Social media detox benefits: Tip of the Day 10-25-22
Social media certainly has its pros and cons. It's great for keeping in touch with family and friends. It's very helping in promoting a business. On the flip side, it can contribute to poor mental health. When that happens, it is good to unplug and reconnect with real life.
Experts say excessive social media use can also contribute to unhealthy competitiveness. Striving to get reactions and comments from friends and followers can lead to anxiety. Taking a mental health break by stepping away from social media can help improve your overall mood and self-esteem.
When detoxing from social media, use the away time to live in the moment, without focusing on taking pictures to show when you return to social media. You might feel some withdrawals symptoms in the beginning of the detox. Computer World has pointed out that social media is engineered to be as addictive as crack cocaine. If you need to, schedule for once a day to check social media until you can unplug for longer. If your job requires you to use social media, consider logging off on weekends if you find yourself in a mental funk.
When tempted to mindlessly scroll, finding other things to do like cleaning or going for a walk can help you feel productive and relieve stress too. Also consider spending time with real people. Studies show people who spend a lot of their time on social media have reported feeling lonely and isolated in real life.
Sometimes we have to fight to protect our peace and mental health. If logging off for a while is what's needed to stay mentally healthy, it's well worth the hiatus.
If you suspect you are depressed, contact a therapist. For tips on coping with depression, click here.