Thinking of taking a summer break from social media? Read this before you go
four questions to help you decide whether to take a break, and five tips for success if the answer is yes including a FREE challenge to wake up your Instagram when you come back
To be very clear, I am a massive advocate of taking social media breaks.
My platform of choice is Instagram but wherever you hang out online a well-timed and intentional break can help you show up consistently, creatively and with the kind of energy and enthusiasm that will go a long way to engaging your potential readers.
I know that when I take a break I come back with better ideas, more motivation, and fresh energy BUT when people ask me whether the summer is a good time to take a break, it’s not always straightforward. There are factors you need to weigh up as part of your decision-making.
If you’re wondering whether the summer is the right time for you to take a break, try answering these four questions to help with your decision-making.
Question 1
Do you have anything time critical taking place in August, September (possibly even into the first half of October) e.g a book launch?
If you do, this period is when you should be scaling your activity up, not back.
I’ve written before about things you can do online to build momentum for a book launch:
If you are in the position where you need to keep posting also remember that, although people’s behaviour shifts away from posting their own content, many people continue scrolling and consuming content.
The space vacated by all the people who are taking a break over the summer can play in your favour if you’re looking to build some momentum for your book launch. Don’t forget to encourage people to save your content, or even send it to themselves so they don’t forget to order your book when they get back from their holiday.
Question 2
Would you or your publisher position your book as a ‘summer read’?
Traditionally these are light-hearted, fun books that offer their reader some escapism and entertainment.
If this describes your book then, while it might be annoying to still be ‘working’ while everyone else sips cocktails and lounges around in the sun/ prepares endless meals and snacks, you might want to continue being active and visible on social media so you’re offering people what they’re looking for at this time of year.
Next week, Too Much Instagram members will receive an 🧺 Insta Picnic 🥪 , a curated summer kit of trending post formats and writer-friendly content ideas to keep book promotion flowing with zero stress. Just pick your favourites and serve them up to your audience ☀️ Upgrade your subscription to get it delivered to your inbox.
Question 3
How much capacity do you have over the summer?
I have two children who hate summer camps with a burning passion. I also live in South London where summer camps are insanely expensive.
If my work circumstances were different they/ I would have to suck it up but it seems like madness to pay hundreds of pounds for the pleasure of my kids being miserable if I don’t have to.
This calculation means my work capacity over the summer is less than half of what it is during term time but at least my kids are old enough to make their own breakfast and manage their own morning routines while I bash away at my keyboard. If your kids are younger than mine you might find you have even less time.
In this situation you have to be ruthless and bin any non-essential work tasks for the sake of your sanity. Is social media activity one of those things?
Question 4
How are you feeling about social media?
If you’re feeling burnt out, resentful, drained, depleted or anything equally awful about showing up on social media, then TAKE A BREAK.
Book marketing works best when you can have a bit of fun with it.
Once you’ve considered these four questions, it should be clear whether the summer is the right time for you to take a break.
If you use Instagram specifically, and you’re planning to take a break, read on for some tips about how to set yourself up for success, PLUS how you can sign up for a FREE challenge to get you back in front of your favourite people after you’ve been on a break.
How to take a break from Instagram
If you want to immediately go cold turkey on Instagram then who am I to stop you 😉, BUT if you intend to keep using Insta to promote your work, it’s worth putting a few safeguards in place before you go on your break. This is what I’d advise:
STEP ONE
Post an Out of Office.
No apologies please, but this is in case prospective readers land on your account while you’re away and question whether your account is worth following if you’re not very active.
STEP TWO
Set a return date.
Put it in your diary. It might feel like over-kill now but trust me when I say this makes it much more likely you will come back, rather than letting time drag on until it is hanging over you like a threat and you feel rubbish about it.
TOP TIP: set up a ‘BACK TO WORK’ dm group - band together with some other writers who are in the same boat, agree a date, and egg each other on! Unit cohesion is a wonderfully motivator and you can also interact with each other’s posts so the threat of tumbleweed is mitigated.
Psst… In the last week of August I’m hosting a FREE seven day ☀️WAKE UP INSTAGRAM☀️ challenge. You’ll receive a short email each day containing a simple 10 minute task that will help you reboot your Instagram account if you’re coming back from a break, or things have gone a bit quiet. Sign up for the challenge 👇🏼
STEP THREE
Make and schedule at least your first post back before your break begins.
Future you will thank you!
This is a good time to post a reintroduction (see ideas here), a photo dump or reel of what you’ve been up to while on your break, and a third post that is something valuable to your audience to remind them of the value they get from your account.
STEP FOUR
Mentally prepare yourself for the first few days being a bit quiet.
Sometimes, when you take an extended break, it can take your posts a few days to start showing up in people’s feeds as the algorithm relies on regular engagement to know who to show your posts to. Be ready for this so it doesn’t freak you out!
STEP FIVE
In the days before you start posting again, be a good Instagram citizen
This helps put you in front of your audience members when you post your first post back and gets the engagement-reach feedback loop working straight away.
📣 To take part in the free WAKE UP INSTAGRAM challenge sign up below✌🏼 The challenge starts Mon 25th August 2025.
Need suggestions now! 🙏🏽🤷🏼♀️🧘🏻♀️🧘🏻♀️🧘🏻♀️😘
Definitely in the depleted camp. So I’m taking a break from next week…to reset and reflect!