I Let Go of Social Media and Found Peace

I used to scroll for hours, without even realizing it.

Every day, I would wake up and reach for my phone before saying Bismillah. My eyes barely opened, and I was already lost in TikTok clips, Instagram reels, YouTube Shorts. Notifications pulled me in before I even had a chance to feel the sun on my face or hear my own thoughts.

It felt normal. Like something everyone does.

But deep down, I knew I was losing something. Something quiet. Something important.

I was losing my peace.

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I didn’t hate social media. I just hated what it was doing to me.

At first, it was fun—watching funny videos, learning quick tips, and following people who inspired me. But over time, I noticed a shift.

I started comparing my life to the people I saw online.

Everyone looked so happy. They were achieving things I could only dream of—fame, beauty, money, success. I began to question myself:

Why am I not there yet? Why does my life feel so slow and boring?

I felt behind. Unseen. Not enough.

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The Invisible Weight

This invisible pressure became a part of my everyday life.

When I played my favorite games, I wasn’t enjoying them the same way. I’d think, Should I record this? Will this go viral?

When I prayed, my concentration was broken. My mind was full of TikTok sounds.

Even when I wrote articles—something I truly enjoy—my thoughts were scattered. I was more focused on how to get likes than how to express my heart.

It was like I was living for strangers, not for myself.

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The Moment I Chose Silence

One night, I couldn’t sleep. My heart felt heavy.

I had spent nearly the entire day online, jumping from one app to the next, but I felt empty. My soul was tired.

I looked at the black screen of my phone and whispered:

“Maybe I need a break… Maybe I need Allah more than I need this.”

That night, I did something I never thought I would:

I deleted Instagram. Then TikTok. Then YouTube.

I stared at my phone screen—it looked so empty without those apps. I felt a strange kind of fear.

What would I do now? How would I fill the time?

But that fear slowly turned into something else.

Peace.

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Discovering a New Kind of Peace

In the days that followed, something changed. I felt lighter.

I started reading more Qur’an, and this time, I was present with every verse. I walked outside and noticed things I hadn’t seen in years: the sound of birds, the way the leaves moved with the wind, the feel of sunlight on my skin.

I started journaling my thoughts—writing freely, without worrying about likes or approval. I played my favorite games again—not to post, but to enjoy.

I even talked more with my family. I laughed more. I listened more.

I was living again—not through a screen, but through my senses.

Most importantly, I felt closer to Allah than I had in a long time.

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What I Learned in the Silence

Letting go of social media didn’t magically fix my problems.

But it gave me time to face them. It gave me space to think clearly and listen to myself.

I realized:

• I had been comparing my real life to someone else’s highlight reel.

• I was feeding my brain with noise and expecting peace.

• I was chasing validation from people who didn’t even know me.

And when I stopped chasing, I finally found what I needed.

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Returning with Boundaries

I’m not completely off social media now.

I use it again—but carefully. I set time limits. I unfollow accounts that make me feel less. I no longer measure my worth by views or followers.

Now, I use social media to create more than consume.

And when it starts to steal my joy again, I know it’s time for another break.

I remind myself:

“Peace is more precious than popularity.”

And I choose peace—again and again.

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Final Words

If you’re reading this and you feel tired, overwhelmed, or lost… maybe it’s not you.

Maybe it’s what you’re feeding your soul with every day.

Take a step back. Try a day without scrolling. A week. You don’t have to leave forever—just long enough to hear your own voice again.

You might find that the peace you’ve been searching for…

was always waiting inside you. 📴🌿✨