I’m not going to lie, going into this week, I was definitely nervous. I wasn’t sure I could make it an entire week without my social media. Snapchat is the way my friends and I communicate. It’s how we connect with one another. 

I wasn’t sure if I would be able to survive without the constant banter of my group chats. But surprisingly, I did. I’m proud to report I made it the entire week without checking any of my social media.

Not to say that I wasn’t tempted. I definitely was. It got to the point where I had to delete all my social media apps just so that I wouldn’t open them. I would pick up my phone and just stare at it, scared I was missing out on something. 

At first, I struggled a bit trying to find a way to occupy my time. I’m used to mindlessly scrolling on Instagram, so it was a bit of an adjustment. I ended up spending a lot of time on a color by number app, something I didn’t know I liked until I had nothing better to do. 

Strangely, I found my week with no social media kind of calming. I noticed my mental health was better because I wasn’t on my screen as much, and I didn’t feel the constant pressure to keep checking my phone, making sure I responded to someone as quickly as possible. I was more responsive and in the moment. I found myself paying attention to things I wouldn’t normally notice.

I also finished my school work considerably faster. Without social media, there were a lot fewer distractions. My focus was much better. Because of that, I was able to finish my work faster and do something more enjoyable which I really appreciated.

However, I did find some drawbacks. I had to be much more active in making sure I knew what was going on. This week fell on the weekend where we had five days off. My friends had a lot of plans that they were all talking about, and I had no clue what was happening. I had to make sure I texted my friends and ask for information instead of expecting them to text me.

However,  I really enjoyed this challenge overall. Don’t get me wrong: I’m really happy to have my social media back. It feels good to be informed of what’s going on again. I like that I can Snapchat my friends again and talk with them more easily. 

Even though the challenge is over, I have changed some of my habits to reflect it. I’m now trying to limit the amount of time I am allowed to be on Snapchat and Instagram. 

I have discovered that it helps my mental health and my focus. I am more aware of the world around me and have been finishing things quicker without getting distracted. I would definitely encourage everyone to try to give up their social media, even just for a day. I think you’ll definitely come out on the other side with a different, more nuanced perspective.