I deleted Instagram last month. I’d been planning to get rid of the app for a while but I could never bring myself to do it. My attachment to my feed was unhealthy and I knew it. The hours I spent on mindless scrolling increased every week. And the more I indulged, the more anxious and unhappy I became.
I told myself I needed Instagram for work, and I do. I need it to gather content and gain inspiration. However, I was spending more time on nonsense than I was on actual work. So after being challenged by a friend, I hit the delete button. My life has changed in 3 major ways since I deleted Instagram. Here they are:
1. I’m less anxious
I haven’t been off Instagram in years. It was a constant in my life and if I’m being honest, I started suffering from FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). The pandemic and all the extra drama that came with 2020 made it difficult to post as frequently as I used to.
So everyday I would scroll and stress about losing my audience. Then I started to compare myself with others and it made me feel like I was behind in life. Since I deleted Instagram, I find myself feeling less rushed and more content. I’m happy for all the successes people are recording but now I have more time to work towards my own goals.
2. I’m reading more
For the first few days after deleting Instagram, I would automatically reach for my phone to check the app as usual. Eventually, I realized that I needed to fill up my time with something else. So I subscribed to Medium and it’s been one of the best decisions of my life. I’m reading more than I have in a long time and filling my mind with important and valuable information. Instagram can be a great source of inspiration, no doubt, but it can also be a huge distraction.
3. I’m getting more work done
Instagram, and social media as a whole, is a bubble. It makes you feel like you’re achieving something when you might actually just be wasting time. Deleting Instagram has left me with a lot of free time. I was spending almost 2 hours per day on the app, sometimes more. That’s an extra two hours that I have to work on my goals and focus on my life.
There’s a reason why Instagram stats such as likes and follows are called vanity metrics. It’s because in the grand scheme of things, they aren’t really important. Social media is a great way to connect with people, build a brand and make impact. Nothing can change my mind about that. However, it’s important to take a step back sometimes and remember that it’s not real.
READ MORE: Why you shouldn’t be afraid of dying before your time
To be honest, I don’t miss Instagram. I will eventually download the app again but at least now I know I can live without it. Hopefully, when I do go back I will remember the lessons I learned during my time away. Deleting Instagram is one of the best decisions I’ve made this year. Will you try it?
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