So, you deleted social media. Now what?

So, you deleted your social media. Now what? While many people spend their time building up the courage to hit the delete button, few actually think about what comes next. No, life does not become rainbows and butterflies after deleting your social media. As someone who has had the major social media platforms deleted (Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X, Snapchat, etc.) for around three years now, I think that it is safe to say that I’ve learned a couple of things. I have had setbacks, yes, but I have finally found the key to making the most of your time outside of social media. 

• READ MORE

When I was younger, I used to stay up past my bedtime to read my books. As I got older and my phone became more important, I found myself not reaching for so many books. Reading is a hobby that I have picked again since deleting my social media, and I could not recommend it enough. Don’t fret, even if you have never been a bookworm, you can always start now! Reading is a great way to start adding valuable habits into your routine. Not only does reading allow for you to place yourself in alternate worlds, it also reduces stress! I recommend starting with a relatively short book, an easy read, so that you can just get back into the groove of reading. If you start with a really big book you might . Start small and let yourself enjoy the silence.

• EXERCISE

How many of you have ever signed up for a gym membership and only went once or twice? It happens to the best of us. Or maybe you are just too afraid to go at all, or you feel like you don’t have enough time in your day. Whatever the reason may be, stop making excuses. Now that you aren’t spending all of that time looking at your screen, it’s time to step back into the gym. You’ve already made the first step in bettering your life, now let’s use that newfound time to improve your life even more. Just like getting back into reading, it’s perfectly ok to start small when you are stepping back into the gym. You don’t need to look like a bodybuilder during your workouts, and it is more than ok to ask for help in the gym. At the end of the day, everyone else is there to better their lives too. 

• JOURNAL

Many people like to scroll on social media to unwind for the night, however, this may only further perpetuate your feelings of stress. Now that you have deleted social media, let’s talk about a better way to end or start your day. Journaling is an amazing way to unwind. Many of us have so many things going on in our lives, both good and bad, that it might feel overwhelming at times. I have found that journaling requires me to slow down and think about how I am feeling. Have you been lying to yourself about how you feel? Sometimes you might not even notice until you start writing. There are several different things that you can write about, including: Things you are thankful for, affirmations, poems, rants, etc. Whatever works best for you is what you should do. There is no right way to journal, so have fun with it!

• SPEND TIME WITH LOVED ONES

If you take a look around you in restaurants, coffee shops, or anywhere really, you might see that groups of people are sitting together on their phones. Maybe even the people around you do the same thing. If this is the case, be the change. We only have a limited amount of time on Earth, and an even more limited time with the people that we love. Spend this newfound time nurturing your relationships. At the end of your life you will not be so thankful for your phone, but you will be thankful for the people in your life. 

Deleting social media is really easy. It’s what comes after where many people fail. Social media has exposed our brains to short-form content that is easily palatable and addictive. As such, your journey right after deleting social media will not be easy. Assuming you were on social media for a couple of hours per day, you will need to fill that time with valuable activities. I hope that these hobbies will help you like they helped me, and as always, I hope that you continue to “Wonder With Me.”