She Strengthens

Breaking Free from Social Media’s Grip

The Alarming Truth

Did you know that the average person spends a staggering 145 minutes (2 hours and 25 minutes) on social media every day? That’s a significant chunk of our daily lives dedicated to scrolling, liking, and commenting. For me, however, the real shock came when I discovered that out of those 2+ hours, only 29 minutes are spent on Instagram alone. As someone who spends an inordinate amount of time on IG, I was taken aback.

My Social Media Habit

Before my digital detox, I was averaging 3 1/2 to 5 hours a day on Instagram. Yes, you read that right – 5 hours! As a full-time writer, pet mom, and plant enthusiast, I should have been doing more with my time. But I wasn’t. I was too busy doom-scrolling, comparing my life to others, and living vicariously through curated feeds.

The Allure of Instagram

So, what makes Instagram so addictive? For me, it’s the visual escapism, the wanderlust videos, luxurious lifestyles, and mouth-watering foodie pics. Plus, the convenience of saving and revisiting favorite posts is a major draw. But deep down, I knew that living vicariously through social media standards was unhealthy. It’s a myth that perfection exists online, and I was aware of it. Yet, I couldn’t resist the urge to constantly check my feed.

Time for a Change

Enough was enough. I decided to take control of my social media habits and set a daily time limit on Instagram. I started with 20 minutes, then reduced it to 10, and eventually, 5 minutes a day. The goal was to break the cycle of addiction and focus on real-life accomplishments.

The Gameplan

To make this detox a success, I:

• Set a daily time limit in my IG settings
• Turned off push notifications to minimize temptation
• Designated a specific time for scrolling and logging off
• Chose a time when my favorite pages had already posted their content

The Results

Weaning myself off Instagram was key to breaking the habit. By limiting my time on the app, I realized that I spent most of my time checking in to see when influencers and pages posted new content. Instead, I started checking in mid-day or evening to do an overall recap. This simple change helped me:

• Reduce anxiety and feelings of inadequacy
• Focus on my present accomplishments and embrace my reality
• Feel more hopeful about the future
• Discover that I can get a lot of “social-media time” in a short period

Lessons Learned

My detox taught me that it’s okay to have a stress-reliever, but not at the expense of my own growth. I learned to appreciate the benefits of weaning and to navigate social media in a healthier way. By the end of my detox, I hardly missed Instagram, but I still made sure to follow positive pages that inspire and uplift me.

Have You Tried a Social Media Detox?

If you’ve attempted a digital detox, I’d love to hear about your experience. What tips do you have for staying on track and maintaining a healthy balance between social media and real life?