Lessons from 6 Months Off Social Media: Embracing Space, Creativity, and Self-Discovery
Ever wondered what happens when you unplug from social media for half a year? I did, and the lessons were profound. Let me share the insights I gained and the positive changes it brought to my life.
First off, I realized that I genuinely love being away from the constant hum of social media. We all know it's addictive, but experiencing it firsthand was eye-opening. While I didn't fully say goodbye to Instagram, I kept it off my phone for weeks at a stretch. Occasionally, guilt would creep in, and I'd reinstall it just to repost things I'd been tagged in. It's weird how we feel this pressure to share every bit of our lives when, in reality, only a tiny fraction is spent doing something cool, while the rest of the time, we're just chilling in our PJ's at home.
Speaking of which, being at home in my PJ’s is something I've come to cherish. This break made me realize the importance of creating space in my life—for creativity, for emotions, for simply living. Giving my mind and heart the room to sync up became crucial for figuring out what I truly wanted to create.
During my social media hiatus, I spent a lot of time reflecting on my relationship with the violin and art in general. Since childhood, playing the violin was my sole focus. Don't get me wrong; I loved it. But looking back, I wish I had given myself more space to explore other interests like psychology and literature. The reality, though, was that anything I did outside of playing the violin felt like it took away from my practice time. I was so fixated on being the best violinist that everything else became secondary.
Nowadays, I'm cutting myself some slack. I'm allowing more time and space in my life to enjoy moments, be with family, and create things just for me, for fun, and for connecting with others. I stepped away from social media because it started feeling like another job. Scheduled posts and deadlines took the joy out of creating, and I lost sight of why I started in the first place.
After months offline, something clicked. My brain sparked back to life, and creativity surged through me again. I felt ready to create, to reach people, to connect with audiences worldwide in a way that felt genuine. So, I remind myself: Do it for you, not for a deadline or for perfection. Do it for the love of creating and your love of a beautiful story.
I'm enjoying this journey, and I hope you do too. Here's to rediscovering the joy of creation, connection, and storytelling—simply for the love of it.