3 Realistic Ways to Take a Social Media Break

Does taking a social media break feel impossible when your school or work involves a screen? We all know that spending too much time on our devices can negatively impact our well-being, but how can we realistically step away when everything is dependent on technology?

Perhaps the solution isn’t avoiding screens completely, but creating realistic boundaries between necessary screen-time and unnecessary scrolling. Here are 3 realistic ways to take a social media break, so you can say goodbye to over-stimulation and burn-out.

Why Take a Break from Social Media?

It has been proven with many studies that spending too much time on social media can negatively impact your mental health. This can lead to…

Anxiety
Stress
Overstimulation
Isolation
Comparison
Cyberbullying
Depression
FOMO

Social media can especially take a toll on children and teens. With technology being so prominent in our society, it’s important to set clear boundaries and encourage positive habits.

3 Realistic Ways to Take a Social Media Break

1) Screen-Free Times We tend to reach for our phones first thing in the morning, during lunch, and in the evening after work. If we don’t set clear boundaries for no screens, we end up being on our phones all day. So, decide what time feels best to put your phone away, even if it’s just for 15 minutes.

This can look like stretching, opening your windows, and making coffee first thing in the morning versus checking your emails and socials. Or listening to your favorite playlist and going for a walk versus scrolling at your desk during lunch.

2) Offline Activities Choose an offline activity such as reading, joining a sport, volunteering, doing a puzzle, having a self-care night (bath, manicure, etc.), or finally cleaning an area of your home that you’ve been putting off.

The last thing you need at the end of a long day is to overload your brain with short-form content, leading you to feel overstimulated and burnt-out. These offline activities require you to be present and are much more relaxing to enjoy.

3) Manage Your Device(s) If constant notifications are stressing you out, find a way to manage that. This includes turning off notifications after a certain time, utilizing the ‘Focus’ feature on iPhone devices, or deleting social media apps off your phone.

I’ve played around with my Home Screen before and found it useful to keep certain apps away from my main screen, so I’m not bombarded with notifications first thing in the morning, or worrying about emails after work.

I grew up in the 90s where I spent most of my childhood playing outside with no screens in sight. Lately, I’ve been trying to find ways to enjoy social media without letting it consume my free time. Maybe it’s time we get back to the basics, which is reconnecting with ourselves and nature. Do you take social media breaks? What works for you? I’d love to know.