so, I’m addicted to social media

I fasted from Instagram … and loved it? 

I fasted from Instagram for Lent.

So, I’ve never done Lent before because I always saw it as more of a Catholic tradition — side note, I’m not Catholic —  but it really was an incredible motivation to stick to some life goals I had. It was also a way to take things out of my life and put things into it to hopefully bring me closer to Jesus and, really, dive into a more purpose-filled life. 

And friends, I set a TON of lent goals — stay off of Instagram, drink more water, buy less Starbucks, be more diligent in reading my Bible, be less cluttered, etc. 

But, obviously, the one that most applies here was staying off of my personal Instagram. 

So for 40 (46 including Sundays) days, I was off the grid. And GUYS, as a self-declared social media ADDICT, I couldn’t recommend it more. 

First of all I feel insanely proud of myself. So many people, including myself, did NOT think I could do it, and I DID.

*casually squeals*

I think that so many of us — definitely me — are more addicted than we care to admit. I thought it was something I was choosing to do rather than felt the need to do. On Ash Wednesday, (the first day of lent) I was wondering what I would give up if I were to participate in Lent — and without a second to spare instagram came to mind — but my next thought was a laugh.

How could I do that?!

That feeling of ‘I need it’ came up.

‘I need to know what’s happening and need to post for friends bdays,’ etc., etc.

And then I thought… why is giving it up so crazy?

WHAT HAVE I GOT TO LOSE?!

Some dopamine and followers and keeping people ‘updated’ on my life and to be SO in the loop on theirs?

As the 46 days went on I realized — oh my gosh, how awful my addiction was. The first few days, I would click on the app (which I still had for work) every x amount of minutes even though I had just gone to click on it x amount of minutes ago… only to find myself not on my account realizing I wasn’t supposed to be on it in the first place. I realized how much free time, down time, gaps in my productivity or split seconds I had in transitioning between activities I spent going to IT. 

Then, I found myself asking my friends questions about their lives and realized how quickly conversations can end when you already saw that they went to Disney and didn’t need to ask what they did there. I realized how little I asked about their lives previously because I already saw it happening from a surface-level distance. 

Soon, I found myself living in the moment rather than living on Instagram while eating with friends or posing WAY LESS for every possible photo in front of a cool wall — and I also found myself way more uncomfortable in front of a camera without filtering it for the ‘gram.

I found out that people don’t care as much as I thought they did about my day to day IG stories. I found out that I CAN FIND OUT important information about the people I know without Instagram.

Now, I’d like to pause for a moment to thank my friends who came in clutch and told me that Taylor Swift was coming out with new music. 

I discovered out how much time I spend on Instagram and how much more productive I can be without it. I found myself drawn to other social medias like Pinterest for the color and scroll addictive vibe.  

I’ve gone to bed faster and woken up much quicker. I’m less distracted when reading my Bible or hanging out with friends. 

SURE, I missed out on posting for birthdays and for bridal showers (which I felt AWFUL for) and dates and day trips and catching up with friends and friend’s accomplishments and promposals and to show everyone I go to the gym or MY casual rant in the car WHILE DRIVING. 

But in exchange I got to experience those birthdays, bridal showers, day trips, friends, accomplishments, etc. without looking at my phone way too often while I was there — which I know I would’ve done. 

Not to say I don’t love posting for those things or that I’m over that because… who are we kidding? You’ll definitely see more car talks and celebration posts and pictures in front of cool walls and who knows what.

But hopefully, you’ll see it less often as I hope to restrict myself… because I’m deciding to finally acknowledge I need to. 

All around, I still love Instagram, BUT I also love love love not having Instagram be so present in my day to day. 

It brought LIFE back into perspective, and, whether it’s for a day for a week for lent or forever, I highly recommend to anyone and everyone fasting from it! 

Also, just a thought — anyone notice how so many (not all) successful actors, singers, businesspeople, entrepreneurs and politicians have someone else running their Instagram and don’t do it themselves because — well, they’re busy doing other things.

Thought of that yesterday.

xo,

Meg