Why I Needed a Break From Everything
In this article we are going to talk about why and how I Quit Social Media and Embraced Minimalism.
It all started with a quiet frustration. You know, the kind that slowly builds up in the background until one day, it explodes into a full-blown meltdown. That was me.
I was scrolling endlessly on Instagram, checking stories I didn’t care about, comparing my life to strangers, and buying things I didn’t need because an influencer said it was a “must-have.” My room was a mess. My mind felt louder than ever. Notifications were like little electric shocks every few minutes. I couldn’t focus. I couldn’t breathe. I was tired of pretending everything was okay.
That night, I made a decision. I was going offline. No social media. No random online shopping. No digital noise. I also packed up half my belongings into boxes — things I hadn’t used in months. I wanted to live with less, both digitally and physically.
I didn’t know what to expect. But I knew something had to change.
Starting the Challenge — Cutting Off the Noise
I didn’t make a big announcement. No dramatic “I’m leaving Instagram” post. I just quietly deleted the apps from my phone. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, even YouTube. Gone. I turned off all notifications. I unplugged.
Then I looked around my room. I had four pairs of similar jeans, 10 half-used notebooks, three lamps I never turned on, and a drawer full of tangled wires I hadn’t touched in years. Why?
I started boxing things. If I hadn’t used it in the last 90 days, it went in. Books I’d never read. Decor I bought to impress guests. Clothes I wore once for a selfie. It was like my life was full of things that didn’t matter. And I was tired of the clutter — physical and mental.
I was ready to see what happened when everything extra was removed.
Week 1 & 2: Withdrawal, Restlessness, and Doubt
The first week was brutal.
My fingers kept reaching for my phone out of habit. I felt like I was missing out. What were my friends posting? What if I got a DM? What if people thought I was ignoring them?
At the same time, my room looked oddly empty. Minimalism wasn’t just about having fewer things — it was like staring into a mirror that showed me what I was avoiding. Silence is loud when you’re not used to it.
There were moments I almost redownloaded the apps. I missed the quick dopamine hits. I missed the noise. But then I’d remind myself: This is supposed to feel uncomfortable. Growth usually does.
By week two, something started to shift. Slowly.
Week 3: Something Changed Inside Me
I started waking up without immediately grabbing my phone. Mornings felt slower, softer. I had more time.
I picked up a book I’d abandoned two years ago. I started writing down random thoughts in a journal. I cleaned my kitchen without music or podcasts in the background. I just was — present, unbothered.
Minimalism gave me space, and social media detox gave me peace.
Without the constant pull of comparison, I began noticing things I liked about myself. I wasn’t dressing for Instagram. I was dressing for comfort. I wasn’t buying because of a trend. I was questioning every purchase.
It felt… real.
Week 4: Clarity, Confidence, and a Whole New Vibe
By the last week, I was more centered than I had been in years.
I had time to talk to people face-to-face, write longer messages to old friends, take walks without thinking of posting about it. I noticed the trees. The sunlight. My breath. I wasn’t rushing anymore.
My room? Clean, calming, intentional.
My mind? Focused. Less anxious.
It wasn’t a perfect transformation, but it was a profound one.
I stopped chasing the idea of being “seen” online. I started seeing myself.
What I Learned from Living With Less (and Without Likes)
H3: You Find Out What Really Matters
When the noise is gone, you realize what you miss — and what you don’t. I didn’t miss the feeds or the likes. I missed meaningful conversations and deep thinking.
H3: You Become a Conscious Consumer
Minimalism isn’t just about throwing things out of your home. It’s about decluttering your decisions. I now ask myself: “Do I really need this? Or am I just bored or trying to fill a void?”
H3: Mental Health Improves
Studies support this. Research from the University of Pennsylvania shows that limiting social media use improves well-being and reduces depression. I lived it. My anxiety reduced. My sleep improved.
H3: Time Becomes Yours Again
No more endless scrolling. No more getting lost in a reel rabbit hole. I reclaimed hours of my day.
Will I Go Back to Social Media?
Yeah… I think I will. But on my own terms now.
I’m not disappearing forever. I just don’t want to scroll like a robot anymore. I’ve shut off every single notification. I don’t even check my phone in the mornings now. When I do log in, it’s quick. Once a day. No doomscrolling.
I went through my follow list too. Gone are all the accounts that made me feel like I wasn’t enough. No more chasing fake perfection. If something makes me feel anxious, I just unfollow. No second thoughts.
This whole thing taught me one big lesson — peace is a choice. And so is chaos. The digital stuff I let into my life? It better be worth it. Otherwise, it doesn’t belong.
I want my online life to feel like my room does now — clean, real, and mine. Not crowded with noise I didn’t ask for.
- Delete social apps for 7 days and see how it feels.
- Box up things you haven’t used in 90 days — revisit in 30 days.
- Journal your thoughts daily. Track the change.
- Be okay with discomfort — it means something is shifting.
- Tell one close friend or family member so they understand your space.
FAQs
Q1: So… does quitting social media really make you happier?
Honestly, yeah. I felt calmer, clearer, and more present. No constant comparing. Just more time to actually live instead of scroll.
Q2: Can going minimalist actually help with anxiety?
Definitely. Less stuff = less chaos. When my space got clearer, so did my head. It’s not magic, but it seriously helps.
Q3: What if I need social media for my job?
Totally valid. Use it, but don’t let it use you. Schedule time for work-related stuff and stay off the personal feed spiral.
Q4: Will I lose friends if I quit social media?
Maybe a few. But the real ones? They’ll check in, text you, call you. It’s about quality, not quantity.
Q5: Is it weird to go back after taking a break?
Not at all. It’s like resetting your brain. You’ll come back with better habits, more awareness, and way less pressure.
Final Thoughts
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or just lost in the noise — try this. Not because it’s trendy. But because you deserve peace.
Living with less gave me more of what I needed: clarity, space, time, joy. Quitting social media helped me stop pretending, start feeling, and truly see my life. Try and stay out of the rush and buzz and the noise that is irritating you from the inside. We all have become the gadget freaks now which is not good for us or the generations to come.
You don’t need to throw everything away or disappear forever. But maybe, just maybe, the life you’re chasing is already within you — under the noise, behind the feed, beyond the clutter.
You just need to look how you can detach yourself from these for a bit in the hole day and you will feel the difference we spend so much time on the social media just looking what others think about us and did they like our post or not trust me all the will not matter once you find the peace within yourself.
It really does not matter what other think of us because it no matter how hard you try you cannot make everybody happy and the people who are jealous of you will always try to put you down and feel happy about it.
So, focus on yourself.
