As someone deeply embedded into the world of social media, I’ve always been obsessed by the incredible community-building power it holds. From the comfort of our screens, we can connect, share, and interact with people across the globe, discovering communities that nurture our hobbies, passions, and most importantly: dreams.
However, the flip side of this connectivity is a darker side of it, filled with toxicity and a relentless cycle of comparison that can drain our mental health.
Not to mention learning about news from every corner of the globe immediately and from filtered perspectives. As much as I love the vibrant conversations and the friends I’ve made online, I’ve learned the importance of stepping back through a social media detox to reclaim my headspace and wellbeing.
But after the doing the detox chances are you want to head back to spending some time on social media. So we are going to wrap this up at the end talking about HOW you can add social media back into your life in the most healthy and happy way possible!
So let’s take a break then improve your relationship with social media-
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A Realistic Social Media Detox: Find Balance With The Internet!
Why should I do a social media detox?
The decision to detox probably won’t come easy. Or honestly, maybe for you it will!
Personally, I was torn between being uninformed about the world and my friends as well, and combating the anxiety that crept up each time I scrolled through a constant stream of new information.
But there are a lot of things that could be triggering the desire to do a social media detox. Learning about every disaster and problem in the world immediately 24/7 can take a big toll on our mental wellbeing. As can seeing everyone else’s highlight reels.
And one reason I don’t believe is talked about enough is the impact of the drama- if you find your feeds full of drama from influencers, random stories, etc any that cause that same reaction to learning drama. And the impact is the toll on your mind and body, the constant negativity and fighting could be putting your body into a constant sense of stress and dread. Which can have REAL impacts on not just your mental wellbeing but also your physical.
Poor sleep at night, boredom during the day (that’s withdrawals guys!), depressive symptoms, increased stress levels, and more can all be a result of too much social media time too…
This isn’t intended to scare you because guys I love social media, but like all good things moderation is key. So keep reading for how you can realistically do a social media detox okay! We are in this together!
How to Start A Social Media Detox
1. Acknowledge the Need for a Break:Â The first step is the hardest in my humble opinion- admitting you need a break (cue: we were on a BREAK from Friends references).
Watch for signs like feeling anxious when you haven’t checked your notifications, doomscrolling or feeling inadequate compared to others online. Recognize these feelings and allow yourself to take that much needed step back.
2. Set Clear Objectives:Â What do you hope to achieve with this detox? Is it to reduce anxiety, find more time for yourself, or perhaps to reconnect with life off of Instagram? Setting specific goals can help tailor your detox journey, making it more effective and purposeful. Having a goal to achieve is one of the most effective ways to make a dream happen in any context!
3. Gradual Reduction:Â Instead of going cold turkey, which might seem daunting and unsustainable, start by gradually reducing your screen time. Use apps to monitor and limit your usage, or set specific times of the day when you allow yourself to log in.
There is no need to exhaust yourself trying to do something that is good for you! But really any decrease in time on social media is probably good for you (as it is most of us!).
Create Your Personalized Detox Plan:
1. Customize Your Approach:Â Your relationship with social media is unique, so your detox should be too. If Facebook is a major source of stress, perhaps start there. If you’re spending too much time on TikTok at the expense of sleep, address that first. Reddit keeping you distracted at work? That’s the first one for you! You might find that you need a complete break from all platforms, or maybe just from one or two.
2. Temporary Unfollows:Â If unfollowing feels too permanent, most social media platforms allow you to mute or hide posts from accounts that trigger negativity or other bad feelings without unfollowing them entirely. This way, you can create a healthier feed for when you return.
3. Communicate with Your Community:Â Let your online friends know about your detox. A simple message explaining your need for a break can go a long way in maintaining those relationships, and you might even inspire others to join you or reconsider their own social media habits.
And no need to harm those relationships when working on your mental well-being!
4. How long should I do the social media detox? Well the reality of that is it depends on you. Two weeks is the go to I would recommend but the key is to go into it looking for improvement. So when you find yourself not reaching for your phone, finding joy outside of social media, and hopefully an improvement in your mental health then you can add it back into your life in limited and controlled ways but more on that later!
During the Detox: Find joy again offline
1. Rediscover Old Hobbies: Use the time you’d typically spend scrolling to reconnect with activities you love but have neglected. Whether it’s reading, yoga, needle pointing or picking up an instrument again, immersing yourself in these can be incredibly fulfilling and a reminder of joys that exist beyond the digital realm.
I could go on a whole tangent about how young adults are sacrificing hobbies for social media apps but that is for another time- but seriously my friends please pick up a hobby during this digital break!
2. Connect in Real Life:Â Strengthen relationships with family and friends through face-to-face interactions. Plan a picnic, start a book club, or simply go for walks together. These real-life connections can be profoundly more satisfying than online interactions.
3. Reflect and Journal:Â Keep a journal during your detox to document how you feel. Reflection can help you understand your relationship with social media better and solidify the benefits of taking this break from social media usage.
Reintroducing Social Media
As the end of your detox period approaches, the idea of reintroducing social media might be intimidating. Here’s how you can do it without slipping back into old habits:
1. Slow and Steady:Â Reintroduce one platform at a time on your digital devices. Start with the one that adds the most value to your life, and give yourself time to assess how its return affects your mood and daily routine. You are the sole decider of your social media use and where you put your time.
Keep that in the front of your mind when planning your return to social media!
2. Set Boundaries:Â Continue to use tools that limit usage, and maybe consider no-phone zones or times at home, like during meals or right before bed. You are the creator of your routines and schedules so start adding those social media times and breaks into it.
Be honest but strict with yourself when you make these boundaries because it is only you that will be hurt if you don’t be true to your needs! The negative impact of too much and unchecked social media should be on the front of your mind when setting the boundaries btw.
3. Curate Your Feed: Actively curate your feed to be uplifting and inspiring. Follow accounts that motivate you, and don’t hesitate to unfollow those that don’t contribute positively to your mental health.
This is probably the thing that I swear by the most in terms of making social media enjoyable and healthier for us to consume. Curating a feed that doesn’t cause you to feel the specific negative emotions that led you to doing a social media detox is key!
Let’s go a bit more into how you can do this-
How to curate your social media feed after detoxing:
- Evaluate Your Current Follow List: Go through the accounts you follow and ask yourself if their content makes you feel good, informed, or inspired. If an account regularly causes you stress or envy, consider unfollowing or muting it.
- Prioritize Positive Content: Actively seek out and follow accounts that promote positive and uplifting content. This could be motivational speakers, accounts related to hobbies you enjoy, or creators that consistently make you smile.
- Diversify Your Feed: Include a variety of content types and sources. Follow accounts from different cultures, industries, and backgrounds to broaden your perspective and avoid echo chambers.
- Set Intentions for Engagement: Decide what kind of content you want to engage with. Liking, commenting, and sharing content that aligns with your values will tailor your feed to show more of that type of content.
- Utilize Features to Control Visibility:Â Most platforms have features to hide or minimize less desirable content without unfollowing. Use these features to manage what you see daily.
- Follow Educational and Constructive Accounts: Integrate profiles that offer educational content, whether it’s DIY projects, cooking, or financial advice. Learning something new can be a great way to add value to your time spent on social media.
- Regularly Update Your Preferences:Â As your interests and values evolve, so should your feed. Make it a habit to periodically review and adjust who you follow.
- Mindful Notifications:Â Adjust your notification settings to only alert you about important account activities. This prevents constant interruptions and helps you control your screen time.
Korra-Shay
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