"Disappearing" to focus on yourself?

[QwertyWitch]

I keep seeing messages on social media about "disappearing" for a while to focus on your health and career. By disappearing, it means getting off social media and withdrawing from social functions and just putting all that energy into yourself.
Now, as a bit of a scrolling addict with many goals that I'm failing to achieve, this is really starting to appeal to me.
I can't do it yet as it's the summer holidays and we have social plans and I need to see where I can take the kids and so on but I'm thinking of doing this in September.

Has anyone done this and can share how it went for them?

Bump for the evening crowd. Maybe you're the productive sorted ones

If they are currently doing this, they won't be on Mumsnet!

I can't help as I have a laptop addiction........ :(

I'm trying to but people wont take no for an answer! I'm sure it's well-meant but I've had a really tough year and felt like I needed to do something before it got out of hand. I still read SM a bit but I never post much anyway.

I use to do this once every 6 months or so and it’s ultimately led me to weaning myself off a lot of SM etc. I’d put up a cartoon picture of a meditating frog and say taking a social media break to read some books etc, therefore making it lighthearted and informing friends so they didn’t get the hump if I didn’t like their status etc!! 🙄

I found it so beneficial I ended up completely deleting Twitter/Instagram. I’m still on FB for a couple of interest groups and an animal rescue I volunteer with who organise things through FB groups, but deleted all my friends and now only use it this way. On my FB public biography under my name, I put the account was purely used in this way so people weren’t offended. I’m obviously on MN occasionally but only go through the browser which takes effort so generally check in once every 2-4 days. I do find living this way makes me feel better, happier and less annxious, plus I enjoy/concentrate on my real life more.

I’ve also limited news apps to two online sources only. Again beneficial as so much news is doom laden, propaganda or sensationalised, especially since Brexit/Pandemic. Really don’t miss any of it and previously I was on them quite a bit. So many people on SM are so angry & toxic these days and even friends posts can be demanding when everyone is expecting likes for their various posts. Overall it takes a lot of white noise out of your life and gives you more room to breathe. 😊

This is so appealing.

I have a profile on FB and I’m connected to old school and work friends, but I don’t use it for socialising anymore as it’s all ads and random stuff. I only use it for the village notice board and animal rescue.

But I’m in that rut where “relaxing” and taking some time out for me eg after dinner (currently!) means whipping IG or MN out for a scroll. Often that turns into hours.

I find it hard to be bothered with anything else and I’m finding it increasingly hard to concentrate.

I need a plan to get a grip on it.

@CherrySocks lol yes, I did wonder! But I thought maybe someone had done it in the past and could share.

@SkylarkDay great idea of reading books instead of social media. I'm sure it would make me happier too.

@SunshineonLeaves and @StandOnTheHorizon we should just go for it, right? Prioritise ourselves for once.

I came off FB a few months back and don't miss it. I was on it all the time before with hours of mindless scrolling.
Didn't make an announcement before coming off, just did it.
I have definitely now found time to read books and am loving it........ My time on mumsnet has also increased though 🤷🏻‍♀️

Taking a break from SM - all for it. I think pretty much everyone would be happier if all SM disappeared overnight to be honest

Taking a break from real life socialising- mixed views. Fine, but you need to explain to your friends why you’re not about and realise they may feel a bit miffed.

Not many of my friends are that active on SM these days, FB seems very quiet and no-one is on Twitter since it became X. I block Mumsnet during work hours and on some days off, and only put it back to available if I actively have time to spare and fancy doing something fairly easy.

It’s hilarious to me that people feel the need to announce/excuse it publicly, in case they cause mass outrage by failing to like a photo of someone’s puppy/ haircut/charity run.

I'm not on Facebook really but love WhatsApp, mumsnet, Twitter/X and YouTube.
What I'd like to be doing instead of that is focussing on my career and doing a course and earning more money, read some books, get fit and lose weight.

I felt it was easier to say something especially as I culled them all as friends on FB. Also I had some friends send new friend requests immediately I culled them. And yes my sister did once cause a huge drama about a sourdough bread post!! You really couldn’t make it up!!! 😂 However I need to stay on FB to cover volunteer shifts at the animal charity I volunteer with so couldn’t just come off it completely, otherwise I definitely would.