6 Reasons My Life and Business Are Better Instagram Free

Hey Friend!

It’s officially been 1.5 years since I said goodbye to Instagram. I used to spend hours and hours scrolling, creating content, and thinking about what to post. But secretly, I hated it! I was trapped and addicted to this platform. It’s hard for me to go back there because I remember how it made me feel, the anxiety attacks I used to have, and how it stole time away from my boys.

There was a lie and a deception over Instagram making me believe that I HAD to be there. And looking back, I can see so clearly how much of a distraction and a time-suck it was. So today, I’m sharing what it’s like to be Instagram free for a year and a half. I’ve also got 6 reasons why my life and business are better and more successful now that I am no longer using Instagram.

How My Life and Business Are More Successful After 1.5 Years Instagram Free

Are you tired of living your life on Instagram, pouring into the platform, and not seeing the fruit of all of that time and energy? Do you feel discernment alarms going off in your head about the way you’ve been growing your business? I have a free workshop to teach you why podcasting is the best way to grow your business. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by watching it!

I know that wherever you are in your journey, God has led you here to read about this topic. So get cozy and give yourself the freedom to take it in! This is a judgment-free zone, so if you’re still sitting on Instagram for eight hours a day, it’s ok! You are where you are, but God has brought you here for a reason.

A year and a half ago, I personally made the decision to go Instagram free, and now we are not even on there as a company anymore. We still use Facebook as a company, but we are entirely Instagram free. This is completely against what culture tells us we need to do in order to be successful.

I made the choice to be Instagram free because I felt controlled by the app. I was addicted and felt like I was living my life for the platform and not for myself. It made me capitalize on my children in order to grow more followers because I thought I needed to be relatable and those followers meant something to my business.

My Journey to becoming Instagram Free

My Instagram journey began a year and a half ago with a 30-day detox. If you want to go down the rabbit hole and dig into my experience, here is my entire journey.

• I’m Deleting Instagram for 30 Days. Will it Hurt My Business? THE SOCIAL EXPERIMENT!
• Instagram Detox Week 2 Update! Biz Numbers Revealed + REVELATIONS!
• Week 3 INSTAGRAM DETOX Update! PLUS – 2 SPOILERS – Don’t Miss Out!
• Week 4 of my Instagram DETOX. 30 Days, NO IG. Biz Update + What am I Going to Do Now? How God‘s Moved in This Time!
• 6-Week Instagram Detox UPDATE! How I Plan to Use IG Moving Forward & What I‘m Still Discerning Through.
• INSTAGRAM FREE for 6 Months – Has it Hurt My Business? What Has Changed?

God used this journey to show me there was a worldly way of building a business. We have to be willing to try different things when God convicts us and trust He will show us the fruit of that obedience in the future.

A year and a half later and I have six reasons I am better off Instagram free. It isn’t just my life and my mental health, but also my business that has improved as a result of getting off Instagram.

1. I Have More Time With My Family Now I Am Instagram Free

One of the greatest gifts Instagram gave me when I left was my time back. I was spending 5-8 hours a DAY on this platform! What on earth are we doing giving this much of our God-given time to our phones? I have this freedom and mental space available now to give to my husband and children. I am on Facebook for maybe 15 minutes per day now because we have a community on there. But that’s it!

If you have been saying to yourself

• “I wish I was more present”
• “I have trouble listening when people speak to me“
• “I have trouble putting my phone down”
• “I feel so distracted in my conversations with people“

This is not something to be ignored. This is a Holy Spirit conviction over your life that you must pay attention to. Take it to the feet of the Lord. He is inviting you to make a change.

2. There Are No More Comparison Traps

I used to constantly go into a black hole comparing myself to other people’s accounts. I was comparing how they looked, what they had, and what they were doing. And most of the time there’s a filter slapped on there, so you’re not even getting a true representation of their life. You’re getting their highlight reel.

I’m very limited in my consumption now. There are things that are way more important than knowing who people are on social media and comparing myself to them.

3. I Have Exponentially Increased my Focus

I believe that Instagram was putting a screen over my eyes and my mind and it was controlling me. The tricks of the Enemy are slow and pointed. He knows we like being on Instagram and he feeds that desire like with any addiction. But the beauty is that God is in control and He can awaken you at any moment.

But you have to be available for the awakening. You need to ask God to help you identify the idols in your life and be willing to lay things down. Until you are willing and you have told God you are here for the work, you are living with this facade over your life and mind. With this screen over your mind, your productivity and focus will suffer. At the pace most women are going on these apps, you are running straight toward a brick wall and you don’t even see it.

For me, I needed to be Instagram free. What this looks like for you is between you and God.

4. Going Instagram Free Created Deeper Trust and Higher Conversion With My Audience

When you’re not constantly posting on Instagram, you have the time to create long-form content, like a podcast, that actually converts. Getting away from all the distractions on Instagram has allowed me to create something of true meaning. When I am gone, this podcast will still be here and my voice will still be heard. I will still be changing someone’s life because of what I am putting into the world and not because of a post I created to get more likes. It’s about creating something of meaning that will become a legacy in your life generationally.

I also make more money in this business now that I’m Instagram free. It’s incredible what God has done with my time now that I surrendered it to Him.

5. Being Instagram Free Has Lowered My Stress and Anxiety

I wouldn’t say I am stress-free, but being off Instagram has significantly lowered my stress. I haven’t had an anxiety attack in 3.5 years since I went alcohol-free and then Instagram free. There has been a direct correlation in my life between being free from addiction and feeling peace.

Now that I’m free from the addictions in my life, I am at peace. I am calm and collected, and I am in Christ.

6. My Company Makes More Money and Has More Leads Now That We Are Instagram-Free

I was intentionally growing Instagram. I had a strategy, I was on the platform 5-8 hours a day doing everything I could to grow on the platform. And my revenue soared once I got off the platform. It’s proof that having an engaged audience who trusts you converts way better than having a lot of followers who don’t even interact with you.

It’s time to break up with Instagram, or whatever social platform you’re feeling that nudge for. Even if it’s just a fast. The Lord will give you the strength to be Instagram free. You will have new eyes to see, new ears to hear, and you will be changed. I can confidently say that going Instagram free was the best decision I have ever made. I am happier and I am more profitable. Everything is more peaceful in my life. Being obedient to God’s way is always worth it.

I pray this blesses you!

Xo,

Stef

APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY | GOOGLE PODCAST

Before you go, be sure to watch the free workshop!

This free workshop is for you if you want to grow an online business in less time.

It will teach you how to explode your audience without the social media hustle, make consistent sales using a podcast, and plan, record, and launch a podcast with ease!

RELATED EPISODES:

How to Grow an Audience With No Social Media

3 Reasons You Shouldn’t Use Social Media to Build Your Online Business! What to Use Instead as a Faith-Led Entrepreneur.

5 Reasons Social Media Marketing is Dead + What to Do Instead!

SJ Went Without Social Media for 30 Days. Did it Hurt Her Biz? + Breaking Up With Your Phone!

Discern Distraction vs. Opportunity in 5 Simple Steps

Join our Facebook Community!

Online Business for Christian Women with Stefanie Gass