Some people feel the need of doing social media detox when they feel that they are being controlled by their phone – and not the other way around. You probably don’t realize this, but most of us are glued to our phones. We do live in a hyper-connected world that feels convenient and nice. But the convenience can be too much, making us forget about the real world.
We need to realize that we live in the real world and not in the digital world. Having a temporary break can be good for your system. It somewhat ‘cleanse’ your mind and makes you less dependent on your phone. But not everyone understands the importance of digital detox and not many of them know how to do it right.
What Is Social Media Detox?
Social media detox refers to the action when you don’t use your phone (or any electronic device) completely. It can also mean that you do it intentionally, reducing the time of the usage. The main purpose of doing such a detox is to disconnect from the digital world, so you can focus on the real world and the present moment. You can be disconnected without any distractions or obstacles.
Signs that You Need the Detox
Scrolling on TikTok or Instagram can be addictive, and it’s dangerous. Yes, it’s convenient and efficient. But then again, there are some negative impacts that may affect your life and your loved ones. Be careful when you experience some of these signs.
- Constant envious feeling. In the digital world, you see the perfect lives of others. Feeling envious is quite common. But if you are always envious most of the time, then you seriously need a break.
- Relationship issue. If you find yourself straying away from friends or families, or when they complain a lot about yourself being glued to the phone, then you need a break. When you spend more time with your phone instead of actually having a real relationship with real people, then you need to do the detox right away.
- Sleeping difficulty. Not only the blue light (from the phones) can interfere with the body’s melatonin production, but the temptation of scrolling continuously (instead of sleeping) can make you struggle with sleeping. If this happens to you, then you need to have the detox immediately.
- You have a time-management issue. You can’t go along with deadlines because you are always tempted to check your phone. You don’t spend much quality time with your family because you’d rather spend your time with your phone.
Benefits of Social Media Detox
You probably don’t realize this, but taking a break from your phone does have its own perks.
- Reduced stress. Do you know that dealing with constant messages, notifications, and updates can actually create a high stress level. When you take a break, your brain can actually take a rest, allowing itself to rejuvenate and to refresh itself.
- Clearer mind. When you aren’t addicted to your phone, you can expect a clearer mind. You have better concentration to focus on other important things, such as family, work, and friends. When you are at work, you aren’t always tempted to check notifications. Or when you hang out with friends, you can actually enjoy quality time instead of being glued to your phone.
- Better (and improved) self confidence. Social media allows you to compare yourself to others. Self comparison is natural, when it gets too much, it can be destructive. Aren’t you tired of being ‘bombarded’ with the seemingly perfect images of other people’s lives? Instead of comparing yourself, why not focus on yourself?
How to Do the Detox
Plan out Your Goal
The key to successful detox is to have realistic goals. When you are always glued to your phone, it would be impossible to be disconnected to it for a week straight. You need to make a plan. Start with a shorter time of being disconnected, such as two hours without the phone a day or one day on the weekend without the phone.
After a while, you can increase the time as you are feeling comfortable with your pace and progress. If you have several social media apps, consider only limiting yourself to one or two apps, and try not to touch the others.
Plan Your Offline Time
What will you do when you aren’t online? Make a list of things that you can do. It can be something you like to do alone or things to do with your loved ones. When you aren’t bored with the offline activities, there are big chances that you won’t search for your phone.
Notify Your Friends and Family
Let them know that you are trying to limit your time with your phone. In this way, they won’t expect a fast response from you.
Final Words
Being away from your phone can bring better clarity to your focus and your mind. You can enjoy better energy and a more positive outcome. Doing social media detox doesn’t have to be difficult if you know how to do it right.
