For the past few years, I've spent January sober, taking the time to detox from holiday drinking and reset for the coming new year. During Dry January, I discovered more energy. I slept better, and I felt less stressed. This year, I thought, why not apply this same method to my digital life. In August, I intend to stay off social media. My goal is to do less scrolling and more scribbling.

During the pandemic, I've found myself spending more time on social media and news sites than ever before. In the early days, I convinced myself I had corona after experiencing shortness of breath, thanks to a COVID-induced anxiety attack. Lately, I've found myself in an all-too comfortable evening ritual. Every night ends the same way the day began, with an endless scroll through social media, desperately seeking clarity and understanding as the world collapses into crisis. Yes, the doom scroll is real.

To be clear, I don't plan on giving up social media entirely. Social media has affected my life in many positive ways. In fact, social media has helped me and countless others stay connected during the lockdown. It's also served as a tool to share resources amid the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement. Yet, for me, as I grasp for a coping mechanism for being sequestered in my home, social media feels more like a compulsion than a tool for connection. It's become a distraction from the real work I should be doing – caring for myself, looking after the people closest to me, active learning, and unlearning.

To start, I plan to delete social media apps from my phone. For now, it's goodbye, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Reddit. I'll replace screen time with more reading. I also intend to use this time for other creative projects – sewing, tinkering in my garden, testing new recipes, writing, drawing, and going for walks. If I'm feeling wild, who knows, I may start running again. For the moments I reach for my phone, I aim to grab my journal (or my notes app) instead. I plan to reflect on what's going on in that specific moment and understand why I use social media. I hope to return with a detailed reflection on lessons learned and a new perspective.

If you're craving some space, why not spend a little time away?