Delayed Start

What happens when a digital native like me, Yasmin (a Creative Business student), goes cold turkey on social media for an entire week? Spoiler: It’s not as simple as just hitting delete. It means NO endless TikTok scrolls and NO notifications from Instagram. I decided to challenge myself and see if I could succeed in going one week without social media. After all, how hard could it be, right? But I’ll be honest with you, when the day came to delete the apps, I hesitated and ended up delaying it by a day. I was surprised at how oddly intimated I felt and how the FOMO (fear of missing out) kicked in before I logged out. However, the next day I hit delete and committed. In this article, I’ll share how my week went and how I felt spending time offline. 

The First Few Days

6 pictures in a Collage. The one in the left top is a picture of a book shelf with white books. In the right top there is a pink table with pink book covers. Middle left is a piano with a painting of a man behind it. Right middle is a picture of a food restaurant. Left bottom there is a chair and a bookshelf. Right bottom is a lamp with books behind it.

The first three days were tough. I started noticing how often I reached for my phone, almost like it was a habit. I was grabbing my phone over and over, only to be met with a plain screen. Each time I felt disappointed like a wave of sadness hit me, it felt like I was missing out on something. My phone, once a source of entertainment, suddenly felt boring now, with only WhatsApp notifications popping up (I kept WhatsApp for work and school purposes). I felt neither satisfied nor happy, which inspired me to turn my attention elsewhere. I picked up a pen and began sketching in my sketchbook, which I hadn’t touched in a few months. And the next day I photographed things that I found pretty.

Once I adapted to this mindset, everything became surprisingly easier. I started doing things that I’d been too "busy” to do, like organizing my closet and bookshelf. I also found myself spending more time with my little sisters—who, by the way, now ask if I can delete social media more often. I even picked up additional hobbies like baking and reading. It genuinely felt like I had more hours in a day, and I was being productive rather than unproductive.

There is a lotus cheesecake that I baked during my social media detox. It has a lotus cookie in the middle and lotus sauce at the corners.

Real-Life Connections

The time I would normally spend scrolling at home turned into opportunities to connect with friends and family. I became more spontaneous in meeting up with friends during the detox. Since I couldn’t connect with them online, I felt the urge to seek out genuine, real-life connections. Without the distraction of social media, I had deeper and more meaningful conversations with my friends. Rather than just liking their post and responding with a short comment. On top of that, I noticed that they seemed less focused on their phones when we were together, which created a more connected atmosphere. This allowed me to appreciate face-to-face interactions, which was something I missed before. On day 6 I truly felt a sense of freedom in letting go of the pressure to constantly stay updated and started to concentrate on creating memories with those around me.

Things I Noticed

An open book on chapter thirty two with an ipad playing some night music.

One of the biggest differences I noticed was in my sleep routine. Instead of scrolling through TikTok late at night, I’d read a book and naturally fall asleep earlier. This change helped me even start my days a little earlier. My screen time went down by 45%, which was a wonderful surprise when I checked my phone usage stats. I took walks outside and became more aware of how I spent my time. I found myself putting off tasks much less, saying goodbye to procrastination. School assignments felt more enjoyable since they didn’t seem like chores anymore. Throughout the day I felt a sense of relaxation and reduced stress.

“I realized that the FOMO I’d felt at the beginning of this challenge was really just in my head. The people, the moments, and the experiences that mattered were already around me."

- Yasmin Mahamed

This detox week taught me that I have been spending more time on my phone than I’d realized. It was like a little reset button for my habits. I found time for hobbies, strengthened my relationships, and even felt less stressed about school and life. It was a nice change, one I’d highly recommend to anyone feeling overwhelmed or simply in need of a break. Sometimes, disconnecting is the best way to reconnect with yourself and the world around you.

Curious how my life looked like during the detox? I've snapped some great shots for you (and no, not on Snapchat, I Promise)!

I hope you enjoyed reading about my social media detox experience. If you're feeling inspired to try it yourself, here are 5 questions to help you be more mindful about your social media usage:

  1. How much time do you spend on social media daily, and what hobbies would you like to make more time for?
  2. Do you feel more connected to friends and family online or in person? Why do you think that is?
  3. Do you notice a mood difference after a day of heavy social media use versus a day without it?
  4. What do you hope to discover about yourself during a social media detox?
  5. What do you imagine life would be like if social media didn’t exist?