Social media is undoubtedly one of the 21st century’s greatest technological innovations. However, it has its downsides, and those include a lack of time for sleep, socialization, and physical activity.
On top of that, social media depicts a very skewed version of reality. Not everybody can look like Instagram influencers or afford the frivolities that YouTubers can, and people can feel bad about themselves for not living a life like theirs even when their life is just fine.
Over time, too much time on social media can take a toll on your physical and mental health, and it’s important to take a step back once in a while to reset, just like you would restart your computer. People do that by digital detoxing, and below are seven ways you can get started on that!
1. Have a Set Schedule for No Screen Time
Lots of people these days interact with technology in their daily lives. Whether it’s needing to write a term paper on your laptop, attend meetings on Zoom, or talk on the phone with long-distance loved ones, almost everybody needs to interact with technology.
However, that doesn’t mean you need to spend every waking hour in front of a screen. You should still do some activities that don’t require screen time such as taking a walk or eating lunch away from your work desk (without spending time on your phone). Digital detoxing will help clear your mind and also give your overworked brain and eyes a much-needed break.
2. Practice Digital Abstinence or Detoxing
If you find yourself stressing over happenings on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or other popular social media platforms, it’s time to assess your usage of them. Is staying updated on what everybody’s doing so important that you can afford to ignore your mental health? Do you find yourself developing bad personality habits (e.g., being rude to people you don’t know) because of how much time you’re spending online?
Digital abstinence or detoxing is the act of taking an extended break from social media apps. It forces you back into the real world and compels you to stop finding reprieve on social media. It involves deleting problematic apps temporarily or even permanently.
Deleting is very important for detoxing as it’s an added step—tapping on Facebook is easy, but going to the app store, reinstalling Facebook, and inputting your password before finally landing on Facebook is such a hassle!
3. Use an Older Phone Model
It seems like a lot of people these days are obsessed with getting the latest versions of their phones. They want phones that are faster, bigger, sleeker, prettier, and all the other bells and whistles. But obviously, if you’re trying not to use social media as much, you wouldn’t want the newest version of a phone. It’s like buying a new car when you’re trying not to drive as much!
Older phone models can actually help you abstain from social media, too. Developers always have to adapt their programs to the newer versions of phones, and eventually, older phones will become obsolete or at least perform more slowly. Nobody likes dealing with laggy apps, so eventually, you’ll stop spending so much time on them.
And another plus side is that you save so much money by using older phones.
4. Take Advantage of Do Not Disturb
Most, if not all, smartphones on the market today have a Do Not Disturb feature. This feature turns off all notifications on your phone so you can do certain activities like sleeping and working without your phone bugging you with updates. All you need to do is turn it on when it’s time to step away from your phone or add your usual schedule to the system so the phone turns on the feature for you.
5. Limit Certain Apps for Digital Detoxing
Some phones also have features that limit your screen time. You input how much time you want to spend on certain apps, and if you’re about to hit that limit, your phone warns you about it. They also take note of what apps you use the most so you can adjust your routine.
As you can see in this section and the previous one, mobile phone manufacturers have recently taken an interest in digital well-being as an obsession with phones has become a real problem in the world today. It’s led to issues with stress, anxiety, isolation, aggression, and so much more. As the people who created these gadgets in the first place, it’s their responsibility to protect their customers by encouraging digital detoxing.
Essentially, if even the hotshots are telling you to take a break once in a while, you do it!
6. Don’t Use Phones in Certain Areas of Your Home
Technology has advanced so much in recent years that it’s possible to carry a whole new world in your pocket. But again, just because it’s possible doesn’t mean you should do it. If possible, you should limit your gadget use to only some rooms in your house.
For example, instead of using a laptop, you can have a desktop set up in one room. That way, you can only use said desktop when you’re in there. You can also banish phone use in the bedroom to help you sleep better, or in the dining room so you and your family members can actually spend time with one another.
This is especially helpful for those who can’t really control themselves and need to be physically detached from their gadgets. It’s also helpful for parents with children as the kids will quickly learn when it is and isn’t appropriate to use their gadgets.
7. Seek Professional Help for Digital Detoxing
If your social media problem is out of control, or if you’re experiencing adverse effects due to social media, you should consider looking for a therapist. They can suggest ways for you to stop using social media as a clutch. They can also help you take care of depression, anxiety, stress, insecurity, and other negative effects of having used social media for so long.
