In the beginning of 2022 I, like many others, took a take a look at the yr forward and tried to slender my concentrate on setting a selected intention. I wasn’t apprehensive about what I had achieved or what I had but to perform however moderately the course I wished to go.
For me, I wished this yr to be all about breaking away from what was hindering me and breaking via to new ranges of my private {and professional} life. Merely put, I wished to get unstuck and since breakthroughs don’t simply “occur” to most of us, I knew I wanted to take motion.
So, to help this shift in the direction of one thing new, I made a decision to let go and quick from one thing totally different every month with a purpose to interrupt my each day patterns and reveal something that is likely to be holding me again.
I wished to show off auto-pilot, be extra conscious of my motivations and my hope was that by eradicating one thing I used to be leaning on too closely, I might get a brand new perspective on adjustments I may implement in key areas of my life.
To be clear, the aim behind every month’s quick was to not deprive myself or to make some massive sacrifice to drive a desired end result.
It wasn’t a brand new weight loss plan or publicity stunt to realize a number of followers. Relatively, it was to make easy adjustments that might result in a much bigger impression on my general well being and well-being.
In a world the place hustle culture screams we take huge motion, I knew there needed to be a option to make change a delicate and therapeutic course of – and that’s precisely what occurred.
The Social Media Quick
Regardless that I didn’t contemplate myself a lot of a scroller, I knew social media would pop up in some unspecified time in the future throughout this yr of letting go.
But when it actually wasn’t a battle, then why was I hesitating when it got here time to hit “delete?”
Whereas I don’t typically join social media to my id as an individual, I DO use it closely to help my enterprise.
I took a while to do some soul looking out and I noticed that I used to be nervous about stepping away out of worry of lacking out on some unknown potential consumer.
Now, I’m NOT about to dwell and work out of worry, so I knew I needed to let go immediately.
Actually, I wasn’t anticipating something profound after I hit submit on my “BRB IG” put up letting my group know I used to be off for the month and the right way to attain me.
Possibly I might get a bit extra time right here and there however in spite of everything, since I felt “no person” was seeing my posts because of Mr. Algorithm (I name him Al for brief), I assumed this social media quick most likely wouldn’t make a distinction in the long run.
Oh, how flawed I used to be!
Right here are some things I realized after I took a month lengthy social media break
Being extra current wasn’t a direct response
Admittedly, I wasn’t immediately extra current when deleting my social apps. It took a number of days to detox however after I did, it was fantastic. I used to be capable of breathe deeper, get a little bit extra relaxation in between duties and be extra current in all of the methods.
My eyes opened extra towards what might be coming my method moderately than alternatives I may need missed with a well-timed put up or story.
Getting out of the behavior of reaching for my cellphone – even to snap an image for a later put up – allowed me to essentially see what was in entrance of me and benefit from the fullness of the second.
Social media isn’t the one avenue for progress in enterprise
I began the month afraid of lacking out on enterprise connections however throughout my on-line absence, I celebrated reserving my largest consumer thus far, I created a brand new program that brings me JOY to supply my group and I introduced on a brand new group member to get the help I wanted for the speedy progress.
As a result of my arms weren’t gripped so tight on what I believed needs to be the subsequent step, I used to be able to obtain sudden alternatives with open arms.
Extra folks see your posts than you suppose
After I posted about my hiatus, family and friends rapidly reached out to verify I used to be okay.
Was I being bullied? Was I burnt out or drowning as compared? I used to be blissful to report this was merely a launch moderately than a cry for assist.
My intention with taking a break wasn’t a check to see how many individuals really cared however it grew to become evident that our digital communities do maintain us within the circles with our favourite folks.
A social media quick wasn’t life-altering however it was nice
Hitting pause on my social media accounts didn’t really feel like the massive weight elevate I anticipated. You’ve doubtless seen examples of influencers taking social media breaks and or leaving altogether and for those who’re like me, it appeared to lead to an all-or-nothing method.
And in case you are additionally somebody who participates on social platforms to construct group, create content material and develop or be current for your enterprise, you already know it might really feel like a job at instances.
I incorrectly assumed that stepping away would go away a gaping gap in my day.
What I noticed was that I had been attempting to shove it into pockets of time meant for different duties so I felt like I used to be on all of it day lengthy.
By eradicating this activity from my stack of multi-tasking, I used to be capable of focus higher and get different tasks completed extra effectively.
True group on social media is alive and nicely
I used to be shocked at how folks continued to achieve out in the course of the month saying they seen my absence and have been used to seeing my household and me in my common posts. When would I come again? Am I gone without end? How are my youngsters doing? Was I positive I used to be okay?
The constant check-ins led me to guage how I join with buddies on and offline and solidified my want to return again to social media after the month ended, however this time with extra intentional content material.
Have you ever thought of or been nervous about taking break day social media?
I encourage you to look at why that feels so scary after which do a social media quick anyway! I’m grateful to return again refreshed, refocused, and realigned and also you need to have that, too.