Re-Opening: A Fresh Start

Stepping Away and Taking a Pause: My takeaways from the break

Seven hundred and thirty days. Yup, it was about seven hundred and thirty ish days ago that I was last present on social media. As I try to recall what sprung the decision to step away from social media, and anything else really “business related” for that matter, I can’t quite pinpoint an exact reason. My only conclusion that I’ve formulated is that “life happened”.

No date was scheduled; no purposeful, constructive shut it all down-transform-then reopen was planned; no prior announcements. Nothing. Just a random split decision to deactivate, unplug, and step away. The only social media I kept, if you even consider it so, was Pinterest, where I would peruse recipes for my meal prep and occasional motivational quotes to pick my @$$ up and out of the slumps. 

Taking a break from social media was quite a relief. I chuck it all up to the fact that “life happened”. I was adjusting to a new “big girl” job, which meant a whole different ball game for me. I had to adjust to a new system of work operations and a new work schedule. Of course, this resulted in a different commuting situation including higher exposure to the wonderful island traffic.

Aside from that, I was learning how to deal with friends, family members, coworkers, and dating. I mean, in general, managing relationships in adulthood is very interesting, complicated, and exhausting and I guess I never really experienced its full effects or understood it until now. To add to the mix, I was still in school chugging away at what felt like the last semester stuck on repeat and would never end.

Since my internal mental and emotional batteries ran on low, juggling a small business felt very taxing. I poured less and less into my business, which made it harder to persevere through the decline in sales, or should I say no sales at all, and the low engagement. I would work so hard at creating content and captions only to still be left in the dust. That made it even easier to compare myself and my performance to other shops. Not to mention, compare myself to all my old school mates and former coworkers who were already out in the world getting married, having kids, buying houses, traveling, working “adult” jobs, and graduating after a “normal” four to five years in college, while I was still trying to “figure it out”.

Obviously, I know that comparison isn’t healthy, but honestly, I’m pretty sure it's a natural tendency and I must say I’m pretty darn human. Therefore, I did it anyway and compared until I needed drastic measures (a social media break). What I learned during my break is that it is okay to not be on the same level as others because my life, including my purpose, has its own path and direction. I slowly understood and started to accept the idea that whatever happens and what is meant for me, will happen on its own time during the season of my life it is meant for; and in the meantime I just needed to appreciate what I had, while taking in everything that I could, to decide what really was important to me and let go what wasn’t. 

Another big take away that I learned is that I needed to take a pause at looking towards the future so much and take a quick look back instead. I needed to remember to take moments of appreciation for myself to acknowledge and admire what I had already accomplished, where I came from, and how far I’ve gotten. Life happens and it’s so easy to forget to celebrate the little wins because society, especially, is constantly and always asking for more, more, more, what’s new today, and what will be better tomorrow.

I believe since taking a social media detox, my self-confidence has improved the most. I don’t put myself down with the comparison of others, I don’t care too much about followers and engagement numbers because it doesn’t define anything, truly. I don’t let myself shrink when it comes to pricing for the time and work that I put into my products. It still takes me some effort, but I try to believe in myself and my worth a lot more and stand behind it.

Now I price products for what they are actually worth without feeling guilty for charging so. I pay no mind to what others are doing because I am focused on my own lane and my purpose. By purpose, I mean continuing to do what I find joyful and getting rid of anything that doesn’t resonate. I have a better spark for baking what makes me happy, not what people request; the desire to sew pieces that are fun and creative, not what I think “might make me a famous millionaire”; and exercising for that feel-good walk outside, not because “I’m fat”.

So, here’s to a fresh, new chapter. As I say my thanks to the universe and bid goodbye to that season, I rest assured. The next season will bloom into more abundance, and I am excited for what’s new, what’s improved, and what’s here to stay. 

Cover Photo Credit:

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