A couple of weeks ago I did something that might sound impossible these days: I went an entire day without using my phone.
I didn’t just avoid using it — I didn’t even look at it. I pretended it didn’t exist, like it was 1995 and the world didn’t constantly beep for my attention. The main goal was to stay off social media and go “off the grid.” I hated that the first thing I did in the morning was scroll through feeds and email, and that my brain was always overstimulated by what everyone else was doing. It felt like an addiction — to my phone, and to coffee.
I wasn’t always so into social platforms. I was one of the last in my high school friend group to get a Facebook, and I never signed up for MySpace or Xanga. It all felt self-indulgent and unnecessary — and in many ways, it still does.
Then social media became everywhere. It helped grow my blog, my brand, and later the business I co-founded, Alchemy. When I ask new customers how they found us, more than 90% mention Instagram. That visibility is powerful, and I love photography, writing, food, and visual storytelling. But the networks themselves can become all-consuming. Instead of leaving Instagram inspired like I used to, I often leave feeling like I should be doing, wearing, buying, or becoming something else.
When I met my boyfriend he had no social media at all, and I loved that. He was the yin to my yang. He eventually tried Instagram and later deleted it because it felt like another form of “keeping up with the Joneses.” I can’t disagree — I’m as guilty as anyone of getting pulled in.
I enjoy Instagram and think it can be fun, but I noticed my mind growing cluttered from constantly seeing what others were doing and comparing myself to them. Suddenly I felt pressured to buy a house, try a trendy workout, marry, travel to Tulum — as if that’s what everyone cool was doing. As a blogger, there’s also this expectation to document every minute for an audience: making a recipe, cleaning new countertops, unboxing gifted products. That pressure can feel performative and exhausting.
Social media can inspire, but it can also undermine. Most of the time I log on with light intentions and leave feeling inadequate rather than happier, more confident, or grateful. When I didn’t use my phone for a full day — no social, no texting, no calls, no email — my head felt remarkably clear. I could think more directly. Even if my feed were perfect, scrolling leaves me foggy. It’s a time sink that takes me away from real relationships and real life.
At first it felt strange to ride in the passenger seat, lie in bed, or simply relax without my phone in hand. I’m so dependent on it; even when I don’t check social networks I end up reading work emails that pull my attention away. Yet that small act of stepping away felt liberating and inspiring. I rediscovered my values and a connection to myself that had been dulled by constant online noise.
I used to think going off the grid was impossible because I need to post for my blog and for Alchemy, but it’s not. I can create and schedule content without spending all day monitoring engagement. Interacting online can grow a business and nurture relationships, but at what cost? Technology has made an entire generation dependent and, at times, more connected to online personas than to people in real life. It encourages constant comparison to highlight reels and leaves many of us feeling “never enough.” That’s a troubling reality.
Try taking even a 12-hour break from your phone and notice how it feels. The people who truly matter will know where you are and how you’re doing without a social media post to validate it. I removed Facebook from my phone and moved Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat to the last page so I don’t see them when I open my device — out of sight, out of mind. It’s helped tremendously.
Start small: place your phone face down in another room for a few hours. You don’t owe anyone constant availability. My partner and I often put our phones away after dinner so we can spend uninterrupted time together.
Give it a try. Fall back in love with yourself, with your loved ones, and with real experiences. Go live.