Day 011. Breaking the Scroll: 91 Days Off Social Media & Rediscovering Life IRL
A Millennial's Digital Detox Diaries. The withdrawals are very real.
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This October, I am writing a daily series (Mondays through Fridays) chronicling my eighth time on an Instagram sabbatical. I’ve welcomed this annual ritual since 2016, but this year, I am doing my longest departure and documenting my daily insights for you.
I can’t promise what each day will bring ;)
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Stay tuned—for a little while—to see what I’ll create.
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If it weren’t for that fateful day in 2016, my mind would still be ruled by Big Social 24/7.
This annual mental retreat is a welcomed recluse from the noise and incessant nudges. It’s week two, and I instantly feel less insecure, less FOMO, and more content with my life, exactly as I live it, exactly where I am.
In today’s world of constant comparison, this is the gift we can gift ourselves. Don’t underestimate the rewards—nor Big Social’s power over us. They know we’re highly addicted, they’ve engineered it to be so.
But I admit, I remember how difficult it was to even begin to imagine a separation from Instagram; however brief. The idea that I could leave or take a break felt so foreign. I nearly abandoned the effort altogether. Yet, I chose to trust my gut instead.
My mind immediately entered a sort of panic. It started to throw every reason possible not to leave Instagram. I know, it sounds ridiculous. It’s an app!
Engineered by man, completely artificial, and definitely non-essential to our survival. It’s not like I am giving up food or air, but in that moment in 2016, the first time I left, it certainly, felt that monumental.
Truth: it takes real willpower to leave Instagram (or any other Big Social platform, even for a little), especially if you’ve become a daily user. Everything from your brain, to the people and environment around will make us feel doubtful. Ignore the herd, follow instinct instead.
The first time off, especially the first week or so, expect to experience serious withdrawals.
Eighth time around, it feels different. I am not tweaking for dopamine. Well, perhaps only a little. I am definitely not as anxious as the first time around.
The fears I once thought were very real has dissipated. They were—clearly— merely fictitious narratives carefully crafted by the mind of an addict.
“Addiction is an inability to stop using a substance or engaging in a behaviour even though it may cause psychological or physical harm.” — Medical News Today
Addicts will go to any length to come up with every reason possible to rationalise the addiction. That’s why it’s called addiction and not simply a habit. From coffee, to over-exercising, to hard drugs, there’s always a way to reason that’s encouraging enough to continue the addiction.
The first year I left Instagram, my mind resulted to fear mongering.
Let me tell you it was relentless. The first week or so was serious. Both in its mind games and effort to get me to log back on and in my awakening of just how addicted I actually am.
Since 2011, the app and I have been inseparable, remember. This was a revelation.
I felt anxious, which was a surprise. I felt like a smoker without a cigarette, forced to fidget in the awkwardness of not knowing what to do with my hands, emptied of the crutch of lighting up.
My mind was convinced, this departure will end my social life as I knew it. What would my life be without it? What will become of me? *Dramatic, I know.
But, I have to warn you, if you attempt this feat—of trying to reclaim your power and headspace back against Big Social—your mind will at first aggressively resist.
I expended a lot of energy, the first time around, the first couple of days, caught in arguments with myself. In the end my curiosity, of seeing how I’ll feel without, was much more intriguing. Thank God!
I dove headfirst into the abyss.
Looking back, it’s almost comical to confess all of this.
But, go ahead, laugh—because if you’re even remotely considering this adventure (an adventure it was), you’ll be surprised by the wit your mind creates:
“I’ll miss out on all the important updates from friends and family.”
Honestly, if it’s that important they’ll find a way to reach us. There’s such a thing as calling and texting; even e-mail is possible as a last result! There was communication before social media.
“My business/brand/personal brand requires me to keep posting and engaging with my followers.”
This was admittedly a tough one for me. I used to live a semi-public life. Teaching fitness and running group classes for a living, connecting with my clients via social media felt like part of my job description— an expectation.
Sharing daily sweats, inspirational #fitspo content, schedule updates, and occasional life snippets felt as routine as stretching; it was a lifeline to my career in fitness.
The idea of cutting myself off from my primary channel for communication felt irrational and nerve-wrecking. At the time, it honestly felt like career suicide.But then, I realised: The year was ending, and I was due for time off. Would a brief hiatus off Instagram really be so disruptive? My regulars knew my schedule, others can easily find information on the gym’s website—after all, aren’t I entitled to some privacy and time?
“I use Instagram as a memory album, to all the fun things I get to do, how will I document my life without it? I don’t want to forget them.”
There’s a thing called a photo album on your phone. There’s no one stopping us from documenting our joyful milestones. The only difference is we’re opting out of sharing it with the world.
Why do we feel the need to share everything with the world anyways?
As obvious as this may sound, admittedly, at the time it was a novel idea: to take pictures and videos for myself. I was so used to sharing almost everything on Instagram for friends, family, acquaintances and strangers alike, that the idea of keeping it all for my eyes only felt new—it was a revelation.To take pictures and videos for memories for myself to enjoy? What is this blasphemy! Haha.
“What if someone is trying to connect with me?”
If they really need to get in touch with you, they’ll find another way to you. People are resourceful, don’t worry.
“What if I lose friends because I am not posting or engaging with them on their posts anymore?”
Those friends who ‘unfriend’ us or are upset by our departure, aren’t real friends. Real friends will love and support us, no matter what; even if we’re not sharing selfies and sharing our whereabouts everyday.
“But I’ll miss out on on valuable inspiration/news.”
Undoubtedly, there will be a lot of content, updates, and posts that we’ll miss, but we only know what we know and we will never know what we don’t know. Hah. Novel, I know!
“How will I stay informed about events, social gatherings, and other happenings?”
If we’re really that curious, ask a friend, do a Google search (ooooh right!), there are many ways we can still stay plugged in, without the scroll. But yes it may need more effort than passive doom scrolling on our phones.
“I’ll lose touch with people and the world.”
Only a little. If they’re part of our close network in real life, they’ll find a way to connect somehow. All the other people we follow are just fluff: the influencers, the celebrities, that friend we no longer see, that friend we don’t exchange texts with, or our exes aren’t that important in the grand scale of things. Is it a matter of death to know what everyone is up to all the time?
“I’ll feel isolated or disconnected from my social circles.”
Perhaps a little, but it’s also way more soul nourishing to connect with real people in real life. There are many opportunities for this if we are proactive about it. Apps like Meet Up or Bumble BFF if we’re real desperate. Yes, connecting with people in person requires more effort and energy, but it comes with a significant perk: the power to choose who we spend time our precious time with with intentionally.
“Scrolling through Instagram is how I relax and unwind after a long day. How will I watch my Recess Therapy videos?”
There’s a wealth of entertainment and activities out there, beyond Instagram. Stop the excuses and go for it already! Recess Therapy can wait.
Have you left Big Social? Have you tried to go on a detox? What was your experience? Or what’s holding you back from taking a break or leaving Big Social completely? I’d love to know.
In other attention worthy news:
ByteDance’s TikTok lays off 500 people, mostly in Malaysia, and replacing them with AI.
Apparently, ByteDance is wondering why bother with human content moderators when AI can do the job faster and cheaper? Because clearly, algorithms are better judges of human nuance and ethics.
When one tech giant implements a strategy, for costs and efficiency, it can trigger a cascade of similar adoptions across the industry as competitors scramble to stay ahead.
Is AI ready to play moral referee? Can it tell right from wrong without human aid? Perhaps we can let AI decide.
What do you think?
Day 010. Breaking the Scroll: 91 Days Off Social Media & Rediscovering Life IRL
If you’re new here or just dropping by, welcome!
Day 009. Breaking the Scroll: 91 Days Off Social Media & Rediscovering Life IRL
If you’re new here, welcome!
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