Why I Quit Social Media for 30 Days?

?? My Social Media Detox Journey ??

Five years ago, if someone had told me I’d need a social media detox someday, I would have laughed it off ??. I believed I had so much control over my habits that I’d never reach a point where a detox would be necessary.

But here I am today, sharing the reality: Yes, I had to do a social media detox.

I used to spend less than five minutes a day on social media. However, over time, that number gradually crept up to 1–1.5 hours daily ?. Initially, I justified this by following people I believed would add value to my career or life. But soon, it expanded to entertainment ?? and eventually became an ingrained part of my routine.

The result? I was losing 1–1.5 hours every single day. Some might think that’s not a big deal, but when you do the math, that’s nearly one full workweek every month! ??

Fortunately, I’ve always been conscious about optimizing my time, and I caught myself early ???♂?. But I noticed the same patterns in people around me—family, friends, and colleagues—who struggled to break free from this cycle.

One of my Gen Z designer friends admitted to spending 4.5 hours daily on Instagram ??. Over time, he started feeling purposeless and believed he had hit a creative block ????.

As a designer working on various products, I understand why this happens. The apps we’re addicted to are intentionally designed to hook us ??. Major social platforms invest heavily in design and product teams with one key goal: “How can we keep users engaged longer?”

The longer you stay on these apps, the more ads you see, and the more likely you are to make impulsive choices ??. While this approach benefits businesses, it comes at the expense of users’ mental well-being ????.

My Detox Process ????

Here’s what I did during my detox:

• ?? Uninstalled social media apps from my phone for 30+ days.
• ?? Unfollowed accounts that have disturbing communications or those talk about only themselves without adding any value.
• ?? Removed followers who wouldn’t resonate with the content I share.
• ?? Dedicated time to reading books and working on personal projects.
• ???????? Spent more time with family.

Post-Detox Changes ??

After the detox, I made these adjustments:

• ??? Limited social media access to my computer and kept only essential apps on my phone.
• ?? Focused more on content creation than consumption.
• ? Allocated a 10-minute daily slot to check for updates and respond to messages.

The Results ??

The detox was transformative. I felt rejuvenated, vibrant, and mentally lighter ?. My cognitive load reduced, and I experienced a newfound sense of freedom. It was as if I had rolled back five years in terms of mental clarity and creative energy ????.

A Call for Mindful Media Use ??

It’s disheartening to see how curiosity, a fundamental human trait, is being exploited ??. However, I believe it’s time for all of us to adopt mindful media consumption habits and incorporate regular social media detox practices ??.

This small change can lead to a more fulfilling and productive life. If you’ve been considering a detox, let this be your nudge. Trust me, you’ll feel the difference ??.

?? What’s your relationship with social media like? Have you tried a detox? Let’s discuss in the comments below! ????