The “Unfollow” Rule That Freed Me

There was a point — not that long ago — where I felt like I was living my life in a constant state of comparison hangover.

I’d wake up, roll over, grab my phone, and scroll… scroll past people “crushing it” at 6 a.m., couples being cute in Bali, someone starting a business that took off in two weeks, and influencers redoing their entire kitchen on a Tuesday “just for fun.”

Meanwhile, I’m sitting there… under a blanket I probably haven’t washed in a while, wondering if I’m already failing by 7:12 a.m.

It wasn’t just jealousy. It was this low-level ache — like I was somehow behind on a life I didn’t even really want.

Social Media Wasn’t The Problem — I Was

Let me be clear: I didn’t hate social media. I still don’t. I like memes, I love funny videos of pets with human voices, and I’ll never say no to a recipe I’ll probably never make.

But somewhere along the way, I blurred the line between inspiration and insecurity.

Every scroll became a silent measuring stick. And the thing is — I didn’t even realize it was happening. That’s the scary part. I was consuming other people’s highlight reels and using them as proof that I was doing life wrong.

And then, one night, after an especially deep scroll spiral that left me feeling like the human equivalent of a crumpled receipt, I whispered something to myself I wasn’t expecting:

“I don’t have to see this.”

Enter: The “Unfollow” Rule

I started small.

Unfollowed one person. A travel blogger who, to be fair, did nothing wrong. She was just living her best life. But every time I saw her posts, I felt like I was being reminded of what I wasn’t doing. What I wasn’t achieving. Where I wasn’t going.

So… I let her go. No drama. No message. Just a quiet “unfollow.”

And oh my God — instant peace.

I felt… lighter. Like I reclaimed a tiny piece of mental space.

So I kept going.

Anyone who made me feel small, less-than, anxious, pressured, or weirdly competitive — gone.

Even people I liked, or people I knew personally. It wasn’t about them. It was about what happened in me when I saw their content.

Freedom Feels Subtle at First

The wild part? I didn’t even realize how cluttered my digital brain had become until I cleaned it up.

Suddenly, my feed was… quieter. Softer. Full of creators who made me laugh, people who made me think, or friends who weren’t pretending to have it all figured out.

And without all the noise, I started hearing myself again. That inner voice that had been drowned out by everyone else’s curated life.

I started asking: What do I actually want? What matters to me — when no one’s watching?

Those questions hit different when you’re not being bombarded by other people’s answers.

But It Wasn’t All Smooth Sailing

Look, there was guilt. Some of it felt petty. I caught myself thinking, “What if they notice I unfollowed them?” or “Am I just being jealous?”

But here’s the thing: setting boundaries — even digital ones — is not a moral failing.

We were never meant to absorb this much information about this many people, this often.

Unfollowing doesn’t make you unkind.

It makes you intentional.

And I’d rather be intentional than overwhelmed.

The Deeper Lesson I Didn’t Expect

At first, this was about decluttering my feed. But it turned into something way deeper.

It taught me to check in with how things make me feel before I keep them in my life.

That goes for people. Habits. Content. Commitments.

If something makes you feel smaller, more anxious, or constantly “not enough” — why are you holding onto it?

The “Unfollow” Rule became more than just a button on Instagram. It became a way of choosing what I let into my mind, my heart, my peace.

So… Who (or What) Do You Need to Unfollow?

Could be a stranger with a perfect body who unknowingly triggers your insecurities.

Could be a toxic friend who always finds a way to make your wins feel small.

Could even be an older version of you — the one who thought success had to look a certain way.

You don’t owe your attention to anything that drains you.

You are allowed to walk away. Quietly. Firmly. Kindly.

If This Resonated — Don’t Keep It Quiet

If you’re still reading, maybe this hit a nerve. Maybe you’ve been feeling that low-grade tension too — the quiet ache that says, “I don’t feel like myself anymore.”

So here’s your gentle nudge:

👉 Unfollow. Mute. Step back. Breathe.

👉 Curate your feed like your peace depends on it — because it does.

👉 Like, share, or save this for a day when you forget that you’re allowed to choose what you consume.

👉 Follow if you want more raw, real stories like this — no fluff, no filters, just honesty.

Because freedom? It often starts with the smallest click.

And trust me — it’s so worth it.