I know many of you have been following, or rather not following my 40 days off social media experiment and so I wanted to sit down and share with you what I learned in the hopes that maybe it will help you think about your own social media usage.

Maybe it will inspire you to also take 40 days off or change the way you use socials. Maybe this post will help you better understand the people in your life who are constantly attached to their phones, or maybe it will make you think about the things you do give your power away to in your own life and take that power back!

So, Why did I take 40 days off social media?

I haven’t had a break from social media since I first signed up for MySpace. I was going to say Facebook, but actually, it started long before that! I dabbled a couple of times with taking weekends off, Sundays off and I did try to take a week off at one point before I went in for 40 days, but in the interest of transparency, I did look at my feeds more than a few times via my laptop during that time!

Anyway, that’s a long time to be on social media without a break and I was really starting to feel it.

I love social media. I love connecting with my community and friends on these platforms and I love finding new people and accounts. I’ve actually made some amazing lifelong friends from meeting on socials!

But as we are all only too aware these days, social media is a double edged sword.

As much as I was loving the connections and community, I was also starting to notice some negatives. I was spending more time on socials than I wanted to, not just posting for my biz and connecting in positive ways, but scrolling mindlessly and I was also become aware of just how much I fell into comparison and (self) judgement at times.

Cats don’t use social media and they seem pretty happy!

I also started to notice that when I spent too much time on socials my energy didn’t feel so good and my intuition didn’t feel so clear, and not just in the moment of scrolling or briefly afterwards, but longer term.

When I took time to meditate on that I could clearly see that social media was part of the problem. Not only was I picking up on waaaay too much of everyone else’s energy, it was also messing with my nervous system putting me in flight or flight mode and making me feel like I had to constantly be doing something – posting more, having a bigger or deeper impact, commenting more, just generally doing more.

And while I was still able to set some boundaries for myself (not using socials on the weekends for example), I knew I had to do something big before socials became a big problem.

Why 40 days?

40 days is a pretty magical amount of time.

Jesus went into the desert for 40 days where he was tempted by the devil.

40 days is considered the amount of time needed to break a habit and change your conscious mind.

In Kundalini Yoga we often do a specific kriya (set of movements) or meditation for 40 days to not only change a habit but also your destiny.

40 days is a long time, but it’s also not really. It’s achievable. It’s not like you’re signing yourself up for being off social media forever, but it’s also enough time to really get a break and notice the changes.

My findings

OK, enough rambling, so what actually happened when I took 40 days off social media?

I felt relieved.

While I was a little hesitant to put up that post that I was getting off socials for 40 days (meaning I had to go through it!), once the posts were up and the apps were deleted off my phone I actually just felt a deep sense of relief.

I played a lot of Homescapes.

With no social media or work email (I removed that off my phone a while ago!) on my phone, whenever I had nothing to do and picked up my phone, I played Homescapes. As of writing this I’m on level 3290 but although I’ve played it a lot, I can easily just play a few rounds and put my phone down again. I actually also find it really helps when my anxiety pops up to say hello. If you play too add me as a friend! :P

My business did not suffer.

There was actually one week where I sold more digital courses and kits than I had in ages! I stayed in contact with my newsletter subscribers and let them know about workshops and other offerings and while I know that social media is good for my business it was nice to know that people are still finding my work whether I’m posting constantly on socials or not.

Getting off socials also helped me to get clearer about my business, what I’m creating and how I want to show up in the world! I got loads of downloads and ideas about new offerings and workshops.

Time went slower.

When I posted I was back, one person commented saying that the time went quickly, but actually I felt like I was off social media for ages! If time feels like it’s moving too fast, take a break from socials and see if you feel the difference!

I enjoyed the moment.

Without thinking about posting on social media I found myself more present in the moment. Instead of thinking – I have to get photos of this for social media, I was much more able to just be. I still took photos, but they were for me, my friends and family, not for the whole world.

Spent more time walking on the beach than taking photos on the beach, except this one. 😅

I found some deeper self-love.

Without trying to take selfies for socials or scrolling through and judging myself against a bajillion selfies and pics of stunning humans, I found myself letting go of some old, outdated beliefs I had around my physical appearance.

I read more books.

Less time scrolling = more time reading spiritual books and romance novels! I fell in love with so many incredible authors and stories which lit me up so much more than scrolling does!

I realised that social media wasn’t my only problem.

Sometimes when you take away what you think is the problem, you realise what’s really going on. Being addicted to scrolling (or anything) is often just a symptom of something else. I did a lot of shadow work, healing, deep diving and contemplation and uncovered some prickly truths and hidden gems I really needed to see but couldn’t until I removed the obstacle.

I didn’t miss it at all, until the end.

I actually didn’t really miss social media at all until about a week before I was due to come back. At one point I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to get back on socials, but during that last week I had a little buzz of excitement at the idea of getting back on social media, a buzz that I haven’t had in ages, and now I’m feeling more excited than ever to post and share and connect!

I’m making changes moving forward.

Right now, I’m not planning to put the apps back on my phone permanently. I think I’ll put Instagram back on when I have workshops or other offerings to share as posting on stories can be a good way to let people know about those since the algorithm doesn’t always put things in people’s feeds, but I don’t plan to be posting on stories otherwise. I’m also going to be posting like the “geriatric millennial” that I am, and stick to just posting photos for a while and see what happens.

And of course, that’s not set in stone. I evolve and change my mind all the time. But if you do see me posting my breakfast, lunch and dinner every day on stories, feel free to send me a DM and ask me if I’m doing okay! :P

In conclusion:

Wow, I didn’t mean to turn this into an essay, but here’s the conclusion – getting off social media for 40 days was awesome. It gave me so much clarity, space, peace and really helped me reconnect with myself again.

I’m not going to leave social media. I love being connected to my soul fam all over the world. But I’m not going to be on social media as much as I used to be, and I’m going to take longer breaks whenever I feel called.

I feel more empowered, confident and conscious about using social media. I feel like I can move forward with social media as a tool I can use for connection and for my business and it no longer has any power over me!

The world doesn’t end when you take time off social media, in fact, it may just help you to see the magic in the world that’s right in front of you.

With love,

Vix

If you’re a bit sensitive to energy (or a lot!) you may struggle with the idea of “wearing someone else’s clothes”.

But what’s really going on with the energy of secondhand clothes? If you are energy sensitive or psychic should you avoid secondhand clothes? Do secondhand clothes contain negative energy?

Let’s discuss! :D

How does intention and belief work when it comes to secondhand clothes?

We know that energy is all about intention. If you believe that wearing secondhand clothing is going to be a problem for you, guess what? It will be.

If you believe (like I do!) that wearing secondhand clothing is fun, ethical, sustainable and a brilliant way to help Gaia and save the planet, then guess what? It will be.

If you believe the bad vibes are gonna get you, then you can create that reality.

If you believe that wearing secondhand is no problem at all, in fact, it’s actually a more positive, high vibe and conscious way of living, then that’s the energy you bring into the thrift store with you!

I always feel just a little bit like Molly Ringwald in this shirt!

Do secondhand or vintage clothes contain negative energy, or the energy of the person who owned them?

Most people who give away their clothes are cutting cords on their ownership.

When I put something in the bag for the charity shop I am energetically releasing that item, whether I’m doing it consciously or not. I’m energetically saying “I don’t want to own this any more”.

Take a second to think about any items you’ve given away in the past - do you think you still hold any connection to them? Or did you let go and forget all about them so someone else may find them useful?

People seem super concerned with the idea of their clothing retaining energy, but if you really opened up to it you’d realise other people’s energy is everywhere.

Do you own any secondhand books or furniture? How about when you stay in a hotel and you sleep in sheets other people have slept in and towels other people have used?

And how about the energy of the factory workers who made your clothing? Who literally stitched that item together? Do you think their energy could be in that too?

I personally feel much happier in a thrift shop full of beautiful items that people have willingly given away than I do in huge flagship stores on the high street that are responsible for unethical practices, employee suffering and a huge contribution to climate change.

What if the person died?

OK, so some people didn’t give away their clothes “willingly”, in fact a lot of the items that end up in thrift stores and secondhand shops have been donated after someone dies.

One thing that can help is to remember that we never really “own” anything in this life. We only ever borrow things. We can’t take our clothes or material possessions with us when we go, and in a way, nothing is really ever “ours”.

I don’t know about you, but I would prefer my clothes get used and loved by someone else than end up in landfill or sitting around in a box somewhere, I think most of those who have passed over would feel the same.

How would you feel? What would you like to see happen to the clothes you have when you pass over? However you feel is probably how others feel too.

I adore this secondhand leopard coat I got off eBay. I feel so cosy in it!

How can I suss out the energy of secondhand clothing?

Most secondhand clothing has been washed before it hits the racks, and with so many items all jammed into each other it may be tricky to feel the vibes of each individual piece.

It’s also worth considering if the vibes you feel are from actually from the clothing, the staff working at the store, the building you are in or from all the other people who have touched and tried it on, or the actual item itself.

The best way to tune into the energy is to touch the item you are drawn to. And then, try it on and see how it makes you feel! Do you feel “good” in this item? Or do you feel “meh”?

If you are shopping online you can still “tune in” as you are looking through the items, just set the intention to do so!

Trust your intuition, if you are drawn to something and it lights you up a little bit inside to think about wearing it, then trust that feeling!

How can I clear the energy of secondhand clothes?

If you are still concerned about the energy of secondhand clothes or hold a belief that they need clearing, there are a few things you can do to energetically cleanse and clear the items before you wear them. And of course, do the following with the intention that you are clearing any residual energy off the item.

First up, give them a good wash and if you can, dry them outside. A lot of secondhand items end up in boxes and shops for a really long time before they get to see the light of day again! If your item retains that thrift store smell you can always repeat this a few times. I’ve had items that got washed, dried and put back in the laundry quite a few times before they smelled fresh. Don’t let it deter you! It’s just a process of bringing the item back to life! :D

You can put a little pinch of salt in the wash with it, but don’t use it on anything delicate!

If you feel called to, you can cleanse the item with smoke or incense or any kind of essential oils or aura spray - but be careful when you do this, not all material enjoys oils and smoke! Use sparingly.

Thank the item for coming into your life, give gratitude.

Announce that the item is now yours. One of the best ways to do this is to just tell someone - hey look at my new cardigan!

Give it a spritz with your own perfume

Wear it!

I wore a secondhand vintage wedding dress when I got married - happiest day of my life!

I still can’t do secondhand or vintage, what can I do instead?

OK, I get it, maybe secondhand ‘aint your thing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference and be ethical with your outfits!

Keep wearing your own clothes for longer. Do you really need that new pair of jeans? Or are the ones you have really fine? Or if you do buy something new, do it with the intention of wearing it for a really long time.

Buy good quality items that will last. Spend a bit more on something you can keep for years rather than something cheap that will just last a season.

Support smaller ethical businesses.

Do your research on the brands you buy from. A simple Google of “is [this brand] ethical?” will bring up the answers for you. Some high street shops are much better than others. For example Marks and Spencer and Adidas have much higher ratings than other companies. If you can’t avoid buying new, at least try to support the companies that are trying to move in more ethical directions.

I’d love to know in the comments if you have any other questions or thoughts on the energy of secondhand clothing and if there is anything you do to cleanse, clean and embrace your secondhand hauls!

With so much love and light,

Vix

What I learned from my 40 day social media break