This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Salisbury chapter.
Taking a break from social media can have an immensely positive effect on your life and provide you with time you never knew you had. By following these few simple steps, you will be totally ready to embark on your 30 Day No Social Media Challenge.
- Tap into your “why power”. In order to reap the benefits of a social media cleanse, you need to go into the challenge with an open mind and excitement. Take a few minutes and journal about why you have the desire to take a break from social media and what you hope to gain from this experience. This way, you can refer back to the entry if you have the urge to quit or lose your motivation.
- Use the Delete button. If you want to get serious about a social media cleanse you need to get the apps off your phone. It is all too easy to forget about the challenge and open Instagram or snapchat out of habit, or in a moment of weakness (not to mention those pesky notifications). By deleting your social media apps, you will not easily be able to break your challenge. Re-downloading the apps later will only take a few minutes and this step will mark a clear beginning to your cleanse.
- Tell your friends. Be open and excited about your challenge. Most people think it is awesome to get off social media and will totally cheer you on. Plus, if anything, really “important” happens online, your friends will be sure to let you know so you can hear about the good stuff without wasting your time on the pictures of some cheerleader’s new crop top appreciation post.
- Reconnect with your interests. Trust me, when you get off social media you will notice a huge chunk of time opening up in your schedule. Identify what hobbies you want to spend more time on, or start a new one you have always wanted to try. This is a great time for reflection and an opportunity to discover something new about yourself.
Give yourself the chance to learn through your passions and hobbies, rather than through the emotions that spark within you by looking at snap shots of somebody else’s life. You may be surprised by what you find.