I stop social media for six months, this is what I found about real happiness and connection – VegOut

Like most individuals, I used to inform myself that I wasn’t “addicted” to social media. I used to be simply ‘checking in’, scrolling a bit of earlier than mattress, perhaps replying to messages all through the day.

But once I lastly determined to delete the apps for six months, the fact hit me exhausting. I had been hooked—way over I’d realized.

Those months off taught me extra about happiness, connection, and even myself than I anticipated

Here’s what I found.

We use our telephones far more than we notice

The very first thing I seen was how typically I reached for my cellphone with out pondering.

Research backs this up: folks examine their telephones a mean of 58 times a day. 

I wasn’t immune. I’d catch myself reaching for my pocket in moments of silence—ready for espresso, sitting on the prepare, even throughout conversations.

Once social media was gone, I needed to face the silence I’d been filling. It wasn’t comfy at first. But ultimately, these pauses grew to become alternatives—to suppose, to breathe, to note the world round me.

Face-to-face connection feels totally different

Scrolling by way of updates and liking pictures had tricked me into pondering I used to be staying linked.

But connection is greater than maintaining with somebody’s spotlight reel.

Psychologist Susan Pinker put it well: “Face-to-face contact releases a whole cascade of neurotransmitters and, like a vaccine, they protect you now and well into the future”.

During my six months off, I met mates for dinner extra typically. I referred to as folks as a substitute of sending emojis. I even began small conversations with strangers—one thing I by no means would have carried out with my cellphone in hand.

It made me notice how irreplaceable actual connection is. No app can replicate the heat of somebody’s snort throughout the desk or the consolation of a hug while you want it most.

My sleep lastly improved

I used guilty my late nights on work, caffeine, or simply being a “night owl.” But once I ditched social media, one thing modified.

For the primary time in years, I used to be truly sleeping properly.

Science explains why: publicity to blue mild, particularly earlier than bedtime, disrupts circadian rhythms and inhibits melatonin secretion, which hurts each the standard and period of sleep.

Without infinite scrolling, I fell asleep sooner and awoke with extra vitality. It felt like I’d found a cheat code for higher mornings—besides it wasn’t a hack, simply widespread sense I’d been ignoring.

Digital distraction was killing intimacy

Here’s one thing I didn’t wish to admit: I used to be responsible of “phubbing.” That’s while you’re bodily with somebody however your consideration is in your cellphone.

Experts note that it has actual penalties, particularly in romantic relationships—phubbing negatively impacts intimacy and closeness.

When I stop social media, I ended half-listening to conversations whereas scrolling. I began being current. And the distinction was apparent. My relationships deepened. I felt nearer to the folks I cared about as a result of I used to be truly giving them my full consideration.

It was a wake-up name: distraction had been robbing me of intimacy all alongside.

Real hobbies got here again into my life

Without the fixed pull of notifications, I out of the blue had extra time than I assumed.

I began cooking extra—not simply fast meals, however recipes I’d all the time needed to strive. I went again to studying nonfiction earlier than mattress as a substitute of getting misplaced in a feed. I even picked up sketching, one thing I hadn’t touched since faculty.

These weren’t simply methods to cross the time. They gave me a way of achievement that scrolling by no means might.

It’s straightforward to say we “don’t have time” for hobbies, however the fact is, social media eats up way more hours than we notice. Once I reclaimed that point, I felt richer—not in cash, however in expertise.

Happiness isn’t about comparability

One of the toughest elements of quitting social media was dropping the fixed stream of updates from everybody else’s lives. But that’s additionally what made it releasing.

I ended evaluating my day-to-day with another person’s spotlight reel. No extra feeling like I used to be behind as a result of a buddy purchased a brand new automobile or went on one other trip.

Without the fixed drip of comparability, I seen a giant shift: I felt extra content material with what I already had. When I wasn’t bombarded by curated perfection, I might lastly see the worth in my very own life.

In the tip

Six months with out social media wasn’t all the time straightforward. There had been moments I felt omitted, disconnected, even a bit of bored.

But the trade-offs had been price it. I slept higher. I felt nearer to the folks in my life. I had time for hobbies that introduced me pleasure.

And perhaps most significantly, I discovered a form of happiness that wasn’t primarily based on likes, follows, or infinite scrolling.

I’m not saying everybody must stop however taking a step again—even for every week—may make it easier to see how far more there may be to life while you’re not glued to a display.

Because real happiness and connection? They’ve been proper in entrance of us all alongside.