Social media can be a great way to stay connected with friends and family. Unfortunately, it can also be a toxic environment that leads many of us to feel bad about ourselves. It can also be a place of divisiveness and arguments. Taking charge of your social media use can be quite empowering and lead you to a feeling of wellbeing. Taking a complete break from Facebook, Twitter, and other sites can really do you some good, especially if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by it all lately. Read on to discover why you might want to try a social media fast for an instant confidence and happiness boost.
About a Social Media Fast
A social media fast is simply choosing to stay away from social media for a certain period of time. It can be a week, a month, or even a year. Perhaps more if that’s what you feel you need. There are lots of reasons for taking a break from Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. These sites are often places where people talk about their happy times, hiding any stressful events or difficulties they’re having. It can also be a place for bragging and overselling how well one is doing. If there are people in your social media feeds whose lives seem too perfect, it can lead to comparison or insecurity for you. It’s also easy to get caught up in social media, spending much of your free time there and checking it all the time. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with social media and missing out on more important things, it may be time to take a break.
Benefits of a Social Media Detox
When you walk away from social media, you’re removing yourself from the temptation to compare. You can focus on the good that’s in your own life and on pursuing your personal goals. There’s no need to compete with outside ideals on a regular basis, and you may find that your peace of mind improves. You also lose the fear of missing out. Instead of worrying about what others are doing, you can begin to seek out your own opportunities for fun and entertainment. You’ll have more time to reconnect with people who are important to you in real life, as well as to pursue your other interests.
How to Get Started
There are lots of ways to take on a social media fast. You can go cold turkey and just drop it completely. It’s also possible to start by removing toxic people from your feed, either by unfollowing or hiding them. Perhaps you want to ease into it by limiting access to social media to just one device or checking it only in the morning. Turning off notifications so you’re not constantly being called to check in is good. So is choosing just one app to use and eliminating the rest.
Taking a break from social media can be good for your self-esteem and contribute to a greater sense of self-love. Give it a try.
