An Instagram addict goes cold turkey: what I learned from my social media fast

Eaters Collective via Unsplash

Note from Charissa: Brave Self Care is a coaching practice open to all. To be authentic with you about my life, I sometimes share stories about my faith. But I want you to know that we don't need to share the same views to work together! The best coaching is client-centered, meaning that if spirituality is a big part of your life, it can be a big part of your coaching experience. And if it's not, it doesn't have to be. My job as a coach is to believe in you and support you, wherever you are, whatever your spiritual background. Period.  <3

It was a spontaneous decision, really.

I was sitting in the college Sunday School class I help lead, when a question my co-leader asked struck me to the core:

What are ways you try to provide for yourself what only God can provide?

I immediately thought of Instagram. I believe deep down that only God can fill my deepest longing for belonging and love. But the way I act says that I think I can find belonging and love for myself...on social media.

It's one thing to use a certain platform. It's another to be compulsively checking, again and again, to see if someone's 'liked', shared, or commented on something I've posted. It's one thing to serve others through social media, helping them not feel alone. It's another to use it to serve myself, to feel relevant in the world by the way others react to me.

Knowing that Lent, the period of time before Easter, was about to begin, I decided then and there to take a break from Instagram for the 40-some days before Easter.

Here are some highlights from this time.

​Week 1:
Getting feelings of withdrawal - I find myself looking for the app on my homescreen, wanting to see all the hearts! The week feels long.

Instead of experiencing something (cute / pretty / yummy / profound), while at the same time documenting it, while at the same time wondering what people will think of after I post about it...I'm just experiencing things.

I read over 300 pages of Little Women! I have so many blog post ideas!

There's less temptation to brag about stuff (grandparent visits, an outfit, a meal I made, etc.) Is this like the saying, "If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" (If I didn't Instagram this meal, did it even happen?)

Week 2:
I used to joke with Greg when I was on my phone that I was "just doing my job", i.e. leaving comments on IG. It comes naturally to me to say a kind word and find connections with folks. But I realize now that, seriously, it took the time and energy of a job! Maybe a 6 hr a week job?
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I'm not thinking about it so much, like "I can't see IG, I'm not on IG."

I got a nice email from a newsletter subscriber about how she's off social media and was glad to get my email. Emails, texts, WhatsApp messages and calls are more important forms of communication now.

Week 3:
Realization: I made a choice to make my phone irresistible. 

(Related: We're all addicted to the smartphone slot machines in our pockets. Great read! (Also, *face palm*.))

Checking in on IG once a week is like checking our mailbox less frequently. Because we pay all our bills online, nothing urgent is missed. I'm not responding to comments lightning fast, but nothing so far has needed an immediate response, anyway. It's all good.

It's easy for me to 'zone out' on Instagram. Just because I'm not on it doesn't mean I don't have plenty of 'replacements'. I find myself hooked on YouTube and rediscovering blogs I'd forgotten about.

Week 4:
This feels pretty normal now.

I have checked a few favorite feeds through Chrome, but because it's so annoying to look through on my phone it doesn't become a rabbit hole I fall into.

Did fall into a rabbit hole accessing FB through my browser on my phone. Endless scrolling before bed...blah, not the best feeling.

Week 5 & Week 6:
Not much to note! Being off IG feels freeing. I'd meant to post once a week during my fast (let's be honest, primarily to assure myself that I wasn't missing out on any incredible professional opportunities), but opening the app the last couple of Wednesdays has left me feeling overwhelmed and not sure what to say.

Final thoughts

Life became simpler without Instagram.

I wasted less time. I had more creative ideas. I had fewer regrets at the end of the day.

Yet, I've heard from so many of you in the Brave Self Care community who are still thinking about a Self Care Tip of the Day I shared on IG Stories, who feel encouraged by what I write, and who just plain enjoy being connected on Instagram. And when I can engage in a healthy way, I feel the same way!

I'm thinking about how to re-engage, and I sure don't have all the answers.

I'd love to hear from you...

Have you ever done a social media fast? What did you learn from it?
How do you enjoy social media without letting it take over your life?

If you have 2 mins to hit the 'Comments' link below and let me know, that would be awesome!