Social Media Anxiety Fix: What If You Quit Social Media?

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Here’s my planned social media anxiety fix.

Lately, I’ve been reading about people who died young.

It messes with my head.

My friend from university passed away from a stroke. We were supposed to meet this year.

I never thought our last conversation ten years ago would be our last — until it was.

It keeps happening. People I know, are gone in their 30s and 40s.

Every time I open social media, another plane crash, another tragedy. I have flights booked, and now I’m thinking of cancelling because of this nagging feeling.

My plans are important, but my anxiety gets in the way.

Photo by Derick Anies on Unsplash

I know we shouldn’t live in fear, but how can you not, when every scroll fills your mind with death and disaster?

And here’s the thing — it’s all because of social media. We are not wired to process this much bad news, every hour, every day.

One of the most harmful effects of excessive social media use is the tendency to compare ourselves to others.

Social media has a way of making you feel like you’re falling behind.

It’s not about faith or belief — it’s the constant comparison, the feeling that others are ahead while you’re stuck.

The highlight reels, the achievements, the milestones — they create an illusion of a perfect timeline you think you should be following.

But here’s what I’ve learned: You are exactly where you need to be.

There’s no universal timeline, no right pace. Your journey is yours alone, and it unfolds at the right time for you.

Trust it.

Here’s my take and a challenge for you and me:

  1. If you use social media for business, delete the apps from your phone. Only use them on a computer. Log in, do your work, and log out.

Better yet, delete everything you don’t need. Live in the real world.

2. Instead of jumping between motivational videos you watch on reels, buy a book by someone who actually knows what they’re talking about. $20 and a few hours of reading will do more for you than 10 hours of “hustle mindset” videos ever will.

Think of it this way:

  • The more time you spend chasing quick digital thrills, the more unfulfilled you’ll feel.
  • The more time you spend on social media, the more likely you are to compare yourself to others, sometimes against carefully curated highlights rather than the full picture of their lives.
  • Research suggests that activities providing instant dopamine spikes without effort can contribute to compulsive behaviours and reduced long-term well-being (Volkow et al., 2017; Hyman, 2005).
  • Shut down social media. If you need it for work, use it only on a desktop.

The solution?

Go outside. Walk. Run. Talk to people with no agenda. Pick up a sport. Train for a marathon. Learn a language. Start a business. Start a blog.

Do something that actually matters.

I miss when phones were just phones. We use it to call and text others.

My first mobile phone was an Ericsson GA 628 — it made calls, sent texts, and that was enough.

Photo by Levi Guzman on Unsplash

We weren’t addicted.

We played outside.

We spent time with family.

We swam in the sun until we were sunburned.

So here’s my challenge — to myself, and maybe to you.

If you don’t need social media for work, shut it down.

Focus on something meaningful.

If you do need it, limit it to your desktop.

Stop scrolling.

Start living.

Who’s in?

Stay grounded,

Margaret

P.S. If you enjoyed this brief missive about social media anxiety fix, I invite you to subscribe here, where I share insights, case studies, and musings on business and beyond. As always, thanks for your attention and for being part of my journey.

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Margaret Sulapas | Digital Marketing Strategist
Margaret Sulapas | Digital Marketing Strategist

Written by Margaret Sulapas | Digital Marketing Strategist

Supporting individuals create successful service-based businesses | Guiding business owners in using cost-effective marketing strategies. Let's connect!

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