Why Ghosting Instagram is a Mental Health Power Move
Back in late December 2018 I decided to “ghost” Instagram. No announcement, no heads up. Instagram doesn’t make it easy but after a quick Google search I figured out how to disable my account…and I’m gone.
Since then I’ve realized that stepping away from Instagram has truly been a mental health power move. An act of limiting distractions and reclaiming space in my life.
It all happened on a whim when I paused mid-scroll and asked myself, “Why do I even do this?”
I had never really considered NOT Instagramming. It seemed like something I had to take part in. Something I needed for sharing my content and promoting my coaching business.
Maybe that was all just FOMO in disguise.
Was all the time and energy posting on IG really improving the quality of my life or helping me grow? Amidst all the noise, was it really the good place to share my message?
The honest answer: No. Not right now.
Instagram had become a colossal distraction from being present in my training and in my life.
Anytime I needed a break from life, I’d start scrolling. The worst part was my response to most of the content was either annoyance or apathy. Consuming all this content was only leading to comparisons and criticisms — basically nothing productive.
I was beginning to feel the toll of all these continual interruptions breaking the flow of my day.
And that’s what this is really about — distractions. Social media, negative habits, thoughts & beliefs, people, whatever draws our attention away from being present and aware.
It’s crucial that we recognize and remove the distractions that interrupt our ability to focus on what’s important. To defend the space in our lives where we can take pause and make sense of things.
For me, fewer distractions mean more focus on what really matters: helping people move better and live better.
But still it’s crazy how easy it is to lean on these distractions.
The distractions DO fill a need.
They occupy us from looking at shit we don’t want to look at. We get something out of being distracted…but it comes at a cost.
And removing a distraction often leaves behind an unsettling void.
The immediate response may be a frantic scramble to fill the space. However, learning how to relax and experience open space without rushing to fill it…that is a skill that takes much patience to cultivate.
Everything moves in cycles and seasons. The key is to stay aware in order to stay adaptable to the changes. If social media (or any other distraction) feels like it’s weighing you down or holding you back, then maybe it’s time for a shift. It’s cool to step away from the noise and keep that space for the projects and relationships that energize your life.
Personally, reclaiming this space in my life allows me to stay focused on creating authentic work and connecting with the people I create it for.
Yes, sometimes miss the quick dopamine hit from a successful Instagram post. And I’ll be back on “tha ‘gram” eventually, but right now I’m spreading my message in deeper ways.
You can learn more about my approach to movement and mindfulness on my website: www.movementparallelslife.com and my YouTube channel.
Update March 2019: The break continues…but I recently signed back in to IG to download some content only to find IG doesn’t let you re-disable right away. I’m keeping my account (@mke.free.mover) open but unattended. Seems like a happy medium until whenever I get sucked back into the swirl 😂
