I don’t know about you, but I can definitely say that I have an Instagram addiction. While I can stay off Facebook for days, it’s hard for me to go a few hours without checking Insta. I’m either constantly scrolling through my feed for something new, or monitoring my engagement. It definitely doesn’t help that I have to use social media as part of my job as a marketer. Therefore, there’s no way for me to completely unplug.

Although I think Instagram is a great tool to connect with others and find inspiration, I think it’s also important to be able to step away from the screen every once in awhile. I have noticed that being connected all the time can cause me more anxiety and create a fear of missing out when I have too much on my plate. That is why when I was feeling a bit burnt out a few weeks ago, I decided to disable my Instagram for a week. I can easily say that it was one of the best decisions I could have made. Here are three reasons why I enjoyed having an Insta-break and I think you would too:

You’ll Be More Productive

If you have a busy schedule, it can feel like you don’t have enough hours in the day to do it all. And it definitely doesn’t help that social media can be such a time-sucker! Disabling my Instagram account for a week immediately freed up so much time for me. It was much easier to get home and immediately work out and focus on my blog without the distraction of Insta. I even managed to cook dinner for myself almost every night of the week!

There’s More Space to Practice Mindfulness

It can be difficult to set apart time to be mindful when you’re connected all the time. It’s also very easy to default to checking social media whenever you do have that downtime because that’s what you’re accustomed to do. Eliminating the distracting of social media can help you be more in tune with how you’re feeling emotionally and physically. During my week off Instagram, I was more conscious of when I was feeling happy, anxious or sad. I also had the space to reflect on my thoughts and deal with any pressing issues.

Be Able to Rest and Recharge

You’ve probably read countless articles talking about how you should turn off electronics an hour or two before bedtime. Based on my own experience, I can say that it makes a difference. It was easier for me to go to bed on time when I could pay attention to my body telling me I was tired. I also woke up feeling much more well-rested and ready to go in the morning!

Although I was eager to be back on Insta after a week, I would do it all over again. I was more present, which allowed me to have a more relaxed approach to a busy week.  It also enabled me to make time for things I usually push aside. What do you think? Would you take an Insta-break too?