Last month, I
made a decision that felt both exhilarating and terrifying - I would quit social
media for 30 days.
No Instagram
scrolling before bed, no TikTok “just one more video,” no doom-scrolling
Twitter threads.
Here’s my story, warts and all, and how stepping away from endless feeds restored my sanity.
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| I Quit Social Media for 30 Days - The Mental Health Benefits Were Real |
Why I Decided to Quit Social Media?
I’ll admit it
- I was addicted.
Every few
minutes, I’d instinctively reach for my phone, convinced there was something
urgent waiting.
Yet nine
times out of ten, it was just another carousel of sponsored posts or someone
else’s highlight reel.
Anxiety spiked
when I wasn’t connected; guilt gnawed whenever I breezed past real-life moments
to check my notifications.
One Sunday
morning, bleary-eyed from midnight Instagram, I realized I needed a break.
I searched
“how to quit social media” and braced myself for a month of withdrawals, mood
swings, and maybe even FOMO.
What I didn’t
expect was the clarity that followed.
Week 1 - Withdrawal Pangs and Strange Freedom
The first few
days felt like caffeine withdrawal, headache, jittery nerves, and that phantom
buzz of an incoming notification.
I logged out
of every app and deleted them from my home screen.
Day 2: I found my hands empty. I reached for
a book instead something I hadn’t done in years.
Day 4: I realized I hadn’t thought about my
follower count in 48 hours. Wild.
Day 7: I actually enjoyed a walk without
retaking the same photo five times.
It hurt at
first, but the relief was undeniable. My sleep improved; I fell asleep reading
instead of doom-scrolling until 2 a.m.
Week 2 - Rediscovering Real-World Joy
By week two,
something remarkable happened, I started noticing details I had missed for
years.
The way
sunlight filtered through my curtains in the morning.
The genuine
smile on my partner’s face when I looked up from my phone. Conversations felt
deeper, no phone peeking over the table.
I also picked
up old hobbies. I dug out my watercolor paints (dusty but still usable) and
started painting again.
Each brushstroke
grounded me in the present, something I’d forgotten how to do when my mind was
elsewhere.
Week 3 - A Calmer, Clearer Mind
With half the
month behind me, anxiety levels plummeted.
I no longer
compared my life to filtered snapshots; I simply lived it.
My mental
chatter quieted. Instead of obsessing over how many likes a post might get, I
planned my days around meaningful tasks: cooking, connecting, creating.
Strangely,
when I bumped into friends who did still use social platforms, I was less
curious about their online lives and more interested in their real ones.
Those
in-person catch-ups felt richer, more authentic. And I found I wasn’t quitting
social media because I hated it, I was leaving behind its worst habit loops.
Week 4 - Reflection and Unexpected Lessons
As day 30
approached, I wondered if I’d miss my old habit.
Would I rush
back into the digital sea? But instead, I felt indifferent.
Social media
no longer held power over me. Scrolling felt optional, not necessary.
In these last
few days, I took stock,
Self-esteem: No more trepidation over how I
appeared online.
Focus: I completed a small writing project
that had lingered for months.
Well-being: My mood was more stable; I bounced
back from setbacks faster.
I realized
that quitting social media wasn’t about condemning it, it was about reclaiming
choice.
Beyond 30 Days - Choosing When to Reconnect
I did peek
back in on day 31. I reinstalled my apps but set clear boundaries,
Time limit: 15 minutes per day, max.
Purpose: Only to catch up with real friends or
follow creators who inspire me.
No random
scrolling before bed.
So far, it’s
working. I log in, share a few moments, then step away without regret.
How to Quit Social Media Without Going Crazy?
If you’re
thinking of following suit, here are a few tips from my experiment,
- Set a clear start date. Mark your calendar, it makes
the commitment real.
- Delete, don’t just log out. Out of sight, out of
mind.
- Find replacements. Fill the void with reading,
walking, or a new hobby.
- Tell a friend. Accountability helps on the tough
days.
- Reflect daily. Journal even a sentence about how you
feel.
Final Thoughts
Quitting
social media for 30 days was challenging, but the mental health benefits were
very real.
Anxiety eased,
focus sharpened, and genuine connection blossomed.
If you choose to quit social media, remember - it’s not about renouncing technology, it’s about reclaiming your attention and well-being.
Give it a
shot. You might just find a calmer, happier version of yourself waiting.
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