Living Beyond the Scroll
Over the past few years, I’ve been on a quiet mission — to reclaim my time, my energy, and my peace.
As a working mom of three, my mental load is already heavy. Between school and daycare schedules, a full-time job, and coordinating with my husband’s equally packed calendar, I realized I couldn’t afford to give away my most precious resources — time and mental energy — to things that weren’t truly serving me anymore.
The Hidden Cost of Social Media
For a long time, I was spending more time than I realized scrolling through social media.
I told myself it was a quick break, a source of connection, or a bit of inspiration. But when I logged off, I didn’t feel lighter or happier — I felt drained.
I was giving emotional energy to people I didn’t even know in real life, comparing my parenting, home, and body to curated snapshots of strangers. I found myself wanting to buy more, do more, and be more — all fueled by an endless scroll.
On top of that, it often felt like the world was on fire — politically, socially, environmentally. I was carrying the stress and outrage of people I rarely saw, letting it invade my mornings and nights with emotions that weren’t even mine.
So I stepped back.
I deleted Facebook over five years ago, and about a year ago, I let go of Instagram too. And honestly? It has been liberating.
What I Got Back
Am I completely anxiety-free now? No — but my anxiety is rooted in real life, not a digital feed. My limited bandwidth is focused on what’s actually happening in my home, relationships, and community.
When I stopped scrolling, I started living again.
I got back time to do the things that bring me joy and peace:
- Taking walks without my phone
- Meditating, even for just five minutes
- Doing a quick yoga flow in the living room
- Writing creatively
- Cooking and meal planning with intention
- Actually relaxing — without distraction
I started noticing the texture of my days again — the way sunlight hits the kitchen counter in the morning, how my kids’ laughter fills the house, and how a single deep breath can shift my entire mood.
Choosing Presence Over Performance
The world has always been chaotic. I can’t control everything happening out there — but I can control how I show up here, in my real life.
Every day isn’t perfect, and that’s okay. I can still care deeply, vote, advocate, and support the causes I believe in — but I don’t need to doom-scroll to be a compassionate human being.
Presence, I’ve learned, is the real performance worth striving for.
Setting the Example for My Kids
Now that my kids are getting older, they’re already seeing friends with social media accounts. I want to set a different example — one rooted in connection, not comparison.
I want them to:
- Surround themselves with people who truly know them
- Receive birthday calls because someone remembered, not because an app reminded them
- Have space to be bored, to create, to use their imaginations
- Care deeply about what’s real and present in their lives
- Understand that peace and joy often come from simplicity
The world will always be noisy — but we get to choose how much of that noise we let in.
Reclaiming Real Life
So here’s my reminder — to myself, and maybe to you too:
Your time is sacred.
Your peace is priceless.
And the real, beautiful life you want is already happening, right here, outside the scroll.
✨ Your Turn:
Have you ever taken a break from social media or cut back on screen time? What shifted for you — your mood, focus, or relationships? Share your reflections in the comments below. You might just inspire someone else to take their own digital detox.
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