social media detox

The tool: deleting social media

(ming-cee's tool)

Describe the struggle the tool was used to help solve: Once I discovered my negative reel and how terrible and frequent it was, comparing myself to others was like dumping gasoline on a dumpster fire. While struggling with people pleasing and believing I was not enough, spending hours a day scrolling on social media was only keeping me stuck and not allowing myself to change.

How did this tool support your progression (or enhance) your steps towards finding your solution?: By taking Instagram off my phone, it allowed me the opportunity to start focusing on myself. Instagram was my drug of choice since I wasn't on facebook, TikTok or any other social media platform except for Pinterest.

While using this tool did you discover anything you didn't expect (not good or bad, just unexpected)?: I didn't (and still haven't) deleted my account. Mainly because I didn't have the mental capacity to figure it out. I deleted the app off my phone...actually I just took the app off my homescreen and continued to use it. I had to delete the app completely to keep myself from pressing the icon whenever I had a free moment. I didn't realize how automated I had become to scroll just to "kill time". It took a few weeks to detox, but it wasn't until I got off that I had realized just how much influence Instagram had over me. All my excuses (keeping up with family and friends, or needing it for my business) we just excuses. My relationships with family and friends have never been stronger since I'm intentional will who and how I reach out. And Instagram was NOT helping us build the authentic business we are so passionate about, in reality it only disconnected us further from ourselves and our mission.

I do have to mention that I use Pinterest, also a social media platform, however do not engage much with others and it's not based on likes (or a lack of likes) and comments. I use it more as a digital vision board, or a way to manifest what I want in my life. It just goes to show that social media is a tool, it's not good or bad, it's how we use it and how it makes us feel.

"Once I started to realize that I wasn't using Instagram, but instead Instagram was using me, I realized now I was the tool. And I hate being a tool". --ming-cee

What step(s) did this tool support you with?: negative reel, and foundational steps that gave me the space I needed to focus on myself and to take action on making changes to my life.

This tool was helpful. I would like to discover more tools like this.

This tool didn't support me as expected. I would like to try another tool.