Why You Should Take A Social Media Vacation — Digital Detox

Social Media Vacation — Digital Detox

I decided to leave social media (and not post any content on my social media platforms) for 2 months, and here is what I’ve learned. Note: I worked (using one social media app or another) a minimum of 40 hours per week as a freelancer at the time of this write-up and within those 2 months.

Cutting social media from your life may not be necessary, but setting boundaries can be helpful. Research shows that social media can negatively impact your health by increasing feelings of depression, anxiety, and even insomnia.

You know the app that dominates most of your time; you constantly scroll or pick up your phone every few minutes or seconds because of these apps.

Excessive social media use has been associated with increased depression, anxiety, poor sleep, memory loss, and more.

So I encourage you to try “social media detox.” Whether for a day, a week, or a month,

The rules are simple. No social media, which includes Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, should be deleted from your phone. Also, refrain from clicking on social media links that friends or coworkers send. And make sure not to scroll on your partner’s phone or ask for screenshots of social media posts.

But if you’re trying to pull back too, it’s important to remember that these apps were specifically designed to be addictive. They were built to keep you plugged in. It’s not your fault that it worked like magic.

Nevertheless, there are some benefits to a social media detox.

1. When I needed to take a break from work as a freelancer, rather than picking up my phone as usual, I’ll take a walk around my living room, sometimes I even go outside my gate to have a gist with the street vendors.
2. On a typical night, we usually lull ourselves to bed with an hour-long scroll on our favorite social media in pitch-black darkness, most times your phone is the last thing you held before you sleep and the first you pick up when you wake up. I witnessed dramatic improvements in my sleep and mindfulness during the detox.
3. Research shows that the light from our phones at night can throw off our circadian rhythms and mess with our sleep. My sleep was deeper and I woke up with more energy in the mornings. Scrolling on apps before bed often leaves our bodies feeling wired, you should read a book instead.
4. Deleting the apps that function as your biggest distractors can force you to be more present, focus on important tasks and achieve more in less period, remember being busy doesn't mean you are productive.
5. Being mindful and aware of what you spend most of your time on can offer a lot of health benefits. It can greatly improve your mental health by enhancing your memory and attention span, as well as helping relieve stress, anxiety, and depression. Physically, being mindful can help improve your sleep, lower your blood pressure, and even help reduce chronic pain.

In conclusion, social media can improve your life when used in moderation, especially if your major source of income is through social media platforms as a freelancer or tech person, but social media doesn’t always have to be the villain keeping you from living a fulfilled life.

These apps will now forever be a part of the fabric of our society. Instead of having an all-or-nothing mentality toward social media, try working on your relationships with it. Set boundaries by limiting your time spent using the apps.