Life After the Scroll: What I Learned from Stepping Away from Social Media

When I first committed to giving up social media for Lent, I expected to miss the updates, the connections, the endless scroll of entertainment. I braced myself for boredom and disconnection. Instead, I found something far richer: clarity, presence, and a deeper understanding of what social media truly brings into — and takes out of — our lives.

As the weeks unfolded in this self-imposed quiet, I noticed something. Social media’s absence in my life revealed its influence. Like stepping out of a noisy room and realizing how loud it really was, I could hear my own thoughts. And from that space of silence, here’s what I learned.

1. Social Media Fuels Consumerism — Quietly and Constantly

Social media shapes our desires. Not just for things, but for lifestyles, aesthetics, even identities. Every scroll seems to whisper: you need more. More stuff, more beauty, more success, more anything other than what you already have. Without social media, that voice softened. I started wanting less and appreciating more. I found myself more grounded in gratitude, less caught up in chasing the curated lives of others. I was actually practicing the yogic concept of santoṣa, or true contentment

2. Connection? Not Quite.

Social media is designed to connect us — or so we’re told. But in practice, I began to see how it often does the opposite. The curated highlight reels and comment sections don’t foster deep, meaningful connection. They promote performance, comparison, and subtle competition. In stepping back, I reconnected with people in more intentional ways — through texts, e-mails, phone calls, and quality time. These interactions were slower, yes, but more nourishing. I was reminded that true connection requires actual presence.

3. Drama as a Feature, Not a Bug

Without the constant stream of headlines and hot takes, I began to notice just how dramatized everything online can feel. The algorithm thrives on outrage and anxiety, and I had been feeding off it without realizing. Stepping away helped me come back to what’s real — not what’s trending. It gave me space to process, to think critically, to feel without being manipulated into a reaction.

4. Time Is Sacred — And We Give It Away Too Easily

Perhaps the biggest realization was how much time I had been giving away. Time that could be used to rest, to be with loved ones, to create. Social media isn’t just a distraction — it’s a thief of our most precious resource. Without the constant pull to check in, I found I had energy and attention for things that actually support my well-being. I knitted more. I meditated more. I noticed the world around me more.

So… Will I Go Back?

I’m not here to say social media is all bad. Like any tool, it depends on how it’s used. But I now see it with clearer eyes. If I do return, I will do so differently — with stronger boundaries, deeper awareness, and a commitment to living more offline than on.

There’s a richness to life that we only find when we stop filtering it through a screen. In giving up social media, I gained back the most important thing of all: myself.