It goes without saying that social media is very addictive. If you can manage to go a month without logging online, my friend you are strong.
Most people can barely go for 24 hours without checking their notifications, a condition informally known as FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out).
However, with the upsurge in mental health issues among the younger generation, a social media detox is something that many, if not all of us should prioritise.
Whether you choose to take a break from a particular platform, go completely silent on all of them or quit altogether, here are some of the benefits you will be reaping:
- You come back to reality
What we see on social media impacts our lives more than we acknowledge. One post can completely change your view on politics, money, religion, style, and everything else.
Although it’s great to see life from other people’s points of view, you need to understand what your reality is. You also need to separate social media standards from real life and that’s something a detox can help you realize.
- You gain mental and emotional clarity
There are many studies that have proved the negative impacts of social media on our mental health. It has brought so many positive changes to our world but there is a dark side to it that we can’t ignore.
Anyone who is on social media is at risk of exposing themselves to some of these problems to some degree. You are constantly flooded with information that can affect how you think and possibly trigger some mental health struggles if you don’t know how to handle it.
A detox can help you release some of that negativity and give you a fresh start too.
- Productivity increases
Have you ever tracked how much time you spend on social media? It comes as no surprise that some of us can spend even up to six hours uninterrupted glued to our screens scrolling down reels, videos, and stories.
This is precious time that you would have spent doing something constructive. And in this case, a detox is exactly what you need for you to start that project that’s been on your mind.
- You become more present
Many people are alive but not living. When your world revolves around social media, you’re always constantly thinking of that perfect angle or that interesting caption instead of actually enjoying those precious moments that life has to offer.
As you detach yourself from social media for a while, you realize that you don’t have to pressure yourself to show others what you are doing.
You don’t have to calculate every move and you learn how to be an active participant in your own life.
- You stop obsessing over self-comparison
Self-comparison is a healthy part of our lives. This is actually a great source of motivation because how will you know you’re actually making progress?
But at the same time, too much of it can be toxic and this is common when you’re deep into social media. You know that people are only posting the best highlights of their lives but somehow it’s still hard not to see yourself as a failure at times.
That uncomfortable feeling can be overwhelming and it would help to take a break often.
