I can still picture it: that endless scroll. A blur of reels, ads, and captions that all start to sound the same after a while. The feed is loud, fast, and relentless. And yet for years, I kept going back, chasing the little dopamine rush of likes and comments, trying to keep up with what the algorithm wanted from me.

Instagram has been a huge part of my career for over 13 years. It shaped how I built an audience, connected with students, and shared my creative journey. I’ll never downplay that. But something shifted. What used to feel like a fun, creative outlet slowly started to feel like a job I didn’t sign up for (or at least not in this way).

That’s why I want to talk about quitting social media. Not in the sense of disappearing or giving up, but in choosing depth over dopamine. For me, it’s about protecting my creativity, my mental health, and making space for real connection again. I first shared these thoughts over on my Substack, but I knew I needed to bring this conversation to the blog too. Because if you’ve been feeling this pull away from the grid, you’re not alone.

The Burnout Behind the Grid

Let’s be real. The algorithm has become exhausting. Every time I opened Instagram, there was this pressure: post more, pivot to video, try this trend, adjust your content strategy again. It was a constant performance cycle.

And underneath that? Attention theft. I noticed how often I reached for my phone without even thinking. Those little moments like sitting with my son at breakfast or taking a walk around the block were getting chipped away by notifications and the urge to “just check.”

But the hardest part for me was the quiet erosion of creative confidence. When your worth as an artist starts to feel tied to how many likes or shares a post gets, it chips away at your trust in your own instincts. I started second-guessing paintings I used to love simply because they didn’t “perform.”

The moment I realized it was time to step back wasn’t dramatic. Just an ordinary day where I felt drained before I’d even picked up a brush. I had spent more time planning posts than painting. That was my wake-up call.

Ever wonder if social media is hurting your art instead of helping it? I break it all down in my blog. Along with ideas to protect your creativity.

Why Creators Don’t Owe Anyone Content

One of the biggest shifts for me was realizing that sharing should be a choice, not an obligation. Somewhere along the line, I started feeling like I owed the algorithm or my followers constant output. That mindset is draining.

Setting boundaries with social media is not selfish, it’s an act of self-respect. As artists and creators, our value is not measured by audience size, engagement rate, or how often we post. Our worth comes from the art we make, the people we impact, and the joy we feel in creating.

And honestly, who decided that artists have to be content machines in the first place?

Not all posts are worth it. I’ve learned the hard way that boundaries matter when sharing online. In this blog, I walk you through the 3 rules I’ll never break when it comes to posting on social media.

What Happened When I Quit (or Stepped Back)

When I finally loosened my grip on Instagram, my creativity came rushing back. Without the daily pressure to post, I had more time for deep, unhurried art-making. I could sit with a painting for hours without wondering how it would fit into a square frame or caption.

My focus improved too. Without the constant pings on my phone, I slipped into flow states more often. Projects that had been on the back burner started to take shape and things like new tutorial ideas and even experimenting with styles I hadn’t touched in years.

And maybe the best part is mental clarity. With less comparison and less noise, I felt more grounded in my own vision. I trusted myself more. I remembered why I started painting in the first place. Because I love it.

Reclaiming Attention & Presence

So what does stepping back actually look like? For me, it wasn’t an overnight delete. I started small. At first, I only checked Instagram on my desktop or scheduled check-ins. That way, I wasn’t carrying the feed in my pocket all day. 

And I replaced that time with offline rituals that felt good. Instead of reaching for my phone in the morning, I make coffee and paint a little color study (nothing fancy, just play). I go for walks, read more books, and make space for real conversations instead of comment threads.

Quitting social media (or even just pulling back) gave me back my attention. And once I noticed how much calmer and more present I felt, I didn’t want to go back.

Practical Tips for Others Considering Quitting Social Media

If you’re feeling the itch to step away, you don’t have to quit cold turkey. Here are a few small steps that helped me:

• Start with boundaries. Try time limits, no-phone mornings, or deleting the app from your phone on weekends.
• Replace the habit. Instead of scrolling, pick up a sketchbook, read, or do something nourishing. (I promise, those minutes add up.)
• Find other outlets. Your work can still reach people without relying on the algorithm. Email lists, blogs, or even local art events are amazing ways to connect.
• Give yourself permission to pivot. Your audience will adapt, and the people who truly value your work will follow you anywhere.

Remember, this isn’t about disappearing, it’s about creating healthier patterns and protecting your creativity.

The Bigger Picture

This shift isn’t just personal. It matters for artists and creatives everywhere. By choosing real connection over algorithms, we’re reclaiming the very thing that fuels our work: presence.

Imagine what happens when more of us step back from the scroll. We have more energy to pour into our families, our communities, and our art. We make things that matter, not just things that perform. That ripple effect is powerful.

Quitting social media isn’t the only way to spark fresh ideas. In my blog, I share how stepping away (yes, even from painting!) can actually fuel your best creative breakthroughs. Read it here!

Instead of Scrolling, Why Not Paint?

When we spend less time online, it opens up more space for the things that truly matter like developing our craft and enjoying the process of making art. 

The Art Within is my 9-hour course designed to help you strengthen the core foundations every artist needs: drawing, composition, perspective, and color. But it’s not just about technique. It’s about learning to trust your creativity and developing a style that feels true to you (no trends or algorithms required).

So, if you’ve been feeling stuck or overwhelmed by the noise online, think of this as your invitation to spend less time scrolling and more time painting. By the end of the course, you’ll not only have stronger skills, you’ll have the confidence to create original work you’re proud to share.

Closing Thoughts on Quitting Social Media

Life is too precious to measure in likes. Quitting social media, or even just stepping back, has shown me that my best work and my best moments happen offline.

If you’ve been feeling the burnout, I encourage you to experiment. Start small, notice how it feels, and see what opens up. You might be surprised by how much creativity and calm rush back in.

If you’re craving slower, more thoughtful conversations about art and creativity, join me over on my Substack. No algorithms, just real connection.

And if you’re ready to spend less time scrolling and more time painting, explore my step-by-step watercolor tutorials on YouTube and find your next project.

At the end of the day, what we’re after is connection, not clicks. And the good news? Real connection doesn’t require hashtags.