This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UNH chapter.
5 Reasons To Do a Social Media Detox
Social media can feel like an inescapable force that keeps pulling you in- but, I’m here to tell you that it’s not! You can rid your life of social media and the negative side effects that come along with it. Chances are you’ll start using it again- but the benefits of taking a detox will last. Here’s why you should take a break from those addictive apps that have been taking over your life.
- You will be more present in your life– Are you ever sitting at a family dinner, or chatting with friends and find yourself itching to grab your phone? You unlock it, check your messages then your finger aimlessly wonders to the Instagram app. You begin mindlessly scrolling through photos of people you barely know and before you know it you have completely lost contact with people in the real world around you. The conversation gets away from you and you’re missing out on your life. Without those addictive social media apps stealing your attention, you’ll be involved in what’s going on around you, and your relationships will benefit from that.
- You’ll stop comparing yourself to others- We’ve all been there. You see a picture and immediately any self-esteem that you’ve been trying to build up crumbles right then and there. You compare yourself to the Instagram model with thousands of likes and feel like you’re not good enough. Well guess what, you are good enough and if you hadn’t looked on Instagram you would have known that.
- You will have more time to do the things you love (or the homework you should be doing)- If you detox from social media you’ll have so much more time to get things done. The average person spends over two hours on social media every day. Two hours! Think of all the things you could do with that extra time.
- You’ll enjoy the fun activities you’re doing, rather than be trying to get the perfect snap the whole time– Imagine this: It’s a Saturday night and you’re going out to a party with your girls. You spend thirty-five minutes trying to get a cute picture, and end up bickering because no one can agree on which picture is good enough to post, sound familiar? Why ruin a good time like that?! Instead, take two minutes to snap ten goofy photos. You’ll have the memories and something to laugh at later.
- Your FOMO will be almost non-existent– Have you ever opened Snapchat and see the fun things your friends are doing without you? You’re not mad but you can’t help feeling bummed out and jealous, or you see that person from high school thriving on a tropical island somewhere, while you’re huddled under ten blankets watching Netflix? The FOMO hits you and you feel like you aren’t doing enough with your time. Yet just thirty seconds ago you were content being cuddled up in bed, watching The Vampire Diaries, or whatever you’re into, for the third time. Without social media making you feel like you’re missing out, nothing can ruin your lazy Sunday afternoon.
Doing a social media detox will help you become the productive, confident, ready for anything person that you’re meant to be. It doesn’t have to be forever, but a time-out from social media will do wonders for you! Although, you should probably keep your Twitter, memes are important for the soul.