Necessity of Social Media Breaks
One major area of radical responsibility we all have is our mental and spiritual soundness. It’s not easy to be mindful about what we allow into our hearts and minds, let alone make restrictions. But it’s our responsibility alone to create a place within ourselves that fosters happiness and health.
I spent about 2 years building a small health coaching business. I was completely new to the world of using social media for marketing. It was a very unique venture selling my own life experience with health and weight loss. The line between my own identity, my life, and being a product got very blurred.
I was constantly thinking about how to make each moment of my life “sellable”. And on top of that, I was meticulously critiquing or even criticizing every choice I made. Knowing that thousands of eyes would see my choices and then be making a judgment about my effectiveness as a coach was a lot of pressure. I was more concerned with being “sellable” than with being myself.
I think we all feel that. It doesn’t matter if you have a business. At some point, you feel that pressure to “look” a certain way. Maybe you want to show that you are happy or healthy. Or maybe that you have a great relationship, a fun life, or just look beautifully aesthetic. Call it “sellable” or just appealing, either way, when we post we want to be consumed.
After reaching a mental and emotional breaking point, I finally made the call to step away from marketing my life and even just the joy of sharing it. I realized I hadn’t dealt with a lot of my own insecurities, choices, or people-pleasing. The time away gave me so much freedom. Freedom to choose and not be judged, act and not be criticized, make mistakes and not be overwhelmed. And best of all, I have just been able to enjoy moments just to enjoy them.
And on the other side of this coin, I avoided scrolling through content that wasn’t related to my interests. I have a separate Instagram that has nothing but my hobbies in the feed. I don’t follow friends or influencers, just profiles that share helpful content about things I enjoy. If you find yourself walking away from your time spent on social media deflated, defeated, angry, stressed, self-critical, or even just not better than when you came, take a break.
Your life is lived out there where your phone doesn't have to go. Your life is lived for you and the people right next to you. Don’t let everyone else on the internet live your life for you. And if you are like me with tendencies to compare, be self-critical, or even people-please, make a habit of creating boundaries with social media.
No one is going to create health in your life for you. It’s our responsibility to make the call when something is harming us or simply not making us better. Take care of your mind, take care of your spirit. Everything else will flow from there.
Since I have been “away” from social media, I have been so much happier. I feel freedom to just let things happen as they will. I don’t care how my life looks to other people. I have been able to focus on slow growth in my health. I make mistakes and don't feel the need to wonder what other people will think of me.
This time away is what it takes to have the ability to use and consume social media responsibly. I had to grow and deal with some of my flaws and weaknesses. With my newfound peace, confidence, and boundaries with social media, I can enjoy it again. And I won’t allow it to become something that takes from me. It is a wonderful tool and a fun outlet and should never become a weapon we use against ourselves.
Is it time for you to take a break? Do you feel pressure? Do you feel judged? Do you feel like you or your life just aren’t what you want? Take the time to work those things out. If there is something you actually don’t like about yourself or your life, that’s okay! Decide what YOU want based on you and God’s will. Now decide what your next step will be then go out and do it! Take hold of your own life and live it, my friend. With your own style, flair, and even flaws.
