The week I broke up with Instagram
hiking in Capetown | literal forest bathing | feeling peace in the process
It’s already after 11pm my time, so this is going to be a quick one. My brain is too tired from 5 hours of coaching calls to share anything profound- but I still wanted to touch base.
I want to make it a habit of dropping you a note every Sunday- even if it’s unpolished scribbles. Even if I’m sitting on my couch in my PJs drinking my sleepy time tea trying to shake myself awake.
So wherever you are in the world right now- thanks for taking the time to open this up and drop in with me.
Shall I give you the update now?
I deleted every social media app from my phone
This week I did something extreme.
I deleted social media from my phone. Every. Single. App. I broke up with instagram for the rest of the year. I’m using LinkedIn and Facebook exclusively on desktop. Even Substack got the axe from my phone.
At this point the only thing work related on my phone is email.
The changes I’ve experienced are beyond what I even predicted. I have so much more free time- I’ve read 2 full books since Tuesday. Plus I’m feeling a rush of creative ideas and creative energy. Like my mind is detoxing from consuming- and can’t wait to start creating again.
And my favorite part… the peace.
The amount of peace I feel… is astounding.
I’m unhooking from notifications- as a means of personal validation. I wake up, and don’t check my phone first thing. Or, I do… but there’s nothing to check. So then I just put it back down.
I’m not wondering how my posts performed. Opening and refreshing the different apps hunting for dopamine. Endlessly scrolling for “inspiration”.
I’m still posting content on LinkedIn, but deleting it from my phone, has given me this healthy emotional distance. I log on a few times a day on my desktop- but it feels so neutral. There’s no emotional attachment to the platform.
It’s wild.
Literally all I feel is peace.
Peace that the right people will see my emails and sign up for my programs.
Peace that some LinkedIn posts will go viral and drive growth and others will land with a smaller group of people in a deep way.
Peace that I’m posting enough content.
Peace that it’s all adding up and working out.
Peace.
Don’t get me wrong, I was enjoying the journey before, but I felt this underlying nagging pressure. This feeling of never doing enough. This worry that if I didn’t get things to add up in the exact right formula or it wouldn’t work out
And now? It feels like I’m unlocking a whole new level of entrepreneurial joy. It’s like I have the confidence and security of someone with a 9-5 job, and the excitement and passion of an entrepreneur.
It’s not just the social media thing. It’s also the essentialism. The doing less but better and letting it be enough.
So… whew. Big exhale.
I get to have it all by accepting I can’t DO it all.
That’s the distinction.
I can HAVE it all.
But I cannot DO it all.
Plus- even in the absence of IG my business is thriving. I made sales every single day last week.
I think I may be onto something here.
So business is good, and life is Capetown is not disappointing either.
Capetown highlights…
On Sunday, I hiked Chapman’s Peak. Capetown is truly a hikers paradise. There are more trails than I could ever hope to complete- and it’s a huge part of the social scene here. Hearing people say “I’ll add you to our hiking group chat” is literally my love language.
My fav part of the hike, was lounging at the top soaking in the views. Which sounds obvious… but we truly took our time here.
Normally once I hit the top, I stay for 15 min or so and am ready to head back down. This time… we hung out on the peak for over an hour. Sometimes talking and laughing, sometimes each being in our own meditative experience with nature. None of us were in a rush. We didn’t have anywhere else to be. It’s like we all just wanted to be present in the beauty of the moment.
Another big highlight was spending Friday night in a forest hut.
I found the most magical retreat center on air bnb just 20 minutes outside the city- and booked a room for the weekend. I got to lay in a hammock reading, wake up to birds singing, meditate by a koi pond, and take a literal forest bath.
This was probably the most magical outdoor bathing experience I’ve ever had (besides the shower at Eagles Nest in Lake Atitlan).
And then finally, grabbing drinks and watching the sunset at 12 apostles hotel on Saturday night.
For me, the “drinks” were sparkling water… but I’m not even phased by that anymore. I don’t have a desire to drink alcohol. I don’t feel left out if other people are drinking. I don’t need to avoid social situations involving drinks. I’m so solid and content in my sobriety.
Ok my love, I’m fading fast and need to get some proper sleep. See you next week!
XO, Coach Chels
Love this.