How I am limiting my social media usage and reading self-help books instead

I wanted to share a little life update that might inspire you if you’ve also found yourself trapped in the endless scroll lately.

Like so many of us, I’d catch myself mindlessly flicking through TikTok and Instagram Reels — you know, just one more video that somehow turns into an hour (or three!). It’s wild how time slips away when your thumb is busy scrolling and your brain is on autopilot. I realized how much of my day was quietly disappearing while I was busy watching other people live their lives — their travels, recipes, workouts — while mine was sitting there on pause.

So, I decided it was time to set some gentle, realistic boundaries with my phone. I didn’t want to quit social media completely — let’s be real, I still love catching up with friends and finding funny videos — but I knew I needed to use it more mindfully. Now, I’ve limited myself to just one hour of social media usage per day. I even went into my phone settings and set up app timers (surprisingly easy, by the way). At first, I felt a little weird seeing that “Time Limit Reached” notification pop up, but after a while, it became a reminder that I’m giving myself permission to spend my time on things that truly make me feel better — not just entertained for a moment.

One of the best parts of this small change? I’ve reconnected with an old love: reading. I actually tried to get back into it a while ago using my Kindle, but honestly, it didn’t stick. Maybe it’s a bit old-school, but nothing beats the feeling of flipping through real pages, seeing how far you’ve come with a bookmark, and that fresh, comforting smell of a new book.

When I was younger, I was that kid who always had her nose buried in a book. I’d get lost for hours — whole weekends would go by with me curled up in bed or on the couch, completely absorbed in different worlds. Somewhere along the way, adult life, endless notifications, and a million distractions made that habit slip away. So, this is me, gently bringing it back.

Right now, I’m loving Atomic Habits by James Clear — such a practical, motivating read if you want to build better routines. I’m also reading Time Anxiety by Chris Guillebeau, which is a game changer if you ever feel like there’s just never enough time in the day (trust me, you’re not alone there!).

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Time Anxiety by Chris Guillebeau

I know I’m just getting started, but it feels really good to be reclaiming pieces of my day for me again. If you’ve been feeling the same way — overwhelmed by how easy it is to scroll hours away — maybe this is the nudge you need too. Pick up a book, take a break from the endless scroll, and remind yourself that the best moments happen when you’re really living them. If you have any good book recommendations, drop them my way — I’d love to add them to my stack! Here’s to turning more pages, and spending less time glued to our screens. 💛✨