I couldn’t go a full day without checking my social media. I felt left out and discouraged as I scrolled through the feed of my favorite social media accounts.
Imagine if we prayed as much as we got on Instagram or Facebook.

Those were actually the words that propelled me in to complete surrender and taking 30 days away from Social Media in April & May.  Something I truly never thought I would be able to do. I thought “If I am not on social media I will miss out!”…. “What about my blog? I really want to post on my blog!” My fighting and resistance was a clear indication it was time for a break.

Breaking an addiction.

Social media is easily an addiction. Well, I know not for you, right? You’re not addicted. I convinced myself I wasn’t either. That was until I took some time away and realized I was addicted. The first week I couldn’t believe how many times I reached for my phone to “scroll”.

Do you wake up and scroll? How about during your work day, your lunchtime, while you’re driving {gasp}, while you’re avoiding household chores, or even before you go to bed?

This is not a post to convince you to ditch social media, just to shed light on what came from a social media fast. I most certainly do not believe social media is all bad, I do however believe a break is necessary.

Sometimes the noise drowns out God’s message.

First of all, I had been hearing from the Lord to give social media a break for some time. I just chose to ignore the suggestion. We sometimes do that, don’t we? 

The weeks following my second miscarriage had brought me to so many emotional roadblocks. So many moments when I thought I was making progress and I was hit HARD emotionally by something unforeseen. I could see that social media was training me to compare my life to others and seek validation in likes and double taps.

Following my miscarriage I THOUGHT I had surrendered. I thought “eh, I’m not addicted to social media”. But I still asked, why wasn’t the Lord breaking me of the hurt and isolation I felt? I began to question myself. Was I doing enough?

April 24th while asking those questions I heard the Lord, “Sign out!”. It had been one of those days of another emotional battle, my pity party felt a little like drowning, “Will I ever? Do I measure up? When will it be my turn?”

I decided to listen. Surrender.

Disconnecting meant more time alone.

I signed out of everything. Facebook. Instagram. Snapchat. I let my mom know so she wouldn’t take offense when I wasn’t “liking” the cute dog photos she tagged me in.

I committed to spending my mornings with the Lord, instead of scrolling social media. I committed to writing my journey in a journal. I committed to spending lunchtime reading a book. I committed to decluttering my mind. I was determined to hear the Lord speak to me and open my heart.

When I was wondering, He was answering.

I just couldn’t hear with all the background noise.

My broken heart was an opportunity to grow and learn. Learning so I could live and share with others a new lifestyle I have become so fascinated with. Learning and becoming inspired by the woman God wanted me to grow in to. My time away brought refreshed inspiration and new found passion for a new way of living. I began to read books on how I could prepare for “next time” and the child God had planned for me. I became inspired by women’s health. I learned God intended this journey for me to help other women overcome heartbreak and find empowerment in holistic health. The time away helped me grow.

Is it time for you to take a break? How do you decide when it’s time to step back?

5 signs you might need a break, too

1. You can’t go a full day without checking your social media.
2. Every morning when you wake up, social media is the first thing you check.
3. You seek validation and worth by how many likes you get on social media. You feel bad if you don’t get any or as many likes as you thought you would. You check your phone constantly after you make a post to see who liked it.
4. You feel left out, discouraged, unworthy, or question who you are after you have spent time in social media.
5. You find yourself missing moments with people because you are too busy trying to capture the PERFECT photo to post.

When so-in-so seems perfect on social media… when you’re watching the highlight reel of others, it is difficult to embrace the season God has you in. The season of waiting brings great growth. Growth is so much more valuable than “perfection” or who has the “best life” on Facebook. 

When “likes” and “perfection” are getting the best of you, it might be time to consider taking a break. Take a break to see just how much you are relying on Social Media. Take a break to find self worth in things other than people liking your status updates or photos.

If you are not ready to take the full plunge and sign out today, how about a 7 day social media detox. You can take a different step for 7 days to help disconnect from social media and “likes”.

It is easy to think that we don’t need time away from social media. It is easy to believe “that’s not me, I’m in full control”. I hope you can take a moment to really consider your relationship with social media and determine if a break is necessary. If you’re waiting to hear God speak, the quietness might be exactly what you need. 

Not all social media is bad and it definitely connects us as a culture. However, not all breaks are bad either and time away can really help shift your perspective.