How Deleting Social Media Gave Me My Life Back
It’s been over a year since I deleted social media apps off my phone, and I can confidently say—it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I didn’t realize how much of my energy, time, and focus it was stealing until I stepped away. Here’s the story of how I made the shift, what I’ve learned, and how it’s transformed my life.
The Aha Moment
It started with a simple realization: social media was draining my life force. One day, I caught myself mindlessly scrolling through cool magic tricks (seriously… magic tricks!) and thought, “What am I doing with my life?!” That was the beginning of the end for me.
I decided to delete Instagram, but I quickly found myself filling the void with Reddit. I spent way more time there than I ever had on Instagram, so Reddit had to go too. Then came YouTube Shorts—the same recycled reels and TikToks I’d just left behind. I told the algorithm I didn’t want them, unsubscribed from nearly everything, and turned off all notifications.
That was my breakthrough: social media doesn’t have to own me. I still have my accounts, but now I log in intentionally—only when I want to see something specific or truly connect with a friend. Like when Zach posted the finished photos of his cabin—I logged in, left a comment, and sent some stoke. That’s the way I use it now, and it feels so much better.
Breaking the Habit (Brick by Brick)
At first, I was shocked by how often I reflexively went to the spot where Instagram used to be on my phone. My muscle memory was trained to fill every spare moment with a quick scroll. CRAZY.
When I deleted Instagram, I replaced it with other dopamine hits—Reddit, YouTube, and, embarrassingly, a mindless brick breaker game. Clearing levels was calming, and the dopamine hit kept me coming back. But eventually (just recently), I realized that even this silly little game was taking up my time and attention. So, I deleted that too.
The wild part? Just like with IG I still go to the spot where the app used to be, out of habit, and think, “Oh yeah, it’s gone.” It was like déjà vu from when I deleted Instagram. But progress is progress, and every little step counts.
Seeing the World Differently
One surprising benefit has been noticing how much others scroll. It’s wild to see how normalized it is for people to look down at their phones in every spare moment—at the checkout line, during conversations, even at church. Heads just go down.
Now, instead of looking down, I keep my eyes up. I smile at people. I try to connect with strangers and friends. Those little moments matter, and I’m seeing them more clearly now.
As someone pointed out, only two industries call their customers “users”: tech companies and drug dealers. Just saying.
What I’ve Gained
The biggest realization? I didn’t lose anything by leaving social media—I gained freedom. I still use YouTube, but I have to search for what I want instead of letting it serve me an endless scroll. And when I want to connect with someone, I reach out intentionally.
It’s not about going cold turkey. It’s about designing a system that works for you. For me, the biggest step was simply deleting the apps and using a browser instead. The user experience (UX) there is so clunky, it forces you to be intentional. That single step got me 90% of the way to freedom.
The Path Forward
This past year has been phase one: getting off social. Now, I want to reinvest the time I’ve gained into my relationships—with my kids, my wife, and my friends.
I fully admit, my screen time is still too high. But I’m always working to get better. If you’ve ever felt drained by social media, I encourage you to try stepping away. Start by deleting the app. See how it feels. You might be surprised by what you gain when you stop letting social media control your time.
It’s all progress, and I’m grateful for the journey. If you’re feeling stuck or drained, there are some real advantages to getting off the juice. Trust me—it’s worth it!