I took an Instagram break in March of 2021, which is not unusual for me. I deleted the app weekly for several years, and I took weeks-long “sabbaticals” from time to time. Each leave of absence served to make my heart grow fonder. I’d come back feeling refreshed, ready to take on the Internet with renewed vigor and vision.
That’s just the thing, though. The Internet is not something for me to take on. I do need to take on child-rearing, hospital-leading, marriage-thriving, and community-building. I do not need to take on the Internet.
I felt the tingles of this realization in 2020; it hummed to a full-blown electric surge this past spring, after I stepped away. Additionally, this was the first time I didn’t feel anything about coming back from a break. No excitement, no dread, just… nothing. Blank space. That felt important to note. After several weeks, I felt ready to say goodbye, and I could articulate it in three parts.
First, I don’t get paid to spend time online, but I had been treating it like a full-time job for years. Second, the world will never get 2020 back, and mine took place during a massive life transition where people got to know me on Instagram before they met me in person. Third, I’m entering a new chapter in my professional life where I want to care about the dozens following me at work instead of the thousands watching me online.
I’ve been off of Facebook for years, but I deactivated Twitter last month. I decided to keep Instagram, sans content and community, because I treasure my archived Stories and also, I love to shop.
I have no regrets about going hard on social media for ten years, and I have no regrets about walking away from it either. There is a time for everything, and now is all I’ve got. Onward.
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Just seeing this; you’re spot on. I have no regrets for the time I’ve spent on social media but also, I don’t see the point in continuing to cultivate a space that doesn’t feed me or my family the life-giving sustenance we need. So grateful for your insight!
My account was hacked in early June 2021 and I have just not desired the IG life to reactivate my account or start a new one. I’m so much healthier without it. Though, I miss the updates by friends and some community I had made. But, I had kind of the same realization as you: I have other things to pay mind to instead of just consuming, consuming, consuming. I decided I’d like to build, instead.
How did I not realized the close of your IG was the revival of this space? I’ve missed you, and I’m so glad Emily P. Freeman link in her weekly email reunited me with your point of view this morning!
Well, hi again! I’m here! Please do forward me her email. I am now subscribed but would love to see that one. What an honor! RachaelKincaid@gmail.com
This is so lovely, I’ve had to read it 3 times just to capture it all. I, too, got off social media after going hard for 10 years. No regrets.
It was so dang good but it’s also good to be gone. Both can be true!
I was literally just thinking about you and wondering how you were and found this after looking you up on IG❤️ Glad to see your words here and hope you and your sweet family are doing well!!
Aww, hi! So glad you said something. Hope you are well, friend.
Get after grateful just popped into my head and I decided to look you up. (I followed along for awhile before taking a few years off of IG.) I can’t tell you how pertinent your words are here…thank you! Hope you and yours are well!