Okay, maybe not disconnect from social media and the Internet permanently but at least every once in a while. Generally, many of us don’t log off of Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram for fear of feeling like we are out of the loop. In today’s world, we have such a high dependency on social connection with others that it has become part of our nature. Social media and the Internet are beneficial for so many reasons, but it also has the capacity to leave us feeling left out, sad, and lonely.
So, here are 6 reasons why disconnecting every once in a while can actually be a good thing:
1. You gain new perspectives.
By disconnecting for even just a few hours a day, you may start to realize that there are more important things in life besides the fact your best friend just made banana pancakes for breakfast. You may begin to see the bigger picture–that your worth as an individual is not based on how many like’s, retweet’s, or favorite’s your post gets, but by your character, your ambitions, your drive, your values, your beliefs.
2. You can become a more productive person.
By powering down your phone and closing your Internet browser, you’re allowing yourself to stay more focused and, as a result, you can get more done. Even if the task is as mundane as cleaning the house, it’s amazing how much more you can accomplish when there isn’t a phone or computer distracting you every step of the way.
3. You’re immersed 100% in the present.
When we were children, we weren’t concerned about anything or anyone except for what was happening and who was there in that moment. The future, the past, and what other people are doing are something increasingly on everyone’s minds, but what you should be focusing on is what’s happening in the present moment, no matter how boring it may be.
4. You begin to celebrate your individuality.
Rather than concerning yourself with what all of your Facebook friends are up to, you learn more about your interests, hobbies, and viewpoints, separate of your social media counterparts. You can develop your personal tastes or style without being influenced by what’s “trending” at that moment and further differentiate yourself from the social norm.
5. You become a better communicator.
Many of us have had a text message gone horribly wrong because the other person didn’t understand the sarcasm. In-person communication, though still not 100 percent fool-proof, fosters better social skills–we can read each other’s faces, pick up on voice intonation, decipher their body language, and be more direct.
6. It brings you back to your roots–childhood.
We invented things. We made-up scenarios for “play.” We learned how to successfully interact with others. We had an imagination. Social media stifles this, but by putting down the phone we have the opportunity to re-capture our childhood selves and become more imaginative individuals.
This post was inspired by this video.