I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve deactivated my social media accounts, only to reactivate them a few weeks or months later. Every time, I’d tell myself that this was it. I was finally done.
Read my previous posts:
Finding Balance in an Overly Connected World
I Keep Trying to Quit Social Media. Why Is It So Hard to Stay Away?
Why I’m Choosing a More Intentional Life in a World That Never Stops Sharing
And then, somehow, I’d end up back there again.
I’ve been using social media for almost two decades. That’s a long time to spend checking what everyone else is doing, sharing bits of your life, and scrolling through posts that, most of the time, have nothing to do with you.
I don’t think social media is entirely bad. I’ve learned things from it, discovered interesting people, and kept in touch with friends. But over time, I started noticing how much of my attention it was taking.
I’d open an app for a few minutes and suddenly realize I’d spent half an hour doing absolutely nothing useful. Sometimes I’d come across posts that made me compare my life with other people’s, even when I knew better.
And sometimes, I’d see old friends getting together and feel a little left out.
Accepting That Some Friendships Change
This is probably one of the harder things I’ve had to accept.
There are people I used to be close to who are now practically strangers. We’d shared so many memories, and at one point, I thought we’d always be part of each other’s lives.
But people change. Priorities change. Life happens.
I used to wonder why some friendships faded or why I wasn’t included in certain gatherings anymore. I’d be lying if I said it never bothered me.
Eventually, though, I realized that not every friendship is meant to last forever. Some people were part of a particular chapter of my life, and I can appreciate those memories without trying to bring everything back to how it used to be.
That doesn’t mean I don’t care about them anymore. I just don’t want to keep dwelling on things I can’t control.
Remembering What I Enjoy Outside the Internet
Before social media became such a big part of everyday life, I had plenty of things that kept me busy.
I loved reading, drawing, experimenting with makeup, dressing up, visiting new places, and spending time with people in person.
But somewhere along the way, I started doing less of those things.
I still enjoy some of them, but I want to make more time for them instead of automatically reaching for my phone whenever I have a free moment.
I’ve also been trying different ideas and projects over the years. Some were interesting at first but eventually lost their appeal. Others taught me things, even if I didn’t continue with them.
I’m still figuring out what I genuinely enjoy doing and what I’d be happy to stick with. Not everything has to turn into a business, a side hustle, or some grand achievement.
I actually have another personal project in mind. I might share more about it soon, but for now, I’ll keep it to myself until I figure things out.
Taking My Faith More Seriously
Another reason I want to spend less time online is that I want to focus more on my relationship with God.
I’ve always been Catholic, but I know there have been times when I wasn’t as intentional about practicing my faith as I should have been.
And I’m trying to change that by making more time for prayer, reading Scripture, attending Mass, and being grateful for what I already have.
I’m not suddenly becoming a perfect Catholic. I’m far from it, actually. I still struggle with my attitude, my thoughts, and the occasional urge to complain about things that probably don’t deserve so much of my energy.
But I’m learning.
I want my faith to influence how I live and how I treat people, not just be something I turn to when life becomes difficult.
Being Kind Without Being Naive
One thing I’ve learned from dealing with people is that being kind doesn’t mean you have to tolerate everything.
I’ve experienced disappointments, misunderstandings, and situations that made me question people’s intentions. I know I haven’t always handled things perfectly either.
But I don’t want those experiences to turn me into someone bitter or distrustful of everyone.
I can forgive people without pretending nothing happened. I can wish them well without needing to reconnect. And I can set boundaries without making a big announcement about it.
That last part is something I’m still working on.
Life Doesn’t Have to Be Posted
For now, I plan to stay away from personal social media. I’ll keep LinkedIn because it’s useful for professional connections, but I don’t feel the need to maintain the rest.
I’ll still be here on my blog, writing whenever I have something worth sharing. I enjoy having my own little space on the internet, where I can write at my own pace without worrying about algorithms or whether a post gets enough attention.
I also want to get used to enjoying things without immediately thinking about taking a photo or sharing an update.
Not everything needs an audience.
And to be clear, I’m not judging people who enjoy social media. If it works for you, that’s great. I just know that, for me, stepping away feels like the right thing to do.
A Promise I Hope to Keep
I’ve made this promise to myself before, so I know better than to make some dramatic declaration that I’m never coming back.
I might still get curious about what’s happening online. I might miss certain things. Old habits are hard to break, especially when they’ve been part of your life for almost twenty years.
But I want to give this a proper chance.
I want to spend more time doing things I enjoy, nurturing real relationships, learning about myself, and growing closer to God.
I’m not trying to disappear or become a completely different person. I just want to be more present in the life I already have.
And hopefully, this time, I’ll stick to it.
Image by Vlad Bagacian
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