My first day back: An open letter on quitting social media for a year

Where do you even begin telling a story that has changed your life?

Have you ever believed social media was a “necessary evil” for your creative business? Have you ever believed if you went quiet on this platform for more than a week, you’d end up being forgotten? Have you believed this space was make it or break it for you? Have you tried desperately to follow all the rules, only to find yourself exhausted and no further along than before?

Hi, I’m Shanna Skidmore. It’s been a while! 18 months to be exact since I’ve shown my face on Instagram. Imagine me on the other side of this screen waiving with gusto to you! ??

On March 1, 2017 I decided to take a year away from social media. I called it my social media free experiment, and that’s exactly what it has been! An experiment!

I realize now I left many of you wondering :

“where did she go?”

“why did she leave?”

“is she coming back?”

“is this really something she needed to do?”

MY STORY

What do you say when you haven’t shown up for 18 months? No Pressure. ?

So I’m just gonna be real with you … because I know you will get it.

In 2013, I took the leap and started my own company. It finally felt like all the puzzle pieces came together and I found my place. It was more than just a job. It felt like a calling. It was purpose. It was meaning.

But I’m a data girl.

And by 2017, the data was stealing my joy.

I was obsessing over like counts and comments.

Spending countless hours perfecting the grid. Instead of becoming a better business coach, I was trying to become a better photographer.

I was mentally and emotionally drained. Trying to keep up. Believing that if I slowed down, I would be forgotten.

I didn’t quit social media because I hated it, or because it made me unhappy, or because I think you should quit. I quit because it felt like a good thing had become an ultimate thing. It was too important. And I wasn’t willing to sacrifice my LIFE trying to secure my significance.

More than anything I want people to know WHY I did it.

My journey all along has been to help people in their businesses … to live the life they actually want to live.

It’s not about making the most money, It’s about helping others find FREEDOM.

Here’s the deal.

I left.

and I cried.

A LOT.

And then my sales more than doubled.

My output more than doubled.

And I realized, maybe just maybe, this was the best thing I’ve ever done.

MY SOCIAL MEDIA FREE EXPERIMENT

Over the next few weeks I want to share exactly what has happened over the last 18 months. In my business and in my life. Some of you will need to hear some of it, most of you are probably just curious, and a few of you may be a little afraid to hear it all. Because I dare to say, you’ve maybe felt the urge to drop off cold turkey from time to time yourself?

I’m still here. With the same mission : to help you and me and us design a business that supports the life we actually want to live.

I’m glad to be back, I’ve missed you!

Shanna

More posts all about my social media free experiment.

WATCH MY SOCIAL MEDIA FREE EXPERIMENT!