Three years ago, I did a digital detox then quit social media. Just up and left. Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn* (*except for the bare minimum for my HR work at the time), the whole dopamine-charged circus. And look, I get it – that makes me a total rebel (or a luddite, depending on who you ask).
But this isn’t some holier-than-thou anti-tech manifesto. I don’t judge anyone for staying on social media – it’s an incredible tool, and for many people, it’s an essential part of life and business. I just found, for me, that life felt better without an algorithm.
Why I Quit: The Accidental Break That Became Permanent
In early 2022 I read Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport, and decided to take a three-month ‘digital detox’ break from social media. A little experiment to see if I’d feel better without it. I was expecting some FOMO, maybe a bit of inconvenience. What I wasn’t expecting? That after three months away, my life had only improved, and on every measure that matters – so I never went back.
Digital minimalism is a philosophy that helps you question what digital communication tools (and behaviors surrounding these tools) add the most value to your life. It is motivated by the belief that intentionally and aggressively clearing away low-value digital noise, and optimizing your use of the tools that really matter, can significantly improve your life.
– Cal Newport, Digital Minimalism
The only real true downside I found? It was harder to find out when favourite bands and DJs were touring. (Easily fixed with the app Bandsintown, which – side note – proves that you don’t need an entire platform feeding you mind-numbing tripe just to get information on your favourite musician’s latest tour.)
As someone who’s always been a bit of a dopamine junkie (we all are, to some extent, being just slightly evolved apes), I started looking at my dopamine sources with fresh eyes.
Trading Cheap Dopamine for the Good Stuff
Social-media-induced-dopamine was out. But I didn’t just remove it, I replaced it. Instead of cheap, algorithm-driven dopamine, I started doubling down and focusing more on implementing plenty of daily natural highs:
Hot/cold plunges – because shocking your body with temperature extremes is the cleanest source yet.
Exercise – obviously. Especially outside in nature.
Deep human connection – you know, like actually talking to people, face-to-face.
Awe in nature – no amount of scrolling gives you the same hit as standing on a mountaintop at sunset.
Skin-to-skin contact – hugs, sex, all that good oxytocin-inducing stuff.
Breathwork – still one of the purest forms of dopamine, possible addictive, and always available.
Incredible food with loved ones – because eating alone while scrolling isn’t good (yes, I still do it too).
Dancing and music – no explanation needed. Especially live music.
Sunlight – especially morning sunlight – nature’s original mood booster.
Lest you think I’m some kind of zen digital minimalist, let me be clear: I confess I am still a total phone addict, just like the rest of us. My quiet (or not-so-quiet) addiction? realestate.com and SoundCloud. I can lose hours – days – getting lost in both, but especially realestate.com. I’ve had to set up AppBlock to stop myself from ogling properties in Currumbin, Noosa, Hobart and Lorne at ridiculous hours of the night. So yeah, social media might be gone, but my dopamine circuits are still very much engaged.
The Coaching Business Dilemma: To Post or Not to Post?
Fast forward to 2024, and I found myself setting up my coaching business. And guess what I keep hearing? “You HAVE to be on social media. It’s career and business sabotage if you’re not.”
Well, shoot me down (I know, I know, and I can see your eyes rolling from here), but I’m giving it a red-hot go without being all over multiple socials. If that means my business grows slower and more organically – fine by me. If it means I have to be fucking excellent at what I do so that people rave about me and refer me – great. Call me naive, or old-fashioned, but I know I will find my people. My people will find me. I truly believe that.
As a coach, I’m big on walking my talk. After a solid dose of personal N=1 experimenting, I realised that social media just doesn’t align with my values anymore – not with the way I want to live, lead, or feel in my body. So, it’s out. I’m NOW modelling something more positive and different for my two teenage sons, and I’m offering a glimpse of what might be possible for my clients too. A chance to quieten the noise, ditch the distractions, and come home to their own authenticity. Their own version of real.
I also love that without social media, there’s minimal unnecessary comparison. No keeping up with online coaching fads or the ultra-filtered lives of people and other coaches I don’t actually need to know about. I just blindly play my own game, by my own rules. It feels authentic, rebellious and genuinely fun this way.
How I Stay in the Loop (Without the Scroll)
These days, I’m intentional about what I consume. If I want to keep up with someone’s content, I subscribe to their newsletter, Substack or podcast. I let the people I actually want in my world take up space there.
That’s not to say I judge anyone who is on social media. It’s a legit and excellent way to grow a business. But for me, it was wasting too much of the commodity I value most: time. It was also simply turning me into someone I didn’t like. The random negative thoughts it triggered, the constant advertising, the feeling that my IQ was dropping with every scroll… nope, it’s just not for me. I prefer to take my dopamine on ice, thanks (ice bath that is, not meth).
Will I Ever Go Back?
Maybe. At some point, I might decide I want to reach more people and dip my toes back in the water. Who knows? But for now, I love the way my life feels without it.
The Inevitable Irony
As an (ex)-corporate-HR-type I had to hang on to LinkedIn profile to use for work. I’m actually glad I did, as LinkedIn now feels like the most aligned place for me to choose to consciously show up, connect and share online in a way that feels sustainable and authentic. LinkedIn doesn’t tend to hijack my time or attention, nor fuel a dopamine-rush or comparison-itis quite the way Crackbook and Insta used to do.
I’ll probably even post this somewhere on LinkedIn at some point in the future. The irony is not lost on me.
Wanna stay in touch with me but can’t work out how without a ‘Follow’ button?
Ha! Well, just like in the olden days – if you actually want to hear from me regularly, subscribe to my Substack, sign up for my email list. Send me a message! Connect with me on Linkedin. Or just check back in on my blog every now and then – and hey, do it on your terms, and only when you bloody well feel like it. You’re welcome.
Live music remains my all-time-favourite dopamine hit. Triptykon, DarkMofo Festival, Hobart, June 2022
Rach Taylor is a high-performance, life and career coach, speaker, advisor, Olympic medallist, and former senior HR leader. She supports high-functioning humans ready to take the leap (despite the confidence wobbles and the fear) and build for what’s next. Rach brings Olympic-level discipline, real-world HR, life and leadership experience, a geeky obsession with human optimisation, and a no-BS, heart-led approach to every space she works in.Keen to hook up? Book a virtual coffee with Rach.
