Stepping away to breathe: How a 5-Day Digital Detox May be just What You Need

How a 5 day social media break might be just what you need as a busy mom

Recently, I took a five day social break. It was the first time EVER that I deleted all of the social media apps off my phone. Good bye: Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, Meta Business Suite, Lemon8, and Threads…Okay, but seriously, why do I need six social media apps?! When did that happen?

Let’s talk about WHY I did took a social media break, how I did it, and why you may want to consider it too.

The Why: For the most part, it wasn’t because I was going down the comparison tunnel or worried about posting on the regular or felt like social media had become bad for my mental health. It was primarily because my phone was going everywhere with me and I had just gotten in such a habit of using “the scroll” to fill the silence. I mean, seriously, when did having our phone in the bathroom with us become normal? Or the fact that I personally couldn’t seem to NOT open my apps when I was waiting for something to load on my computer at work. So, since I had a vacation coming up, a friend of mine suggested I just delete them for a bit and take a true BREAK. In my head I answered (because who doesn’t talk to themselves), with a “why the h*ll not” and took the plunge. So, on a Wednesday night, I saved all my pre-drafted content and said goodbye to the apps that night so I could start fresh in the morning.

For me, I had to truly DELETE them. In the past, I have tried just removing them off my home page and silencing notifications, but inevitably when I am bored, I will find myself scrolling through all my apps to get that taste of social media.

Before I tell you how it went, here are three reasons why you should consider it for yourself:

1. Increased Productivity – as you will see in my Day 2 revelation, by stepping away from social media for five days, you'll free up valuable time and mental space. Without the distractions of endless scrolling and notifications, you can focus more on your priorities, whether it's work, personal projects, or spending quality time with loved ones.

2. Improved Mental Health – Social media can sometimes be overwhelming, leading to feelings of comparison or anxiety. If you are an individual with a regular monthly cycle, take stock as to when you feel the comparison monster creep up. Is it the same time each month? Maybe that’s the time you should take a break the most.  In general, there have been a ton of studies on how social media can impact your mental health so if that’s you, know that you are not alone! By taking a break, You might find yourself feeling more relaxed, centered, and at peace during your time away.

3. Being Present in Real-Life Connections – While social media can help us stay connected with others, it can also create a sense of disconnection from real-life interactions. By taking a break, you can redirect your focus to building deeper and more meaningful relationships with the people around you. As you’ll see, I chose to take this break during a vacation time where I knew I wanted to be present with family and friends and I now know this will be a regular practice for me!

So how did my break go? To me, it' breaks down to three stages:

Day 1: Wait, did it happen if I can’t share it?

Ever heard the age old question does a tree still make noise in the forest when it falls if no one is there to hear it? That’s how Day 1 felt. For someone who has had some sort of business related to social media since 2018, Day 1 was the hardest. I am used to sharing snip bits of my day on social media and it’s become second nature. Stories on Instagram have never been hard for me and I love connecting with people and making friends through social media (IG is the place I hang most regular). So on a Thursday, when I went and did a Pilates session with a business bestie turned friend and got a facial, I was so bummed I couldn’t share in the self-care! I even voice memo’d one of my fellow business owners who had also talked about taking a break on Voxer how weird it felt to not be able to share in the small things. Multiple times on Day 1 I found myself reaching for the apps to share about a moment or a thought and it felt weird to not be ‘ever present’. If you aren’t one who shows up stories everyday, or you don’t run a small business, you may not get this feeling, but this was my biggest take away from day 1.

Taking a 5 day social media break

Day 2: Well now what do I do with my time?

On day 2, my brain started to get optimistic about all the new found time I had on my hands! When you spend over an hour a day on social media on the regular, you find yourself looking for another project to fill the time (p.s. REST is hard for me and is a skill I am learning and practicing everyday).  Opening up my Gallery app on my phone, I noticed I had a legit 3,000+ photos. It was time for what I now lovingly call the “Brain Dump of Joy”. Check out how to do it herebut that’s what I set out to do with my new found free time. Not only did I work on a project that felt amazing to get done, but Day 2 I spent less time worrying about not posting, and took pictures of the family just for myself.Hello new found time and presence!  

Day 3-5:  The sweet spot

When was the last time you put down your phone and forgot about it for hours? When was the last time you felt truly present in your life? That’s what I call the sweet spot of days 3-5 for me. I spent time on the lake, on the paddleboard, hanging with my girl, working on my business, and just being PRESENT. I also felt calmer and less anxious throughout that week (maybe that was also the vacation talking). You don’t realize how something has eeked into every area of your life until it’s gone. By the end of day 5, I was 100% a believer of taking true regular social media breaks... Of being able to just BE without feeling the need to be present or “on” for my business.  I WILL be doing another break again in August when I go on vacation again and honestly, I can’t wait!

So I challenge you, when was the last time you felt fully present? When was the last time you decided to just be with yourself and your family instead of with the rest of the world in tow on your phone? When was the last time you didn’t go looking for your phone every second you had a piece of quiet in your day? When was the last time you found yourself with extra time in the day? Try it (go at least 3 days) and let me know what you think!