I so so want to come off social media. My belief at the moment is not being connected to friends and family back home and not seeing their photos of their little ones growing up. But also I can’t help but think substack is just another app that you pick your phone up and distract yourself with rather than being present with your kids no? I know I find myself so drawn to this app just as much! Great read thank you x
You're not wrong! The entire phone itself is really the problem. Dopamine hits with text, calendar, even email notifications too. I've got my phone down to as bare bones as I care to for now, minimalist phone app, all social media removed (anything with short form content basically) and I often put it in the cabinet and set myself a timer to be phone free with the kids. Currently catching up real quick before bed, where I usually read with my Kindle. Technology balance is a dance, and a journey, that's for sure!
I’ve been off of social media for months. I don’t even remember when I left now. I had a traumatic birth and the algorithms were catering to me in all the wrong ways. I am way happier and healthier without it. But I definitely struggle as someone in the traditional publishing world because it feels like I “have to” get back on at some point for the sake of my next book. We shall see… 👀😵💫
Yes that’s my struggle too, mostly — the lure (and necessity) of platform building. And feeling like the work I’ve already done there would be going to waste!
Exactly! I’m afraid to totally let go of those relationships and connections. And I do really miss those parts of social media. The FOMO is real. But the way it has forced me to connect with people off socials has been really sweet. It’s a constant back and forth for me.
I left insta a year ago and do not miss it. It was just constant crunchy mom accounts selling me courses on problems I didn’t know existed. Like I need a class to feed my baby solids? Yeah, no. I don’t miss it!
Thanks for writing this!! I realized something had to change when I was spending time on instagram rather than watching my baby daughter grow up. Ok, it wasn’t that extreme, but I realized I want her time as a baby to be remembered subconsciously as her mama looking into her eyes, reading real books, etc, not mama on her phone on the couch. I loved sharing photos of her and doing “month updates” but I am now happy to provide her with more privacy and not share her on the internet for hundreds of people to see. If anyone has the honour of knowing her in real life, they can see her cuteness in person!!
Been off of Instagram this whole month. Initially I was thinking just September, but I decided I’m extending it til past the election. I take regular breaks but am really seeing the fruit this time around😮💨 It feels really scary to think of leaving completely. I always come back from breaks with new boundaries… but then it just gets toxic and too much all over again! Thx for sharing your experience
Just deleted my apps today after a perspective shifting car accident the other day. I will not miss a moment of my kids while feeding my attention to an algorithm. I’ll work on finding my dopamine elsewhere.
Could not agree more either this!! I’ve been of for almost 3 years and my life drastically changed when I stopped consuming. As a stay at home mom I always thought I had to be there and earn $$ and what was wrong with me that I couldn’t do any of those things?! Oh the horror. Now I am just playing mom, enjoying life in our bubble and it’s the best
I so so want to come off social media. My belief at the moment is not being connected to friends and family back home and not seeing their photos of their little ones growing up. But also I can’t help but think substack is just another app that you pick your phone up and distract yourself with rather than being present with your kids no? I know I find myself so drawn to this app just as much! Great read thank you x
You're not wrong! The entire phone itself is really the problem. Dopamine hits with text, calendar, even email notifications too. I've got my phone down to as bare bones as I care to for now, minimalist phone app, all social media removed (anything with short form content basically) and I often put it in the cabinet and set myself a timer to be phone free with the kids. Currently catching up real quick before bed, where I usually read with my Kindle. Technology balance is a dance, and a journey, that's for sure!
I’ve been off of social media for months. I don’t even remember when I left now. I had a traumatic birth and the algorithms were catering to me in all the wrong ways. I am way happier and healthier without it. But I definitely struggle as someone in the traditional publishing world because it feels like I “have to” get back on at some point for the sake of my next book. We shall see… 👀😵💫
Yes that’s my struggle too, mostly — the lure (and necessity) of platform building. And feeling like the work I’ve already done there would be going to waste!
Exactly! I’m afraid to totally let go of those relationships and connections. And I do really miss those parts of social media. The FOMO is real. But the way it has forced me to connect with people off socials has been really sweet. It’s a constant back and forth for me.
I left insta a year ago and do not miss it. It was just constant crunchy mom accounts selling me courses on problems I didn’t know existed. Like I need a class to feed my baby solids? Yeah, no. I don’t miss it!
Thanks for writing this!! I realized something had to change when I was spending time on instagram rather than watching my baby daughter grow up. Ok, it wasn’t that extreme, but I realized I want her time as a baby to be remembered subconsciously as her mama looking into her eyes, reading real books, etc, not mama on her phone on the couch. I loved sharing photos of her and doing “month updates” but I am now happy to provide her with more privacy and not share her on the internet for hundreds of people to see. If anyone has the honour of knowing her in real life, they can see her cuteness in person!!
Been off of Instagram this whole month. Initially I was thinking just September, but I decided I’m extending it til past the election. I take regular breaks but am really seeing the fruit this time around😮💨 It feels really scary to think of leaving completely. I always come back from breaks with new boundaries… but then it just gets toxic and too much all over again! Thx for sharing your experience
Just deleted my apps today after a perspective shifting car accident the other day. I will not miss a moment of my kids while feeding my attention to an algorithm. I’ll work on finding my dopamine elsewhere.
Could not agree more either this!! I’ve been of for almost 3 years and my life drastically changed when I stopped consuming. As a stay at home mom I always thought I had to be there and earn $$ and what was wrong with me that I couldn’t do any of those things?! Oh the horror. Now I am just playing mom, enjoying life in our bubble and it’s the best