WHAT I LEARNED IN THE LAST 35 DAYS WITHOUT INSTAGRAM, AND WHY I'M BACK ON
I read that it takes 30 days to break a habit and I’ve broke one.
Following Memorial Day this year, I decided to detox Instagram for an array of reasons. It sounds silly, but hear me out.
I was spending too much time on that app. Any second I had some free time, I found myself glued to my phone surfing any and everything.
I was tired of people. More so tired of the energy I let people bring around me.
I had a financial goal to reach this month and I knew I could not get there if all my time was spent on Instagram.
Over this month without it, I found it very easy to get by. I thought I would literally be fiending to get back on it, but I didn’t miss it. At all! Sometimes I was wondering, what am I missing? What are my friends up to? What picture is breaking the internet currently? What news am I late on? But going without Insta brought way more realization about how strong my relationships are with the people in my life that are important. I got more phone calls from my friends and family, just checking up on me. I found myself reaching out more to see how people are and what they are up to. I even met that financial goal I needed to reach!
When I decided to detox, I didn’t give myself any hard restraints besides, stay off and and stay focused. Without Instagram, I also relied on Twitter more. I found that news hits Twitter way faster than it hits Insta. I read more books and kept up with everyday news outlets more (USA Today, NYT, The Post and WBJ). Overall, my screen time has been way down weekly, at least 20 percent.
But after much success, I’ve decided to return. Like I left it for many reasons, I’m returning for the same. I use it as an outlet for work, to keep up with some people who may be out of reach and because honestly, I enjoy it, and that is okay. I just can’t use it just for pleasure, so my plan is to use my reach in different ways. Now don’t get it twisted, I’ll still be posting my risqué photos every once in awhile, you just may find yourself learning a thing or two when you reach my page from now on.
Above all, this detox taught me more about discipline. I told myself I couldn’t get back on until I wrote this blog and I stuck to it. Got a goal you need to reach? Get on it and stay focused!
xoxo,
Mich.