Social Sanity in an Insta WorldSample

Several years ago, I took my first extended break from social media after noticing some concerning symptoms in my own life:

• My social media apps consumed an ever-increasing amount of time and attention. While I waited for things, I instinctively grabbed my phone to fill the seconds.
• It was tough to focus on and enjoy books or longer-form reading. I’d read a paragraph or two and catch myself skimming or letting my thoughts wander.
• It was hard to complete projects that required deep thought, problem-solving skills, or extended research.
• I often felt scattered and unable to complete daily tasks efficiently.
• Sometimes my mind was in a fog, processing dozens of thoughts but only scratching the surface of each one.
• I had low-level anxiety that wasn’t attached to a specific circumstance and felt a murmur of dissatisfaction and overwhelm with many aspects of life.
• Prayer and Bible study were becoming less exciting and engaging.
• My enjoyment of the outdoors and doing simple activities were diminished.
• I felt less creative and less excited about learning.

While it would be an oversimplification to say that social media was the direct cause of every item on this list, the connection was real. Today, with the addition of new boundaries and habits, many of those symptoms are gone. I look back on that time and see that my brain and heart were struggling. I needed to mitigate the effects of social media in my life, so I could serve Christ more faithfully and love others more fully.

So even though I’m not your mom, I want to tell you something you might need to hear: It’s okay to leave social media.

You could log out of your accounts, delete the apps off your phone, disable your profiles, and just be done. For as long as you wanted to or needed to.

For many of us, the fear of missing out is real. And if you leave Facebook, it’s true that you won’t see every update or photo. But what are we missing by never taking a break?

During my social media sabbaticals, I’ve noticed my creativity comes back. I get fresh ideas. My love for reading returns. I spend more time outdoors. I’m able to serve and care for my household more effectively.

If you’re a Christian, you already have the most important relationship and are part of the most amazing story. Even your ordinary, unseen work matters to God. You can look forward to a home in heaven, a feast with the saints, and a gazillion times infinity “years” to enjoy God. I assure you—if you delete Instagram, you’re not going to miss out.