In 90 days without short-form video, I got more done for my productivity and business than probably the whole previous year. Money is made with your head, not your hands.
3 months without social media.
For the last 90 days (starting September 3rd), I haven’t watched stories or reels. I completely gave up short-form content, keeping only useful long-form videos on YouTube.
It’s a genuinely interesting experience, one that’s hard to put into words.
Over these 3 months I got more done for my personal productivity and my business than probably the entire previous year.
I started working on projects I’d been putting off for a very long time.
I started writing books. I’m studying the publishing business because I’m planning to self-publish.
I’ve made solid progress in my academic psychology coursework. I’m learning a lot of fundamentals about the profession. That said, I still don’t plan to position myself as a psychologist after graduating.
I substantially grew my team. We’re currently onboarding a copywriter, and I found a good HR manager and accountant.
I launched Almost Studio for rentals and took on some new clients to help grow their social media.
I started learning YouTube with a one-on-one mentor who has strong results on the platform.
The single biggest gain from quitting social media is that I now have the energy and bandwidth to consistently spend time on tactics and strategy.
I know that 1 good strategic decision a year can double my business. And 2-3 tactical decisions a quarter sustain and support that plan.
As an entrepreneur, it matters to me that I’m not 100% buried in day-to-day operations, and that I find time to make decisions, come up with new frameworks for action, and build out structure.
Money is invented with your head, not earned with your hands. Or rather, your hands only earn you very small amounts.
There are plenty more positive effects from my decision to stop consuming short-form content. But until you try it yourself, it might just sound like a nice Instagram story to you.
P.S. Quick answer for people who write in the comments under posts like this: “who’s even going to watch and read you if everyone quits social media?”
I think that if you stop watching short-form content — including mine — you’ll only come out ahead.
But we’ve all got our own heads on our shoulders, and everyone decides for themselves what to do with their own life and time.
I’m just sharing my own observations and experience.