A few days ago, I had a bit of a wake-up call after checking the screen time report on my phone. The numbers were startling, but what bothered me more was the lingering feeling after hours of mindless scrolling. It is this weird mental fatigue, a mix of FOMO seeing friends hitting big career milestones, and the petty sting of seeing someone you like interacting with others online. Let us be honest, doomscrolling is a silent killer for peace of mind.
So, I decided to do a bit of a digital purge. I have started deactivating the accounts that drain my energy the most, though I am being strategic about it. Facebook and Threads are staying for future marketing needs, Telegram and WhatsApp remain my primary communication hubs, and Instagram has been relegated to repost-only duty. I am trying to avoid the rabbit hole.
Interestingly, in the past, I would usually only last a couple of weeks away from Instagram. But this time feels different. I have realized that I need more headspace to focus on my self-hosting projects and tinkering with my homelab, rather than constantly measuring my life against someone else’s highlight reel. It is exhausting to deal with that mental toll every single day just because an algorithm wants to keep you hooked.
What I have realized after just a few days is that the world keeps spinning even if I do not know what is trending this hour. My mind feels a bit clearer, and the time I used to spend scrolling is now being funneled into things that actually matter or just actual, quality rest.
I am not sure how long this fast will last. Maybe a month, maybe longer. But by posting this here, I am creating a benchmark for myself to see how long I can stay away. I do not know what the future holds, but for now, I would much rather be present in the real world and my own local servers.