How to take a social media break

Despite all the positives, social media comes with numerous downsides. People who spend too much time on these platforms may experience a lack of productivity and a range of other issues. Some studies have shown that too much screen time even triggers anxiety and depression.

It’s only natural to want to take a break from social media to improve your mental health. Here are a few tips to help you do so.

Why taking a break from social media might be a good idea

Social networking sites are addictive. The algorithms of the world’s most popular social media platforms are trained to keep your attention and show you the content you want to see. The higher your social media usage, the more sophisticated the system becomes to keep you further in the loop.

Here are some signs that you may need a break from visiting social media sites:

• You often compare yourself to others.

• You are often frustrated or annoyed by the topics and posts in your News Feed, Stories, or Reels.

• You have trouble falling asleep and check social media when you wake up.

• You experience depression or anxiety symptoms.

• You lack focus, neglect chores, and miss deadlines.

• You feel physically distressed if you can’t access your social media account.

• Social media affects your productivity levels, and you have too much screen time.

• You’re doomscrolling through your social media feed.

• You need better sleep.

• You get so addicted to social media that you constantly need those dopamine hits.

The benefits of a social media break

Taking a break from social media comes with numerous benefits. Granted, you may fear that you’re missing out (FOMO) or have similar feelings of regret. Still they will become far less significant than the advantages of deleting or staying away from your social media accounts. Here are just some of the benefits of taking a break from social media:

Better sleep

Different studies show that time off social media can cause sleep difficulties. The fear of missing out (FOMO) can increase nighttime usage of social media platforms and make it harder to fall asleep.

Less stress

When you don’t engage in social media activities but redirect your energy to other channels, your stress levels can drop. These benefits are especially visible in users who have social media addiction.

Keeps anxiety, depression, and psychological distress at bay

Too much social media can have a negative effect on people’s lives in terms of mental health. When you detox from social media, you have a lower risk of developing depression, anxiety, and other conditions that affect your well-being.

Tips for taking a pause from social media

There are many practical strategies you can take to help kickstart your social media detox. Here are just a few steps to help you get started:

Set a goal

For starters, you can set a goal. Some goals include limiting the use of Snapchat or a problematic social media site to no more than 15 minutes per day. Also, you could stop using a particular app for a few days. Finally, stop engaging in topics, debates, or conversations that have a negative effect on your well-being.

Start small

Taking a break from social media doesn’t mean you should go cold turkey on your accounts right away. You may find it easier to start with a smaller break, then build up to a longer one.

Delete the apps in question

A great tip is to delete apps that you automatically check too often. Sometimes, blocking notifications isn’t enough to keep you from opening an app.

If you notice that the lack of notifications only pushes you to use the app further, it’s time to delete it.

Disable the social account

Alternatively, you can disable your accounts for a certain period of time.

Let your friends know you’re away

Your friends or family members may be worried about seeing you suddenly disappear from a social media platform. You can text them about your intentions and get additional support from them.

Enjoy other activities

Whenever you want to open your social media account, redirect your urge to another activity. For example, you can meet with a friend in person, find a new hobby, learn a new skill, exercise, or practice meditation and mindfulness.

Spend your time better with Speechify

Speechify is a text to speech tool that can help people on social media detox. If your goal is to improve focus and productivity, this is the app for you. Speechify lets you read articles, news, or blog posts without staring at a screen. Simply paste the text into Speechify’s API and hear the audio version of the written text.

With Speechify, you can spend more time doing things that are truly good for you. For example, you can have your e-mails read to you while you run on a treadmill or listen to an audio version of a project description for work while shopping for a new book.

Anyone can use Speechify regardless of their computer skills. The positive takeaways are numerous and immediate. Most importantly, you get to enjoy your time off of social media while making digital interaction seamless at the same time.

You can try Speechify for free by visiting the official website today.

FAQ

How long should I take a break from social media?

There isn’t an exact amount of time you should or shouldn’t dedicate to social media use. Ideally, take a break from social media platforms for as long as you feel comfortable. Social media detox feels great, and chances are, it’ll present opportunities for taking up a new hobby and boost your mental well-being.

How do I stay in touch with friends during this break?

You can keep in touch with your friends and family members by using social media apps for messaging that won’t keep you scrolling for content day and night. Simple texting apps are enough to stay in touch when you can’t meet in person.

What should I do while I am taking a break from social media?

Try to keep yourself occupied and replace your social media habits with a new hobby. You can still listen to a podcast, read books, meet with people in person more often, and practice self-care and physical activity.

Why is it important to take a break from social media?

Taking a break from social media time is crucial for mental health. Social media detox for a certain period of time will help boost your self-esteem and keep you from developing social media addiction.