6 Signs You're In Need Of A Social Media Break
We were all very much accustomed to being online in our previous (see: pre-COVID) lives, but with the pandemic coming in and shaking things up a bit, we became even more reliant on being connected. Whether it was through working from home or staying connected to loved ones that you couldn’t see in person, we all had our reasons to be BFFs with our wifi.
Social media usage spiked too, with apps becoming more of a lifeline than ever. But with all the benefits that this extra social media exposure gave us during such a difficult time, it’s been known to bring out some unhealthier habits in people, too. We’re currently undergoing a (somewhat lengthy) social media break this year, and given the positive differences we’ve noticed as a result, we decided to look at a few of the biggest issues that can be caused by social media.
1. You’re getting too much screen time.
Generally, we’re all getting more screen time than we were before. Whether your new workspace is from the comfort of your own sofa, or FaceTiming with friends was the new Friday night, it’s fair to say that everyone is attached to one device or the other for the best part of their day. Even without considering the time you’re specifically giving to social media platforms, you might find that taking away the need to scroll through your timelines reduces the time you need to spend staring at a screen. Plus, your eyes will thank you.
2. You’re feeling stressed out or overwhelmed by it.
Stress and overwhelm are two of the most common denominators when thinking about the overall mood for the moment, and you’ll be unsurprised to know that social media doesn’t necessarily help with that. When social media is a large part of our routine, posting, engaging and staying in the loop can become a very heavy task that brings you more stress than you need. If you find that there’s a lingering feel of dread whenever you open your apps, or the thought of keeping up with everyone is too much, consider logging off.
3. You’re comparing your reality to their highlight reel.
You’ve heard us talking about this aspect of social media before, especially when it comes to body confidence and self-esteem. But in the weird climate we’ve been living in for the past 18 months, don’t dismiss the fact that you could be comparing yourself to those you follow in other ways: career, family and relationships, friendships, even the interior design of their home. Comparison is the thief of joy, so if you find that scrolling is sparking these kinds of thoughts and feelings, mute, unfollow, or put the phone down altogether.
4. You feel separation anxiety when you’re disconnected.
Turns out FOMO can be a bitch even when the world is shut down. With so many of us moving our lives online whilst we were stuck inside the same four walls, there’s never really been a ‘down time’ on social media where we would otherwise switch off to go out with friends, or do things in the real world. If you find that you can’t leave it alone just to make some dinner, or when you do, you’re missing it just that bit too much, see this as your cue to take a step back.
5. It preoccupies your mind.
Social media has been a procrastination culprit since it began, and more often than not is the reason why our five minute work breaks turn into an hour before our very eyes (yes, TikTok, I’m looking at you). So if you’re constantly wondering when you can get your next fix during working hours, or find that it’s distracting you from other important things (such as communicating with real life people, or one of life’s other obligations), then switching off will make a massive difference. Whether you set yourself boundaries with your usage, or just go cold turkey, it will help make more room in your mind – and your schedule.
6. You can’t enjoy what you’re doing without posting or documenting it online.
At one time or another, we’ve probably been guilty of this. More so when the world was open and we were moving freely from one place to another, but you’ll be surprised how much the pandemic has spurred on this kind of usage. In the varying stages of lockdowns and isolation periods, what we’ve been up to has ultimately shifted, and what we’ve been taking joy from has followed suit. If you find that you’re more concerned about telling the world you’re on a Zoom call with your friends than you are with actually engaging with said friends on said Zoom call, it might be that your priorities are in need of a little re-jig. Remember: you’ve got nothing to prove.
If you’re finding that one or two of these seem a bit too close to home, ask yourself: is it time to log out for a while?
Image credit: Glen Anthony
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