As an indie author, my life revolves around writing, developing my craft, and staying connected with my readers and fellow creatives. Recently, I decided to take a month-long break from social media and writing blog posts. My intention was simple: to focus on speeding up my writing process and launching two websites. The idea was that by eliminating the distractions of social media, I would have more time and mental energy to devote to these projects. Here's my experience.
Taking a break from social media has become a popular trend for many good reasons. It's often touted as a way to:
Reduce distractions and increase focus,
Decrease stress and anxiety caused by constant notifications,
Improve mental health by avoiding the comparison trap, and
Free up time for other productive activities.
These benefits were appealing to me. I had important deadlines for my website projects and felt that cutting out social media would allow me to channel more energy into my writing, which is far behind my self-imposed schedule.
THE PLAN
With a clear goal in mind, I set out to stay off social media and skip my regular blog posts for a month. I planned to use the extra time to:
Write better prose and scenes,
Develop two killer sites for clients,
Enjoy more uninterrupted time, and
Relax to recharge.
It would be a productivity boost, letting me grow as an author and meet my work deadlines.
THE REALITY
Albert Einstein has a famous quote: “In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are not.” July fit that to a T. I discovered that staying off social media and skipping my blog posts didn't result in more writing. In fact, it had the opposite effect. I was lucky if I managed to write 500 so-so words a day. Usually, I can pound out 1000 to 4000 reasonable words.
This was totally unexpected. I had always heard that turning off social media would be a panacea for my writing challenges. I've even passed that suggestion on to friends a few times.
Figuring I needed a short-term adjustment, I stuck with the break after its initial failure. My break, R&R, and introverted introspection kept my progress stymied. While short stints of digital isolation occasionally helped me in the past, this experience taught me that online interaction is key to my long-term process.
PRIORITIES
One of my problems was that I spent my limited focus time on my website gigs. As someone with only a few brain-fog-free hours each day (because of chronic illness), my limited productive time was consumed by web development tasks. With hard deadlines looming for the websites and no strict deadlines for writing, it was easy to prioritize the former over the latter. I had set deadlines for myself, but as a self-publishing author, I was only accountable to myself. Nobody would know if I let my novels languish. Yes, I have a long-term goal of giving my readers the next installments of my series, but those deadlines are squishy, meaning I could put them off for later.
DAY TWENTY-THREE
I decided to abandon my online cleanse on day twenty-three. The break had not only affected my writing but also my overall productivity in all things, including home life. My usual routine of pumping out fictional words returned on day twenty-four. The website development progressed faster. The bills got paid sooner. My writing more than doubled.
ROUTINE
My usual routine of short social media breaks and writing blog posts actually helps me stay focused and motivated. The author communities on Facebook and X provide invaluable support, encouragement, and positivity that my IRL friends and family can't always offer. These short breaks serve as mental refreshers and boosts, allowing me to return to my writing with renewed energy and creativity. Without them, my mind tends to lock up, leading to writer’s block and a mental quagmire of isolation.
My regular schedule, which includes five-minute social media breaks every half hour and an hour of blogging each week, helps keep my random-thought-generating mind focused. My adherence to a strict schedule that includes breaks ensures I don't scroll endlessly but switch gears as needed. It turns out that this routine is crucial for maintaining my productivity. These short breaks act like mental refreshers that boost my creativity.
COMMUNITY
My typical day includes staying inside, isolated from the world (again, chronic illness). As an introvert, that’s wonderful…to a point. As a chronically ill butthead, it’s hard to go out with friends. I always pay a price in symptoms and pain when I do. So, I rely on digital interaction to fill in the gaps.
Further, the writing and creative online communities are wonderful. They provide encouragement and motivation that are sorely lacking elsewhere. Not only do I get a boost from time spent with my digital pals, I get the satisfaction of helping as many like-minded key-pounders as I can. These posts are one way I gain pride in myself, which gives me the confidence to write better.
WITHDRAWAL?
I expected to feel mental withdrawal pain due to the loss of Facebook, X, and blogging. I didn't. Sure, my fingers tried to go to these apps, but I moved them to a different screen, so the habit died in about three days. So, the question remains: why didn’t I go through withdrawal? The answer is that I'm extremely fortunate. I generally don't have addictive habits (aside from writing, which provides an escape from chronic chronic pain). Quitting alcohol was easy. I don’t even crave the opioids that help when my body makes them absolutely necessary. It is a lucky happenstance of genetics that makes me grateful to be me. I wish I could give everyone else this trait.
PSA: kidney stones suck!
OTHER FACTORS?
There are several other reasons that might have contributed to my reduced productivity during the break.
Medications: I did ramp up on a new med during this period. The dosage is very low and I started them after my creative lull began. More telling is that I didn't stop those meds, and my productivity bounced back on day 24.
Allergies: Seasonal allergies might have played a role in increased brain fog. Having said that, my worst months are usually March to June, so it doesn’t line up with my July slump.
Diurnal Rhythm: The number of daylight hours can impact mood and productivity. I am prone to seasonal affectiveness disorder. The thing is that in the past, I have had more energy in the summer than during the other seasons. As an extreme, during my time in Antarctica, where the sun never set, I had almost boundless energy and focus. Yet, you never know.
EMBRACING THE PROCESS
This experiment taught me a valuable lesson. What works for others might not work for me, and that's okay. My writing process benefits from the routine, support, and mental breaks provided by social media and blogging. Rather than viewing these activities as distractions, I now see them as integral parts of my creative workflow.
So, my friends, I am back and more committed than ever to engaging with each and every one of you. Your support and encouragement are invaluable, and I look forward to continuing our journey together.
Takeaway: Understanding and embracing our uniqueness is critical to unlocking our creative juices.
Thank you for being part of my journey. Let's keep writing, supporting each other, and making our mark on the world, one word at a time.
As always, I appreciate your support of indie authors. In the name of putting myself out there, here are a few of my works.
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