Why You Need A Social Media Break
Social media is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. In the moment, you think it is doing you well to scroll and see all of these wonderful images, yet just a short while later, it can leave you feeling depleted, sad, or even anxious. More and more studies are coming out showing that social media can lead to depression, anxiety, social isolation, and self-esteem issues.
Social media also takes us down the dangerous trap of comparison. When all you see are beautiful pictures of someone’s life, it’s hard to imagine that there is anything else. But what I can tell you for sure is their life is not always like it looks in the pictures. Just like when you’re trying to take a photo of your child it takes 1000 shots to get the one where they are smiling and looking cute, folks have a whole lot going on on the other side and behind the scenes that you don’t see.
Social media isn’t only a problem because it can make us feel bad about ourselves and our lives; it’s also a problem because it’s a horrible time suck. When you pick up your phone and start scrolling on Facebook or Instagram, it’s easy to lose minutes or even hours. As a busy working mom, you don’t have that kind of time. Those minutes and hours should be going towards helping you build a life you love and nothing else. Check out the worksheet at the end of this article to help you get started today.
Some Ways To Know You Might Need A Social Media Break
You might be wondering if your social media use is overuse. It’s a little tricky the same way that alcohol is. Sometimes it can be hard to know when you have a problem, so here are a few things you can ask yourself to know if you might need a social media break.
Do you lose time in the day when you go on Instagram or Facebook?
Do you pick up your phone first thing in the morning before you even get out of bed?
If you wake up in the middle of the night, is the first thing that you do is pick up your phone?
Do you get anxiety if you leave your phone in another room?
Do you know more about what’s going on in the lives of friends you have not seen in a while than you do about those who are living in your own house?
Can you make it through a meal without looking at your phone?
Can you walk down the street without looking at your phone?
Does the idea of going a whole day without looking at social media cause you anxiety?
If you answered yes to any of these, then a social media break might do you some real good. Read on for how to take a social media break.
How To Take A Social Media Break
Social media breaks can be scary and maybe even seem impossible. Don’t fret you don’t have to go cold turkey to see the benefit. The following are some ideas of how you can take a social media break.
When you get home from work, put your phone in a room that you don’t frequently visit. Leave it there while you engage with your family.
When you go to bed, use a regular alarm clock rather than your phone as your alarm clock. Then be sure to place your phone on the other side of the room so that it is not easily accessible upon waking.
Designate a certain amount of time you will spend on social media each day. Maybe it is something as fluid as during your commute, or perhaps it is something as rigid as 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes at night. It doesn’t matter when. You just need a set schedule for when you will spend time on social media.
Implement a “No Phones At The Table” rule for both at home and when you are out.
Turn off all the notifications from the apps on your phone. Like a siren in the sea, they call you in from a distance waiting to wreck your mental health like a ship.
Set a few “Social Media Free” days each week where you don’t look at social media at all.
Delete all social media apps from your phone so that you can only access social media from a laptop or tablet. Deleting social media apps from your phone creates an excellent barrier and forces you to think about when you want to use social media.
Rather than always messaging someone on Facebook or Instagram, take a moment to text or even call them.
Ok now, put the phone down.
Alright mama bear, you have a few different ways to take a social media break. As you can see, a lot of them involve putting your phone down. So go ahead and decide which ones will help you then take action on them today.
For more tips on increasing wellness check out, How To Deal With The Loneliness Of Motherhood And Feel More Connected.
Don’t forget to sign up for the Rose Gold Mine, my free resource library. You’ll get free printable worksheets, workbooks, and checklists to help with goal setting, time management and self-care for busy moms.
Learn to ask for support and free your time without letting go of our responsibilities at How To Get Unstuck.
