Social media burnout is real. If you’ve ever felt like keeping up with Instagram, Facebook, and every other platform is draining the life out of you, I see you. I was right there too. So, I did something drastic—I quit social media for an entire year. You can read all about that HERE.
At first, it felt like a massive risk. What if my business suffered? What if I lost connection with my audience? What if I missed out on opportunities? But here’s the spoiler: My business kept growing, my audience didn’t disappear, and I learned some invaluable lessons along the way.
If you’ve ever thought about stepping away from social media but felt too scared to take the leap, let me share what happened when I finally logged off.
Why I Walked Away
The biggest reason I wanted to step away from social media? It was taking too much from my real life and my business.
As a business owner, it’s easy to believe that if you’re not constantly posting, engaging, and following every new trend, everything will come crashing down. But I had already made some big shifts over the years to rely less on social media—things like growing my email list and focusing on SEO to bring in consistent traffic. And yet, social media still pulled me in.
The more I paid attention, the more I realized I wasn’t using it intentionally. I was spending way more time consuming content than actually creating it. And let’s be real—these platforms are designed to keep you scrolling. I knew I wanted more from life than doomscrolling through other people’s highlight reels.
So, I logged off. No more posting, no more checking notifications, no more endless scrolling. Just real life and real work.
What Happened When I Quit Social Media
To be completely honest, at first, it felt weird. I’d been so used to documenting parts of my life and business online that I had to untrain myself from reaching for my phone. But as the weeks went by, then months, something incredible happened—I felt free.
I doubled down on marketing strategies that actually aligned with who I am. I focused on writing more, improving my email list, and refining my SEO strategy. The pressure to constantly “show up” online disappeared, and in its place, I found a deeper sense of creativity and focus.
And guess what? My business did just fine. It turns out, I never needed social media to keep things running—I just thought I did.
How I Made It Work Without Social Media
The key to stepping away from social media without my business taking a hit? A combination of Pinterest ads and email marketing. These two strategies allowed me to continue bringing in leads, nurturing my audience, and generating revenue without posting a single thing on Instagram or Facebook.
Pinterest Ads: My Secret Weapon
Pinterest has always been a powerhouse for my business, but when I fully stepped away from social media, it became my main driver of traffic and sales. Unlike Instagram, where posts disappear within hours, Pinterest content has longevity. A single pin can bring in traffic for months (or even years!) after it’s posted.
Running Pinterest ads allowed me to scale my reach and consistently drive ideal clients to my offers. Instead of spending hours crafting Instagram captions and stories, I focused on creating high-converting Pinterest graphics and targeting the right audience. And the best part? Once the ads were set up, they worked on autopilot.
I go into more detail on my Pinterest strategy here: The Pinterest Ad Strategy That Made Me Over $600K.
Building and Nurturing My Email List
If Pinterest was how I brought people in, my email list was how I turned them into paying customers. While social media is unpredictable (hello, algorithm changes), my email list was something I owned. I could communicate directly with my audience without fighting for visibility or stressing over engagement rates.
Instead of posting on Instagram, I put my energy into crafting valuable emails that built relationships and drove sales. And the best part? Email marketing isn’t about constant hustle. I created evergreen sequences that welcomed new subscribers, shared valuable content, and led them toward my offers—without me needing to be online 24/7.
What I Learned From a Year Off Social Media
Stepping away from social media for a year taught me so much about running a business on my own terms. Here are my biggest takeaways:
Stepping away can actually make your business stronger. When you’re not constantly chasing trends, you can focus on what really moves the needle.
The Downsides of Leaving Social Media
You don’t have to be everywhere to be successful. You can choose platforms that actually work for you and ditch the ones that don’t.
Long-term strategies (like SEO, Pinterest, and email marketing) are way more sustainable than chasing viral content.
Your audience won’t disappear just because you take a break. If you’ve built a strong foundation, people will still be there when you return.
As much as I loved my time away, I won’t pretend that stepping away from social media was all positive. There were a few things I missed:
- The sense of community. Entrepreneurship can feel lonely, and social media makes it easy to connect with like-minded people.
- Sharing my work. I genuinely love creating and sharing, and social media is a great way to showcase what I’m working on.
- The energy of it all. It’s like working in a coffee shop—sometimes the background buzz can be motivating.
By the end of the year, I realized that while I don’t need social media to run a successful business, I do enjoy using it in small, intentional ways.
How I’m Planning On Using Social Media Differently Now
So, am I back? Kind of. But with way stronger boundaries.
- I no longer feel the need to post daily or keep up with every trend.
- I focus on using social media as a tool, not a requirement.
- I create content I enjoy (like writing!) instead of forcing myself into formats that feel unnatural.
- I remind myself that my business doesn’t depend on an algorithm—it depends on me.
Now, when I show up on social media, it’s because I want to, not because I feel like I have to.
What You Can Learn From My Year Off
If social media feels overwhelming, just know this—you don’t have to be on it 24/7 to grow your business. There are other ways to market, connect, and succeed. Whether you take a full break or simply set better boundaries, I hope my experience shows you that it’s okay to step back.
Social media is a tool, not the whole strategy. And sometimes, the best thing you can do for your business (and your sanity) is to unplug, refocus, and remind yourself that you are the most important part of your success—not an app.
So, what does a better relationship with social media actually look like? Maybe it means taking a full break to reset. Maybe it looks like setting time limits, unfollowing accounts that drain you, or creating a posting schedule that feels sustainable. Or maybe it’s about shifting your focus entirely—looking at your business and figuring out what actually moves the needle instead of posting and hoping something goes viral.
Ask yourself: What brings in the most clients? Where do my customers actually come from? What marketing strategies feel good to me? Once you get clear on that, you can focus your energy there instead of feeling like you have to be everywhere online.
At the end of the day, social media should work for you—not the other way around. And trust me, your business will be just fine.
