Logging Off To Live: Breaking Free from Social Media's Grip on Our Time and Self-Worth
- Mar 17, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: May 21, 2025
For the last couple of years, I’ve noticed my social media addiction growing worse. I would check it first thing in the morning and last thing at night, leaving me feeling unhappy and disconnected from my own life. I was caught in a cycle of comparison, and I simply felt lost.
A few weeks ago, I went on a camping trip. The spot had no reception and no access to the internet. I was without my phone for two entire days. With my history of high screen time, this was quite difficult but it was the detox I didn't know I needed.
After enjoying the peace of disconnection, I had the realisation that social media was the root cause of my self-esteem issues. So I deleted the apps from my phone and restricted my access to my laptop when at home.
I’ve already noticed a difference in the way I view my life and appearance. I’ve learned to let go of comparisons, focusing instead on things that bring me joy, knowing that I’m living life on my own terms.
I'm more creative, inspired and present in the moment. The "slow life" became more of a priority to me.
For example, I used to feel anxious about my appearance when scrolling through Instagram. Now, I catch myself smiling in the mirror more often, appreciating what I see instead of nitpicking at my flaws.
This shift in perspective made me realise how social media often feeds our insecurities, and how it manipulates us into striving for an ideal that isn't our own.
Social media markets off our insecurities.
Companies have been exploiting women’s insecurities for years, but social media amplifies this in a way that feels inescapable. The algorithms feeds us with images that make us doubt ourselves, crafting a vision that’s more focused on selling than on reflecting reality.
The advertisers exploit our self-doubt to sell us products, lifestyles and aesthetics. After a while, we create this idea in our head of what our life should look like. It gives us all the products we need to get there, all the clothes we need to create the look, and even a workout routine to get the body. It doesn't give us time to step back, and think about what we want for our own lives.
They sell us the idea that we need to achieve their lifestyles to be happy, but happiness is never in the next thing they promise.
How can they make more money if we're happy with ourselves? They can't.
After deleting the apps, I find I'm not as insecure about my appearance. I have accepted I won't look like an instagram baddie, and that's okay. I'm more content with my life and focused on self-improvement in ways that suit me.
If you're tired of feeling like you're living in someone else's highlight reel, try stepping away from social media for a week. Pay attention to how it shifts your focus—toward yourself, your creativity, and what truly matters.
Previously, I used to doom scroll, feeling upset that I didn't look like these beautiful women. This habit negatively affected my dating life. I'd always think "If there's all these beautiful women out there, who would want me?" which made interacting with the world (specifically, men) so difficult.
As women, we are conditioned to appeal to men physically. Knowing that I could never compete with these women would ruin me.
This was something that would constantly be in the back of my mind.
Without social media, I realise it is not a competition, and I don't need mens validation to be beautiful. As long as I feel beautiful, I am beautiful. I interact with the world in a different light. I know that in the real world, people aren't focused on your looks as much as they are in the digital world.
Social media steals our time.
Screen Time: Be honest - What is your average screen time? If you were like me and many others, it was up in the double digits.
Learning vs. Scrolling: Social media can be an amazing tool for research and learning, but how often are we actively searching for things to learn? How many of these hours are spent scrolling or messaging?
Before deleting social media, when I wasn’t on my phone, I was thinking about my phone. Not only did it take up my time, but it also occupied space in my mind.
The creators of these apps purposefully make them addictive. Not only is it social media, it's all apps. Netflix's CEO released a statement: "We actually compete with sleep, and we're winning!" (here). These creators aren't making these apps in your favour, the more time you spend on them, the more money they make.
Since deleting social media, I've spent my free time journalling, reading and taking care of my body. The time I once spent mindlessly scrolling is now spent focusing on what truly matters to me.
Social media creates a false sense of availability.
We feel as though we should be available to everyone, at all times. There's rarely any boundaries with how accessible we are.
As soon as we get a notification, we check it, and as soon as we see a message, we reply. Then all of a sudden, you're scrolling reels, and it's 2 hours later, and you still have laundry and cooking to do.
“Social media is not a substitute for real-life connection. Set boundaries to keep your peace.” – Unknown
When you lack a boundary with your phone, you may expect others to. This is likely why so many people get upset when they don't get instant replies. It's hard to remember people have lives outside of social media, if social media is your life.
A perspective to think about:
When you turn 75, will you be happy with the live you lived? Will you be happy looking back on how often you were on your phone, instead of enjoying the moment that was in front of you?
Will you remember the hundred's of reels and TikTok's you watched?
Social media ruins our attention span.
Without social media, I felt like I was rediscovering my ability to focus. Social media is designed to steal our attention—through constant dopamine hits and never-ending notifications. But when you break free from that cycle, you realise how much more there is to experience in the present.
You also suddenly think washing and cooking is fun!
The Guardian's posted an article, "Your attention didn't collapse. It was stolen" (here). The title is powerful because thats what these apps are doing - they are stealing our time. Money comes and goes, time does not.
Our only moment is the one we're having right now. If we're not living in it, are we really living?
It's as if we go on auto pilot, and when we're on auto pilot we are susceptible to the marketing tricks, and the influence these apps have on us.
The creators of these apps are smart, they have teams dedicated to keeping your attention. That is why it works.
I challenge you to watch a movie without reaching for your phone.
“Social media is a tool, not a lifestyle.” – Unknown
We are human beings, life is more than just scrolling. We are not meant to spend our lives watching other people live theirs. We are meant to be in nature, soaking in the sun and looking at the stars, enjoying the life and body we have been given.
Reminder: it is okay to be bored. Next time you feel the urge to scroll, ask yourself—what is life trying to teach you right now? It’s okay to be bored. It’s okay to be still. In fact, it’s in those moments of quiet where we often find our greatest inspiration.
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