Last year, I made a decision that honestly felt terrifying at the time — I took an entire year off social media. No Instagram, no Facebook, no TikTok. Nothing. And let me tell you, as a busy mom who spent her free moments scrolling, it was a drastic change. I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew I needed a break.
Let’s rewind a bit so that you can understand how I got here. For the past seven years, I’ve shown up online almost daily sharing bits and pieces of my life with the world. Outing with the family. Snapped. Tried a new restaurant. Documented. My latest grocery trip. That was captured as well. Life of a content creator and influencer.
Because of the need to constantly be on, I scrolled a lot and I had fallen into a cycle of constant comparison without even realizing it. Whenever I opened my phone, I was greeted with perfect family photos, spotless homes, and moms who seemed to have it all together. I’d look at my messy kitchen or my kids in mismatched clothes and wonder, “Why can’t I be more like them?” Without knowing it, I had become discontent with my own life because I was constantly measuring it against someone else’s highlight reel.
The Wake-Up Call I Didn’t Know I Needed
The idea of stepping away from social media wasn’t easy. In fact, I fought against it. After all, not only did I use social media to connect with friends and follow the latest trends, it was a source of income for me. I also found endless “inspiration” (i.e. more things I didn’t really need) but I digress. Deep down, I knew I was spending way too much time consumed by what others were doing, and it was leaving me feeling empty. My life was always “not enough.” So, I deleted the apps. Cold turkey.
At first, it was tough. My fingers would instinctively reach for my phone to click on those three little apps, and I found myself with more free time than I knew what to do with. After the initial shock wore off, something unexpected started to happen. I began to notice the simple joys of my own life. My kids’ laughter when we played outside, the smell of fresh coffee in the morning, and even the beauty in the chaos of a lived-in home. Without the distraction of other people’s “perfect” lives, I started seeing how beautiful my own life truly was.
Comparison Is the Thief of Joy
Looking back, I can see that social media has slowly become a breeding ground for discontentment. I was constantly comparing myself to others — how I looked, what I wore, how I parented, even how my home looked. It was exhausting, and I never quite measured up. I’d see other influencers buying the latest gadgets or redecorating their homes every season, and I felt like I needed to keep up. But the truth is, I didn’t.
Taking a break from the virtual world I created gave me the space to reflect on what really mattered. I realized that comparison had been stealing my joy. I had become so fixated on what I didn’t have or couldn’t do that I lost sight of the things that truly mattered: my family, my health, my faith. Without the constant stream of curated content, I could finally focus on my own life — and guess what? It was enough. I was enough.
Slowing Down and Finding Intentionality
Once the noise of social media was gone, I found myself slowing down. I became more intentional about how I spent my time, especially with my family. Instead of mindlessly scrolling through my phone during breakfast, I sat with my kids and actually listened to their stories, no matter how many times they told me the same thing. Instead of taking pictures of everything we did to post online, I simply enjoyed the moment. And you know what? It felt good. It felt real.
I started having deeper conversations with my husband, planning more family outings, and embracing the quiet moments. There was no pressure to document it for the world to see — it was just for us.
I also noticed how much time I gained back. Without social media eating away at my free moments, I had the space to rediscover old hobbies I had forgotten about. I started reading more books, cooking new recipes, and even catching up on that never-ending laundry pile. I got outside more, taking long walks with the kids or just sitting in the backyard, soaking in the sun. Life felt simpler, more intentional, and much less hurried.
Experiences Over Stuff
One of the biggest lessons I learned during my social media hiatus was this: Life isn’t about having the latest gadget or following the newest trend. It’s about experiences. It’s about making memories with the people you love and being present in the moment. Before my break, I used to fall into the trap of thinking I needed more “things” to feel happy. Whether it was new clothes, home decor, or even the latest iPhone, I was always looking for the next thing to buy.
But over the year, I realized that things don’t bring true joy. Sure, they might make you happy for a moment, but that feeling fades quickly, and then you’re on to the next thing. Instead, I started focusing on experiences — like family movie nights, impromptu dance parties in the living room, or simply taking a walk together. These moments filled my heart in ways that material possessions never could.
This mindset shift led me to embrace a more minimalist lifestyle. Now, I’m on a quest to simplify my life — letting go of the excess and focusing on what really matters. I’ve started decluttering my home, donating things we no longer use, and being more mindful about what we bring into our space. It’s a work in progress, but it feels incredibly freeing to live with less.
My Quest for a Minimalist Life
Living a minimalistic lifestyle isn’t about getting rid of everything. For me, it’s about making room for what truly matters — experiences, relationships, and a deeper connection with God. It’s about being content with what I have and not constantly seeking more. Taking that year off social media opened my eyes to how much I was consuming — both in terms of stuff and information — and how little of it actually added value to my life.
Now, I’m much more intentional about how I spend my time and energy. I still love a good deal, but I’ve learned that experiences — especially time spent with loved ones — are far more valuable than anything I could buy. I’m no longer chasing trends or comparing my life to someone else’s. Instead, I’m focusing on creating a life that brings me joy, peace, and fulfillment.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the pressure to keep up with the world around you, I encourage you to take a step back. Maybe you don’t need a whole year of social media, but even a short break can work wonders. Use that time to reconnect with what truly matters to you. You might just find that everything you’ve been searching for is already right in front of you.
Here’s to living with less and loving it more!
