Why I Quit Social Media as a Writer and What I’m Doing Instead

— A Slow Living Perspective on Creativity, Calm, and Real Connection

For a long time, I tried to find peace with social media. I posted beautiful photos and wrote thoughtful captions. I spent hours crafting content that aligned with my values, hoping it would reach those who might need it. But often, it felt like I was whispering into a void. Or worse, I was feeding a machine that grew stronger the more I gave it.

The Struggle with Social Media

This feeling isn’t new to me. A few years back, I left social media for almost two years. Gradually, I felt myself pulled back in and, before I knew it, I was once again in its grip, at its mercy. I didn’t enjoy it one bit.

Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok thrive on attention. Every photo, every caption, every reel is just fuel for their algorithm. Yet there is no exchange. I am not employed by them, yet I was working for them. I poured energy into these spaces but received little in return. This isn’t because people didn’t care; it’s because these platforms don’t value depth, slowness, or sincerity.

My Values and Social Media

The truth is social media goes against my values. I believe in living slowly, simply, and intentionally. I believe in meaningful connections—not fleeting validation. I believe in creating work that brings calm, not noise. For many people, social media unknowingly contributes to anxiety, comparison, and a sense of never being enough. That is the opposite of what I want to offer the world through my writing and podcast.

Not long ago, a friend encouraged me to rethink my approach. She said, “You get to be on social media. You get to share your work.” Her advice came with good intentions, but deep down I felt differently. I don’t need to retrain my brain to fit into something that feels misaligned. I don’t need to condition myself to succeed in a space that doesn’t align with who I am.

Yearning for Simplicity

I long for the days when writers and creatives could share their work simply and directly. A time when you discovered a beautiful book because a friend passed it to you. When stories were told around fires or on radios. When you could be a creator without also being a marketer.

That’s why I’ve stepped away from social media and returned to more grounded spaces. I’m pouring my heart into my podcast and writing my first book—both feel rich with purpose and align deeply with how I want to live and connect. Once a week, I share a 10-minute audio episode offering a quiet moment to remember the old ways, find joy in the mundane, and reconnect with nature and real life.

I love that my words can reach someone walking through a forest, making tea, or sitting with their eyes closed. My podcast can reach audiences that don’t or can’t read, which feels very human.

Why I Quit Social Media as a Writer

I’d much rather someone discover my work through an email they chose to open, rather than because it showed up between ads, noise, and distractions. I'd prefer one true connection over a thousand likes. I'd rather you listen in a space that brings you calm than one that feeds your restlessness.

Time Away from Social Media

People spend up to five hours a day on social media. Five hours! That time could be used to learn a new skill, garden, sit with loved ones, cook nourishing meals, or simply be still. It could be life-changing.

So no—I’m not on social media anymore. And I’m at peace with that. If you’d like to hear my stories, you can find them on my podcast or right here on my website. This is where I share from the heart and invite you to slow down with me.

Embracing Timeless Connections

Since stepping away from social media, I’m leaning into timeless, heartfelt ways to share and grow. If you enjoy what I create, here are some “old school” ways to support my work (most of which cost nothing but are seldom done):

📬 Sign up for my newsletter if you haven’t already, and open it when it arrives.

✨ Forward my website to a friend interested in slow living, nature, or thoughtful writing.

📮 Comment below to say hello—I love hearing from you.

📚 Share my blog or podcast in group chats, newsletters, or book clubs.

🧡 Leave a kind review on my podcast—it helps more than you know.

📝 Mention my work on your blog or website—word of mouth is powerful.

☕ Buy me a coffee (or become a paid subscriber or purchase from my online store).

Every little gesture makes a difference and reminds me that this slower, truer way of creating still matters. Which will you choose?

— Julie Ann

A Wild and Simple Life