Leaving insta update

It’s been a month since I announced leaving Instagram and I wanted to give a little update! I know I’ve been so curious to hear what life is like after a departure like that. It sounds so dramatic, but life really is different and today I wanted to share how.

1. I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THE DECISION.

I want to start here because I’m surprised how great it feels. I felt really confident going into this but didn’t know if I’d feel FOMO so bad that I’d regret the decision. The truth is, I KNOW I’m missing out, but I don’t FEAR it. I feel so content with what I’m receiving in return that there’s no fear. I talked to all three gals I mentioned in my original post as I left and they all pretty much said “you’re gonna love it!” and I do! The thought of going back actually makes me feel a weight and heaviness I didn’t realize I carried before.

2. I FEEL FREE FROM EXPECTATIONS.

This may sound vague but I didn’t realize how many expectations Instagram seemed to put on me. Much of this was my own doing, but now stepping back, I find it easier to resist it. Just a few examples: I don’t feel expected to address things. This has never been a BIG issue for me because I stay away from current events, but many authors/influencers/biz owners feel the need to address every natural disaster, leader misstep or tragedy that happens. What does so-and-so think about this? Why aren’t they addressing it? I can just have these convos in the privacy of my home instead and not overanalyze what to say. And even though I don’t do sponsored posts, I do like to share things I love and even sharing things people send that I genuinely love can create this expectation that keeps me in the app. It’s been nice to not have to share everything right away and instead add to the list of what I want to share in our monthly peptalk.

3. CREATIVITY IS FLOWING FASTER.

I honestly have no idea what other people are sharing and part of me has thought, what if I do something someone just talked about without even knowing? But a bigger part of me is exploding with ideas and content that I know are from my own spiritual journey and the long-form content I’m reading. I have so many ideas y’all. We planned our blog calendar for the next 4 months and I’m so excited for what’s to come! Sign up here to get notifications when new blog posts go live (separate from our monthly peptalk).

4. I FEEL MORE LIKE A WRITER.

My time has been spent researching future content, studying Scripture slowly, and brainstorming more than ever before. We know the writer’s life isn’t tucked away in a cabin, but I am so grateful to get moments that feel just a little bit like it is!

5. I’M REACHING OUT TO MORE PEOPLE INTENTIONALLY.

I honestly do miss being able to keep up with people so easily but that void has pushed me to text people to check in on them in a personal way and make more time for seeing people face-to-face. It’s amazing how more shallow interactions kept me “full” to where I didn’t really need one-on-one communication but now that I’m lacking that, I feel “hungrier” and want something real.

6. I HAVE LESS DECISION FATIGUE.

Should I hop on? Do I have time to check DMs? Should I share a video on this? It’s just all gone. I don’t want to oversimplify it, but I think that’s why it was so important to me to announce my departure. It was a final decision and once I deleted it, I don’t even have the habit of going to open Instagram when I unlock my phone which truly shocked me.

7. I’VE PULLED OUT MY PHONE LESS TO DOCUMENT.

I am still taking some photos for myself but I’m amazed how many times I’d pull out my phone to take a photo not for myself but because of the “content” aspect. Here’s one of the only pics I took this month of me and Vana’s “adventure”. 

8. I’M JOURNALING CONSISTENTLY.

For the first time since having kids, I’m writing out prayers nearly every day. As much as I had been using my prompted prayers section of my journal or just praying in my mind on a pretty consistent basis, I would write maybe 1-3 prayers a week. That wasn’t bad at all, but I’m LOVING having time to write prayers more often. (If you want to write daily prayers grab our Signature Prayer Journal which features monthly prompts too.) I used to feel like I needed to wrap up my quiet time in the morning so I could post on social before the girls got up, and not having to cut my time with the Lord short has been so nice! 

Everything hasn’t been perfect.

• I’ve had to hop on Instagram through my desktop for work things which I’m ok with because it feels more like an app I use for actual work than how it had become–something I convince myself is for work, but mindless check with no real purpose.
• I’m not totally free from the news spiral. I still check news sites more than I want to (thinking of doing a little a 7-day fast from news just to curb the habit) BUT it’s been much less rambly through my day where it just feels like constant noise and is more concentrated to once a day. 

Have any questions about something I didn’t cover? Leave them below! 

Also, so many of you have shared that my post was a catalyst as you contemplated leaving social media. To each one of you that messaged me that, I’ve been praying for God to guide you so clearly as you make that decision. 

I love what Caroline O shared with me.

“Wow! I left Instagram this past December & the amount of ground I have won back in my own mind & home is mind-blowing. I’m glad to see I’m not the only one (FOMO, anyone?! ).”

The amount of ground I have won back in my own mind and home. I love that! It feels so crazy that ditching one little app (whether it’s IG like it is for me or Twitter or FB) can help us take back ground that has just slipped away so easily as it wins our attention. 

Jessie decided to leave Instagram too and I love how she put everything into words in this blog post. If you need more motivation, check it out here!

Someone recommended this documentary to me. Has anyone seen it? 

If you’re on the fence about the role social media needs to play in your life and need some prayers, drop your name below and I’ll be praying for you!!