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Health and Wellness

I Gave Up Instagram For 21 Days And Here Are 4 Things I Found Out

They say it takes 21 days to break a habit.

_reaganwat

Nov 13, 2018

Jacksonville State University

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I Gave Up Instagram For 21 Days And Here Are 4 Things I Found Out

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Okay, before I start, you should know that I LOVE Instagram. I will unashamedly scroll for hours upon hours on the social media site, stalking my sister's boyfriend's sister's cat. It happens.

But you may ask, why did I only give up one of my social media accounts and not delete any others?

The answer is simple.

Instagram has a wicked way of making people feel absolutely terrible about themselves. One look at the Explore page and there is picture after picture of these seemingly perfect girls with perfect bodies in their perfect swimsuits with their perfect friends. And it leaves you wondering, "what am I doing wrong that I don't have this perfect life?"

Except "this life" that you see is so NOT perfect. In reality, it most likely isn't even real.

Pro-tip: Do NOT compare your life to the ones you see on social media.

People say it takes 21 days to break a habit, so I deleted my Instagram account for three weeks, and this is what I discovered:

1. Instagram is a highlight reel.

People glamorize their lives to give off the impression that they are always happy and having fun while you sit alone in your bed on a Saturday night watching ANOTHER episode of Friends. Everyone does it. I do it, you do it. Do you have the no-makeup, in-bed-eating-ice-cream selfies that give accurate pictures of your life?

Or are you REALLY always on the beach (with a tan from the Airbrushed app) or taking cute pumpkin patch pictures with your boyfriend? In a not-so-shocking reality, the answer is no. And neither are the people who are making you feel inferior.

2. Instagram is repetitive.

That same gym selfie, that same bikini picture, those people who only post with the same people. IT ALL LOOKS THE SAME. That's because society has ingrained in our minds what we are supposed to look like or do in order to "fit in." And that is not okay.

3. I was more productive.

I found myself not only being able to, but WANTING to exercise more, write more, and spend more time investing in relationships that had been shaded by an iPhone screen. Taking this time for myself helped me focus on what was actually important.

4. But most importantly, I felt better about myself.

I wasn't concerned about the likes or comments when there was no avenue to get them. I was focused on bettering myself instead of looking at the things that made me feel my worst. The primary reason I did this fasting was because my self-confidence was at an all-time low. And it happens to ALL of us.

Your worth is not dependent upon your social media accounts. Do not get your value from the number of likes or comments that your bikini pic received. You are worth so much more than how you feel when you get a flirty like from some stupid boy (PSA: He didn't like the picture because of your amazing personality).

So, 21 days may have not been enough to completely break my obsession with scrolling and scrolling, but it definitely did bring to light two VERY important things: 1. People make their lives look way better than they are, and 2. We cannot let our self-confidence be decided by pictures of other people.

You are worth so much more than what is on a screen. You are worth so much more than others' opinions about you. You are you and that you are absolutely BEAUTIFUL.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Recommended for you

I Gave Up Instagram For 21 Days And Here Are 4 Things I Found Out

They say it takes 21 days to break a habit.

1. Instagram is a highlight reel.

2. Instagram is repetitive.

3. I was more productive.

4. But most importantly, I felt better about myself.

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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