took a break from social media and even other recreational screen time activities, such as Netflix (that’s right, I didn’t watch Netflix).
For one week, I deleted Facebook & Instagram off of my phone. I didn’t check it on my computer either. I did use Facebook messenger to talk to specific people, but overall, no social media.
I didn’t scroll or post or check my notifications. And it was amazing.
The stress of keeping up with all the things you’re supposed to do as a blogger (writing posts, curating & creating images, writing emails content & posting on social media consistently) overwhelmed me. I just had to step back.
What really drove me to decide to do this was the timing of our week of Prayer & Fasting at our Church. I wanted to engage as much as possible and I needed to rid my spirit of worldly distractions.
I did & God moved.
Initially, I was so worried that my blog would suffer from being absent for a week. But, in true God fashion, the opposite happened: my page views went up, my reach expanded, I gained followers & email subscribers. Not because I’m great, but because God is great and faithful.
You might be unsure you want to do it or be afraid to take a break from social media. To encourage you , here are some of the lessons I learned and the things I gained during my break.
I want to encourage you through my experience. I want to give you the permission you need to step away and let yourself breath.
You can do hard things.
1. I realized how much time social media takes from me.
It is truly amazing how much time social media & television takes away from us. During this week, I was able to do almost all of the things I normally feel like I don’t “have time” to do. I even had time leftover.
In one night I worked out for an hour, cooked & ate dinner, studied my Bible, read some of a book and encouraged a friend. And after all of
My husband was in a class that night and I remember texting him saying “I HAVE SO MUCH FREE TIME.” I was genuinely shocked at how much time I would have wasted watching Netflix or scrolling through social media.
If you haven’t looked in the section of your phone that shows you how much time you spend on different apps and tasks, do it. It will probably shock you.
2. I experienced less stress.
This is probably due to the concentrated burst of prayer I was in, but I felt so much peace during my break from social media. I know that not being on Facebook or Instagram had a lot to do with that.
I didn’t feel pressure to post or take pretty pictures or come up with snappy captions. I just lived my life with intention and presence and didn’t look around me to see what others were doing. I didn’t have access!
Social media breeds comparison like nothing else and comparison is the thief of our joy. If you want to experience some real peace and clarity, delete your social media apps from your phone for a little while.
Trust me, it will help.
3. I was able to focus on my relationship with Jesus.
Because I had freed up a lot of my time, I was able to attend 6 am prayer Wednesday night services. I was able to spend time in uninterrupted prayer and study my Bible almost every day, not just read it.
I was able to spend time in theological discussions with my husband and explore topics I had been wrestling with in my head.
I was able to read books by wise believers like A.W. Tozer and C.S. Lewis because I wasn’t focused on keeping up with what other Christian women were doing and saying on social media.
Don’t get me wrong, I love social media and the power it had to spread the Gospel. But I also realize that if it begins to encroach on my relationship with Christ, it has to go for a while no matter how good and encouraging it can be.
4. I was more present with my husband and friends.
The first few days, I found myself still reaching for my phone to check social media when I was with my husband or friends. This made me so aware of how often I do this in my regular life!
I wasn’t pulling out my phone in the car or while waiting in line, so we talked more and observed more of what was around us. I wasn’t pulling it out to post about what we were doing, either. I simply experienced it & created a memory.
If there is a person sitting in front of us, there is no reason we need to be checking on people who aren’t via social media. Give the people you are with your undivided attention.
5. I was on my phone less in general.
Through this experience, I realized how little I actually need my phone. Since I wasn’t using it for the fun stuff, I almost forgot it was there.
One of the days, I actually did forget it and left my phone at home. Normally, if I forget my phone I go back for it or my husband brings it to me if he leaves after I do.
But that day I realized I wasn’t really missing it so when he offered, said “No, thanks!” and went all day without my cell phone. When I told my friend about this, she was shocked and even told me she didn’t think she could go a day without hers.
Until that day, I didn’t think so either. But I did and it wasn’t a big deal at all. I had other ways of contacting people if I really needed to and I had my work computer if I needed to do something urgent or check my email.
When we get dependent on something like social media or our phones, it seems impossible to without it. Friend, I’m here to tell you it’s not.
You can go without most things you think are indispensable and that includes social media.
6. I got more sleep.
This one was HUGE for me, as I struggle with sleep a lot.
You see, for a couple of the days that week I was getting up hours earlier than I usually do to go to 6 am prayer services and I STILL got more sleep.
I know it’s because I wasn’t scrolling through my phone at bedtime or when I woke up in the morning. This had a major effect on the quality of my sleep. I fell asleep faster and was able to get up easier in the morning because I had nothing else to do.
I had no phone anchoring me to my bed.
This is a habit I’m continuing to cultivate. Even though I technically am back on social media, I have not reinstalled in on my phone and I plan to transition to not having my phone in my bedroom at all.
7. I was able to be more creative.
One major thing that my social media break gave me was boredom. I realized that I rarely have time where I am not doing something or working to accomplish a goal.
So, this year I made one of my goals to be creating white space and margin in my life and giving my brain time to be bored. Taking a break from social media helped me make progress on that goal.
During this week, I was so much more productive and creative than I have been able to be in months. I got so many ideas and solidified a lot of decisions during my social media break.
I was able to focus and let my mind be blank so God could fill it with guidance and clarity for many areas of my life, especially this blog & ministry.
So, do you think you can do it?
Taking a break from social media has SO many benefits including peace, clarity, more sleep, less anxiety, less stress, more fruitful relationship and more time to spend on things that matter.
Your soul will thank you.
