I hate to say it, but I think I need to delete the Substack app.
In 2021 I decided to step away from social media. I was recently sober and using my work as a "healthy" distraction, but I was also getting settled after moving across the country and coping with the end of a relationship. Scrolling only seemed to make things worse.
I felt like social media was making me feel erratic and just generally... down. I used to use Instagram a bit like how I use these daily snippets: a place to share thoughts, reflections, and takeaways. Writing the caption was the part I liked, whereas finding a photo to post kinda felt like work.
A big reason I decided to step away from social media was because of what it did to my mindset. Specifically, I noticed how it impacted my thinking around contribution by creating a constant expectation to post something. Not just anything, though; the right thing. Something people would like and that the algorithm would smile favorably upon. Which felt really performative.
I began noticing how icky it felt on top of the life events I was processing, and so I decided to give myself some space from it.
While I hate to admit it, this is how I'm feeling about Substack these days. Not with the essay-writing or podcasting, but with the Notes feed within the app. Can we just be honest with each other for a minute? This is Twitter. They made an app that essentially combines Mailchimp and Twitter. And then they configured the algorithm to promote accounts who contribute to the Notes feed to other users. In short: if you want to gain subscribers on Substack, you have to post Notes in their app's feed. So that's what I've been doing for over a year.
Well?
I quit.
Writing's the reason I joined Substack in the first place. It gave me a place to publish my work where people could find it, or so I thought. But then I built a website and started writing these daily snippets. That's when I couldn't ignore it anymore, because I had something to compare it against... and you know what? I like the writing part but utterly detest the scrolling part.
I'm still not active on other social media, but Substack has become what Instagram used to be for me. It makes me feel erratic and just generally... down. But carving out time to write, without checking my phone or scrolling, makes me feel clear and generally positive.
I wish I had more self control—alas, I don't.
So I think it's time to remove the temptation and reclaim some time, energy, and happiness by deleting the app. And, to be clear, I'll still be publishing essays and podcast episodes via Substack, so this isn't some sweeping declaration or martyrdom situation. But, since writing's the goal... this feels like a good time to quit cluttering the attention I'm able to give to it.
Our Daily MAP Year Prompt
47/365
What's something you feel obligated to do but that you don't actually enjoy? What would happen if you quit?
onward.
-dmac