Have you ever considered a social media break? I am going on vacation for a few days next week and have decided to commit to one in order to be more engaged with the activities on my trip. I also know that I will feel more rested as a result. This can be a good reason to disengage from all social media and possibly email.
Other signs you should consider taking a break from social media include:
Social media use is consuming an excessive amount of time in your life
You’re neglecting or putting off important tasks/activities because you’re on social media
You’re constantly comparing yourself and your life with others, thus triggering envy, poor self-esteem, body-image issues, etc.
You find yourself doomscrolling (mindlessly scrolling) through social media feeds
You experience unpleasant emotions such as sadness, anger, anxiety, or loneliness after engaging online
You have an uncontrollable need to be online, constantly checking or posting on your social-media account
You’re experiencing cyberbullying or body shaming
You feel anxious if you haven’t been online for a while or are restricted from social media
You check social media first thing in the morning and before going to sleep
You are typically distracted or unable to mentally focus on others or important events
You find yourself socially withdrawing because you would rather be online than doing anything else
Benefits of staying off social media include:
Less headaches, neck pain, or eye strain that result from long periods of looking at your device’s screen
Boosted mood with reduced stress/anxiety, depression, or feelings of loneliness
Ability to focus on tasks for increased academic or work productivity
Improved self-confidence, self-worth, self-esteem and self-awareness of media usage
More meaningful social interactions and relationships
Less worry of missing out on important events/social experiences, otherwise known as fear of missing outor FOMO
Improved sleep quality
First, determine how long to stay off of social media, and what you’re hoping to accomplish from this break. For example, you may step away during the week and resume usage on weekends. Or, you may limit your use throughout the day to be more productive at work. You can disconnect completely for an entire day, month, or longer if you feel digitally overloaded or would like to be more engaged in a vacation.
Some steps to reduce could include:
-Setting a timer for 30 minutes a day while you engage in nature or time with a friend.
-Using an app. to track and limit activity such as turning off all or most notifications at various times of the day. For example, I only have phone and text notifications all day then I silence all notifications at night. On weekends and vacations I might silence all notifications.
-Having more focused interactions that feel meaningful may also help you to reduce your social media usage. Feeling lonely? Can you volunteer? Call an elder loved one and offer encouragement?
-Also, consider the content on your social media. Do you feel discouraged afterward, especially after reading a lot of news articles? Are you witnessing cyber bullying or peer pressure? Social media can be filled with encouraging posts and utilized as your daily affirmation time.
-Make sure that social media usage is not interfering with self-care. Are you rushing to get ready for your day or staying up too late because you spent too much time watching tik tok videos?
Taking at least brief social media breaks, and being more intentional about its use can really improve our mental health. Try just one of these tips and possibly you will want to try another! I know that I will enjoy my vacation more and return to work feeling more rested by taking a break!
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