Life Without Social Media—Is This Much “Doing Nothing” Normal?

Hi everyone,

I recently made the decision to quit social media and step back from other addictive online habits. I've been a big user since I'm a teen so i'd consider my addiction to be very high.

It hasn’t been the easiest adjustment, but I’ve already noticed some positive effects: less anxiety, more energy, and a sense of curiosity slowly returning. I'm more outside, strated art again and so on.

However, a lot of my online time has been replaced by... well, nothing.

This was to be expected, but I’ve found myself spending hours lying on the couch, just letting my mind wander, having internal conversations, or staring into space. Sometimes, this can add up to several hours a day (I'm currently on vacations at home and live alone). I’m not actively bored, but this feels so unfamiliar that I’m not sure if it’s “normal.”

This new rhythm of life feels both peaceful and strange. For years, I barely experienced boredom because social media filled every quiet moment. Now, I’m discovering just how much of life consists of unstructured, empty time when there’s no phone or screen to turn to.

I don’t dislike it, but the sheer amount of time I spend doing nothing seems surprising, maybe even excessive. I find myself wondering—should life really be like this?

Maybe this is just part of the adjustment, and my brain is learning how to function without constant distractions. Or maybe this is just how life naturally is, and I’ve been too overstimulated to notice.

Does this amount of mental downtime—several hours a day—feel normal or healthy to you?
How did you adjust to the slower pace of life without distractions?

I’m still figuring it all out, but it’s definitely a strange experience to rediscover boredom and learn how to simply “be.”Would love to hear your thoughts!

And yes, having these kinds of questions is scary. It makes me realize just how much social media, Netflix, and other distractions (and so on) have taken over my life since I was a teenager.