5 Ways to Stay Off Social Media (for Your Mental Health)

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Protecting Your Peace As A Mom in a Divided World

If you have a phone, or even an internet connection, you hear the news. The tragedies and the violence.

The headlines are awful enough, but what really undoes me are the comments and the posts. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone wants to argue, justify, or point fingers. And I just sit there frozen, my chest tight, thinking… we were never meant to carry all of this.

It hit me that my mind, my nervous system, and even my spirit were being pulled into battles that weren’t mine to fight. And I’m guessing you’ve felt this too.

Social MEdia Is Destroying Our Nervous Systems

When we see these constant headlines and images, no matter where we stand politically, our nervous systems take a hit. Again and again, our bodies react as though danger is happening right in front of us.

Normally, when you are in a heated argument with someone, the hormones spike and the blood pressure rises. Our nervous systems go into overdrive. Sometimes it takes a while to cool down.

But on social media, not only are we hit with the headlines themselves, we’re bombarded with the opinions of others we normally wouldn’t see or hear. And when those opinions feel false, twisted, or dismissive, our minds scramble to push back. We think of comebacks and counterarguments, again and again, and whether we actually comment back or not, before we know it we have wasted so much time and energy on battles that bring no peace and have changed nothing. Mentally, we are constantly in arguments… our nervous systems in “fight” mode.

What was once harmless scrolling now feels more like standing in a crowded room where everyone is yelling at each other, but no one is listening.

It’s no wonder all of us are drained, anxious, and discouraged.

Social Media Changed How We See The World

There was a time when we only knew what was happening in our homes, our churches, and maybe through the evening news or the local paper. Today, we are bombarded with images, opinions, and details every hour of every day. And while technology connects us in amazing ways, the constant exposure is leaving so many of exhausted, anxious, and completely weighed down.

I decided a few weeks ago to get rid of social media and figured out a way to manage my online business without it (read about that here!), but sometimes even that isn’t enough to limit the exposure to traumatic events.

That’s how I knew, more than ever, how important it was to step back, and to choose peace over panic.

Why We Weren’t Made for Constant Media Exposure

Our brains and bodies are incredible, but they weren’t designed to process thousands of tragic headlines or millions of clashing opinions… at once. The weight of the world starts to feel like ours, and before we know it, we’re running on empty. Instead of focusing on my child’s meals for the day, I am grieving the mother of two lost in a car wreck in a far away state, or anxious about when the next act of violence will be and if it will be close to home.

We confuse what is our burden with what isn’t. Yes, God calls us to love, to pray, and to carry each other’s struggles. But He never asked us to absorb the weight of every tragedy on the planet, and to try and change everyone’s minds regarding such events.

Even Jesus, who came to save the world, knew that not everyone would listen or understand. Some people still walked away unchanged.

When we try to carry everything, we end up anxious, distracted, and disconnected from the very people we can impact—our kids, our marriages, our closest friends.

Practical Steps to Protect Your Peace

So how do we step back without disconnecting completely (as tempting as that is)? Short of unplugging completely (which I did and which is what inspired this new way of life), here’s what I’ve been practicing:

• Remove social media apps from your phone. If you need them for business, manage them through something like Meta Business Suite. That way, you can post and check in without getting sucked into the scroll. (I wrote more about how I use this tool in my post about managing an online business without being glued to your phone.)
  
• Choose trusted news sources sparingly. Instead of hearing every opinion on every issue, and seeing hundreds of dramatic headlines designed for clicks, I’ve learned to check in once or twice a day from sources I trust. That’s it. My favourite place for this is Substack — I get updates from publishers I trust right into my inbox.
  
• Lean on your inner circle. Conversations with people who truly lift me up—friends, mentors, or family—always bring me back to what matters. If a conversation turns toxic or dismissive, I give myself permission to let it go and simply pray for them. If you constantly engage in conversation with people who refuse to see nuance or be respectful, no matter their view or relationship to you, just move on. That said, you may not agree with everyone in your inner circle, and that’s ok… you also don’t want to put yourself in an echo chamber. You just want to find people who are compassionate and careful and have an open mind. But if you are in a fragile place, speak with someone who understands what you are feeling and why you are feeling it. You won’t be able to debate healthily with an activated nervous system… let that come later.
  
• Unload what you’re carrying. Journaling, prayer, talking with a counselor, or even just sharing with a safe friend or mentor helps me hand the weight back over. Sometimes I literally have to say out loud, “God, this isn’t mine to carry,” and I feel my shoulders unclench.

• Care for your body. Our physical rhythms matter. Eating well, moving our bodies, and fuelling with things that support, not drain, our energy makes a huge difference. This is where my greens, energy fizz, and meal replacement shake posts come in. It’s not about products, it’s about learning that when I’m nourished, my mind and spirit are steadier.

What The Real Goal Is When You Limit Social Media

It’s not about pretending the world isn’t broken or ignoring the pain others go through. It’s about remembering that our first calling is right in front of us: our homes, our children, our marriages, our homes.

When I step back from the chaos of online opinions, I notice the joy on my boys’ faces when we bake muffins together. I notice how my anxiety lowers when I take my coffee outside and thank God for another morning. I remember that this is the life I was given, and this is where I am meant to show up.

That’s the heart of Let’s Glow—moving from chaos to intentional living, from exhaustion to rhythms of peace.

If you’ve been feeling suffocated by the noise of the world, you are not alone. You are not weak for wanting to turn it off. You are wise. So delete the apps if you need to, set boundaries, and remember, it’s okay to unplug. The world will keep spinning, but your home will glow brighter when you choose peace.

If this spoke to you, I’d love for you to subscribe to my blog or share this post with a friend who might need the reminder today.