i took a 5-year break from social media

and this happened

The moment I deleted the Instagram app off my phone, I got my life back. 

Completely missed out on the “is TikTok getting banned¿” situation (idk where they landed with that) and Twitter’s what the hell of a #TransformationTuesday into X…  

All were irrelevant.

I was finally free. 

I didn't want to Tik or Tok. I didn't want to do anything on the ‘gram. I didn’t fucking feel like it. I (still) don’t know what the login to my Twitter is and not really feelin’ Threads. Wasn't a priority to me. Plain and simple. 

Social media's evolving environments exhausted me. My brain overloaded by frantic short form content that auto-played into rabbit holes so the algorithm could feed me more. 

Lost in the noisy cluttered sea of people telling strangers what to do on the internet, I couldn't bring myself to care about trends or if I seemed interesting, authentic, or engaging.

I didn't want to spend hours figuring out how to edit fleeting TikTok Reels that depreciated over time, and I was tired of whipping out my phone (or dropping it) trying to get the shot.

I couldn't tolerate eroding my life satisfaction, provoking depression, or triggering anxiety any further on platforms like Instagram and TikTok that build their UI to mimic the same addictive properties as gambling. 

Being on social media felt like being forced to play Squid Game. The prize was tempting, but the stakes were deadly. 

Despite my efforts to “just post it” anyway, I was losing my mind inconsolably, drained and unsafe from simply opening the feed, and begged myself to stop. 

I needed the choice to opt out. 

So I just stopped posting.

I blocked social media apps from opening on my phone and freed my headspace, no longer thinking about posting. There was much more room to enjoy my life on my terms as I preferred.

I watched my favorite movies with my mom, cooked new recipes, adopted a cat, nurtured my illustrations and writings, launched and grew a prolific blog, booked out my studio, and opened a school, built a lifestyle business, caught up on cool animes, wrote novels, read awe-inspiring books, explored Vietnam, got into yoga & pilates, lost weight, stopped putting off creative projects, made soulmate friends, discovered my soul’s art, and allowed total immersion in my life's moments — fully aware and present. 

My studio worked with the world’s coolest queen clients (without posting on social media), my revenue quadrupled, I saved hours of screen time, and my mind relaxed into relief.

Depression and anxiety dissolved as my brain, finally relieved from frantic overstimulation, could calm and rest. 

I fell asleep around 11pm, slept past 11am, and took naps in the middle of the day, recovering from a lifetime of hypervigilance.  

My life slowed down, deepened, and received my full attention.

I took a 5-year break from social media. I opted out, relaxed into presence, devoted to my soul’s art, and it was 10/10 would recommend. 

Now I'm starting my Substack because I’m inspired to share my reflections in this lovely universe that I’ve grown fond of.

Here on Substack, I get the opportunity to sit with the intentional ideas that each of you publish, spend time loving your creations, and let the works of thoughtful writers enrich me.

My publication is my playground, free from destructive “needs” and “shoulds” and “musts”.

I never thought it would be possible to enjoy a platform. Yet, I learn to love again.

Hello new friends. 

I’m happy and grateful to be here with you.

What do you enjoy about Substack?