There are a few things I’ve always wanted to implement into my life, although I always struggle to actually incorporate these habits into my routine. For example, I know that meditating for 10 minutes in the morning may be the best way to clear my head for the day to come, and yet this seems like an impossible task. Likewise, picking up a new hobby like painting or crocheting may bring me a newfound sense of purpose and enjoyment, yet this simply feels like way too much work. All in all, there are many things we know would have a positive impact on us, despite how hard it may feel to actually make the change.
That being said, there is one little change that I know would be an absolute game changer for me, and that is simply spending less time on social media. Just like meditating and picking up a new hobby, spending less time on my phone is a difficult task. It requires a complete change of routine, which can indeed be very difficult. So, without further ado, let’s dive into all the reasons why you should consider doing a social media cleanse—hopefully giving us both the motivation we need to actually think twice the next time we want to mindlessly scroll for hours.
1. Less comparison.
No matter how immune we may think we are to the world of perfectly curated Instagram feeds, it’s simply impossible to not fall into comparison. Whether you’re scrolling through TikTok watching people start their day at 6am, and then proceeding to be more productive than you’ve ever been in your life, or watching someone post 15 pictures of their perfect relationship—it’s hard not to internalize some sort of idea about how you should be acting. We all know that social media is a highlight reel, but it’s even more important to note that social media gives us a disproportionate picture of reality. Just because your feed shows you that every single person has the perfect friend group does not mean that the majority of people do indeed have this perfect friend group. Your social media is showing you the tiniest slices of other people’s lives that are not representative of the whole.
2. Improved mental well-being.
Studies show that there is a connection between social media use and feelings of anxiety and depression. Although it is useful to know that this information is backed by facts, I’m sure you didn’t need science to tell you this. We all know how this constant stream of information, opinions and images can overwhelm us. It’s easy to be left feeling drained after hours of scrolling through your phone. Taking a break from social media can provide a much needed mental detox and create space for things that bring us genuine joy.
3. Taking a breather from the horrors of the world.
Sometimes, rather than being a highlight reel, social media becomes extremely dark and full of all the terrible things happening in the world. Believe it or not, it actually isn’t too healthy for us to spend our day glued to this gloom and doom. I’m not saying you should not be educated on world affairs, because of course you should be. I’m also not saying that you shouldn’t be affected by the suffering of others, because we need to feel empathy and pain for all people, especially in the worst of times. What I am saying is that it is very important to not let yourself become entirely consumed by what you see on social media, as this is not helping anyone. Perhaps consider getting your information on world affairs from news sources instead. Or, if you do like using social media to keep up to date, consider setting time restraints to limit your scrolling, and vetting who you get your media from to make sure the information you are seeing is truthful.
4.Increased genuine connections.
In the age of social media, it’s easy to confuse time spent online with genuine connections. While it’s convenient to keep up with loved ones through the internet, nothing can replace good old fashioned face-to-face interactions. Taking a break from social media encourages us to invest in our real-life relationships. It allows us to be present as we socialize, truly engaging with the people around us without distraction.
Using the above as our incentive to limit our time on social media, the next step consists of actually implementing this cleanse into our life. What are some easy steps we can take?
Overall, a social media cleanse is not about completely ditching technology forever. Rather, it’s all about finding a healthy balance. It’s an opportunity to set boundaries and prioritize our mental and emotional wellbeing. This cleanse can look like not going on your phone immediately in the morning, deleting your social media apps temporarily, or simply setting a short time limit on these apps each day. I highly recommend trying a bit of a cleanse even if it’s just for a short while, so you can see how this will positively impact your life.