90 days ago I decided to take a break from content creation as I scheduled my latest YouTube video.
75 days ago I deleted the Tiktok app from my phone. I needed a break from the embarrassingly high screen time.
34 days ago I deactivated my Instagram. I was tired of thinking up content ideas and burnt out on the negativity.
Now, in this quieter space, I’ve finally got to reading The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. Ironically, I only made time for it once I’d freed myself from the constant buzz of social media and the obligation to be “always on.”
Along with putting me off social media in general, it’s been a solid grounding for evaluating my purpose and what I want to do with my time, which led me to ask “How should I approach my business?”
Why Step Back From Social Media?
Social media can feel like an endless hamster wheel. You post, wait for that spike of engagement, watch it taper off, and then do it all again. The content you pour hours into disappears into the void within days, sometimes hours. Meanwhile, the platforms nudge you to keep posting, keep showing up, and keep grinding out new content. It’s exhausting.
I would often prep 30 days' worth of content, take the photos, edit, write the copy, and schedule it all out — only to be drained mentally and creatively, leaving little energy for creating long-form content.
But I’ve realized that this cycle isn’t just about my mental health — it’s about my livelihood, too. I earn the majority of my income through affiliate links. Long-form content like blog posts, YouTube videos, and newsletters help me establish trust, explain the value of what I’m sharing, and provide real guidance that lives on far beyond a 15-second clip.
The more meaningful my evergreen content is, the more reliably it can attract an audience that’s genuinely interested in what I recommend — without requiring me to constantly churn out posts.
Stepping Off the Algorithmic Treadmill
Don’t get me wrong, it’s tempting to lean into short-term income boosts. The push to do UGC (user-generated content), sponsored posts, or affiliate campaigns on social media is real. It’s fast, easy money, and the siren song of “just one more post” can be hard to ignore. But I’m starting to see that a handful of well-crafted blog posts, podcast episodes, or YouTube videos can provide a steady stream of affiliate revenue without constantly reinventing the wheel.
Instead of focusing on viral hits or feeding the algorithm, I’m investing my time in resources that pay dividends over months and years. A blog post explaining how to use a certain product, a downloadable guide that shows people how to solve a problem, a helpful video that answers evergreen questions — these pieces continue working for me over the long haul. They attract the right audience, build trust, and turn readers into buyers without me having to stand on a virtual street corner waving a “Buy Now!” sign every day.
This is not to say I’ll never get back onto my Instagram account — but when I do, it’ll be with a casual approach to community rather than a detailed marketing strategy.
A Long-Term Income Strategy
Short-lived social media posts are like cotton candy: quick hits of sweetness that fade away fast. Long-form content is more like a solid meal — it nourishes, sustains, and keeps people coming back day after day. By focusing on quality over quantity, I’m not only preserving my mental health and creative energy, I’m laying the foundation for a more stable, long-term income.
Affiliate marketing and template sales thrive when you have a library of thoughtful content that people seek out. When your audience trusts you — because they’ve read a detailed blog post where you broke down a product’s pros and cons, or they’ve watched a video where you provided real-life demos — they’re more likely to click through and use your affiliate links.
These evergreen assets don’t rely on trends or viral sounds. They don’t vanish into the algorithm’s memory hole a day later. They keep offering value, and as a result, they keep converting.
Practical Steps to Shift Gears
If you want to implement this idea but don’t know where to begin, this is the plan I’ve been following.
- Create a Resource Library: Dedicate time to building a hub of evergreen content — blog posts, tutorials, guidebooks — that dives deeper than any TikTok ever could.
- Repurpose Strategically: Instead of posting three quick social updates a day, take one idea and expand it into a blog post or video that can live on your site indefinitely.
- Focus on Trust-Building: Avoid scattershot affiliate links tossed into random posts. Instead, curate a few relevant products and explain why they matter. The more your audience trusts you, the more consistent your income.
- Set Boundaries With Social Media: Pick one or two platforms and post infrequently but meaningfully. Use them as funnels to guide people toward your long-form work.
- Track Results Over Time: Short-term spikes from a viral Instagram Reel might feel good, but watch how your blog posts perform month-over-month. Long-term metrics often tell a more favorable story.
Reclaiming My Creative Independence
Without the frenzy of daily posting, I have more time to think, to experiment, and to put real effort into projects that won’t die in a day. I feel less pressure to constantly create to please the algorithm. My creativity, once drained to feed the content machine, is slowly revitalizing.
My income took an initial hit, but it is shifting toward a more sustainable model — one built on credibility, usefulness, and genuine connection rather than pursuing momentary spikes of attention.
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t just about peace of mind — it’s about building a career with lasting impact. Social media might still play a supporting role, but it’s not my star attraction. I’m choosing to focus on projects that leave a longer footprint, that continue to serve my audience without demanding my constant presence. I’m finally giving my work — and my audience — the respect they deserve.
At the end of the day, this slower, more intentional approach doesn’t just feel better. It’s setting me up for steadier income, healthier creative habits, and a content strategy I can actually sustain in the long run. And that’s a future I’m excited to be investing in.