To all of you reading this article via social media, hello. What once dominated most of my idle time and brain concentration is now a thing of the past. That’s right, I have decided to purge myself of all social media: Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and Facebook.

Social media has always played a prominent role in my life. Wake up, check all the feeds, read the headlines, flip through last night’s photos, like some statuses, RSVP to an event, the list goes on and on, literally forever sometimes. Before I realize it, an hour has passed and I’m still groggy and lying in bed. Pathetic, right? Anyway, the trend follows suit the rest of the day, resulting in a lot of neck strain and even more wasted hours.

For a while I have been battling back and forth with my social connections. There would be weeks when I would delete a batch of apps from my phone, only to re-download them after a couple of days. What I realized in the process of testing the waters was how very little social media played healthily in my life. Not only was my mind clearer and not bogged down by the obsession of checking every app on my phone endlessly, I had more time to do things I needed to do, like reading, hiking, spending time with family, having deeper conversations with friends and meeting new people, and that last point has really hit home.

We live in a society where everyone has a smartphone and everyone depends on them; it’s reality. While yes, smartphones are incredible and have revolutionized efficiency, it has come with a price. In restaurants, public transportation, coffee shops, waiting rooms, on the streets, behind the wheel, there is rarely not a screen between us and other people. Why? Are we that socially anxious that the void of talking to someone in person should be constantly obstructed by the safety of our beloved iPhones? Even as I type this article in my local bakery, a family of four sips milkshakes as the mom scrolls away fervently, probably checking her emails or something just as important. Point being, we are becoming socially disconnected, and what kind of standard are we setting for the youth? What kind of world do we want to live in?

I live for reality. There is beauty in everything and all we have to do is look around us. Whether we find that in people, grass, trees, mountains, coffee, food, experiences of all kinds are waiting to be explored. I’m not saying that we are so far gone that these things are not being appreciated today, but I am saying that social media puts a strong barrier between realizing the potential in all that surrounds us. I don’t want to be spending all of my time looking down, but rather, up and out.

Beyond social anxiety, social media perpetrates self-indulgence and unhappiness. Think about the last time you did something really cool or landed that internship you’ve been hoping for. Did you post it somewhere online? Chances are, yes. And that’s fine, really, it is. And I’m happy for you. The problem is that while we are so diligent creating this idea of ourselves for the virtual sphere, what happens to all of the stuff we aren't so keen on posting? Sweep it all under the carpet and pretend it’s not there? I hope not, but social media allows this to happen. Instead of connecting with people in real life, a Facebook profile will now suffice to get the rundown on an old friend’s life, a quick “Hey I miss you!” Snapchat will fill the gap for a few weeks with that friend you haven't talked to since high school. But you’re probably thinking, isn't that a great way to let people know you are being thought of? Yes, and no.

This may just be me, but I don’t need constant reassurance that my friends are my friends. People move on, friends start college, and life is complicated. To believe that all of your friends you will ever have will be your friends forever is just ridiculous. Yet that is what social media wants to have you believe. The result is a perpetual catch up game where everyone is scrambling to connect with everyone in the virtual sphere while putting everything in reality on pause. Outcome? Uh, a lot of “friends?"

Further, with 1,000 friends to compare yourself with, all of whom are looking to convince their own 1,000 friends that they are living the best life out there, it’s easy to feel crappy. Oh look, Rebecca is going to Rome for the summer, Alexis got engaged, Sam is partying it up back at school. Looks like I’m just living my boring life back home. Great, now I’m upset. Why are all these people happy and I’m not?

Bullsh*t, all of it. Happiness is one of the least comparable feelings in the world, yet modern society will tell you that’s not true. Whether you’re being sold something, told you don’t have enough money, that your partner isn’t hot enough or you’re not into the new things, it’s easy to be “not happy.” If John bought a boat and I didn’t, he’s happier than me, right? No. So why is it that we let social media do this?

So that’s where I made my decision. I couldn't handle one more day of comparing myself to others and showing off my life. It was eating me up. I felt disgusted and shallow and as if I was suffocating in my own unimportance. At the end of the day, I am still in contact with my friends. If anything it has provided a way to realize who my true friends are, who are willing to go out of their way to contact me and stay in touch. It’s refreshing to step back from the virtual world and see how silly most of it is.

It’s our time to see the world around us, put the phones down, and enjoy our own lives for our own sake. Begin to realize that your life is special because it’s yours and go live it. Sharing every step you take is not only exhausting but futile. In the end, everyone is just concerned about their own life, so own it.