The Initial Days Without Instagram

After spending considerable effort building my Instagram following (over 6,000), stepping away felt daunting. Initially, I struggled with the habit of sharing memes with friends, which was detrimental to my productivity. It became clear to me that eliminating Instagram could lead to a significant change.

This situation reminded me of a quote from Jordan Peterson: "If you sit in your bed one day and ask yourself—what remarkably foolish thing am I doing that's completely ruining my life? The answer may not be pleasant, but it is necessary."

I was reluctant to admit that I might be addicted to social media. I thought I had control over my impulses, but the first few days were challenging. I found myself craving social media and scrolling through memes. "I wanted to go to the bathroom just to scroll on my phone. It was not a proud moment," I noted in my journal.

Reflecting on my addiction, I recognized the need for change. By the fourth day without social media, I felt rejuvenated; I was waking up to my alarm, reading books, and completing work tasks with greater ease. One book that particularly resonated with me during this time was "The Compound Effect," from which I gleaned insights like:

• Understanding who I need to become to reach my goals
• Cultivating focus without relying solely on motivation
• Being the individual who acts responsibly and takes care of their family
• Maintaining mental and physical well-being

The lessons were simple yet profound: "You + Choice + Behavior + Habit + Compounded = Goal."

Transitioning to Medium

With my renewed focus on Medium, I embarked on writing "Advanced Project Structuring - Python." According to my journal, this endeavor was challenging as I delved into advanced topics and needed to conduct thorough research.

The moment I realized I made the right decision to switch from Instagram to Medium was on November 23rd, 2023. After publishing "5 Python Features You Should Know," I woke up to find that my article had generated an impressive $9.18 and received 1,100 reads.

I eagerly shared this milestone with my friend: "My last Python article about 5 Python Features is making us money on Medium… And we enabled MPP yesterday."

Of course, not every experience was as rewarding. I submitted several technical articles to platforms like Towards Data Science and The Startup, but faced rejection. However, I learned that persistence is key; we only truly fail when we stop trying.

I came to understand that not every day would yield a brilliant idea for writing. Some days, it requires pushing through to find inspiration. Additionally, I discovered that not every published piece would perform as well as anticipated, a tough lesson that tested my expectations.

I aspired to create valuable articles that resonated with my audience, acknowledging that building a readership and refining my writing skills takes time. It may sound cliché, but consistency and discipline are essential for success.

As I continued to publish, I noticed my audience growing. Previously, I would gain only a couple of new followers each month, but now my readership was expanding.

Audience Growth — Screenshot by the Author

I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has joined me on this writing journey here on Medium. Thank you!

Final Thoughts

Reflecting on my decision to step back from social media and concentrate on writing, I can confidently say it was one of the best choices I made. I’m not suggesting that everyone should do the same, as we all have different ways of coping with our challenges. For some, managing multiple tasks while maintaining social media presence is feasible. However, for me, this change was necessary for my growth.

The real victory in transitioning from Instagram to Medium lies in the peace I’ve found by breaking free from social media. I feel centered and content with myself.

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