Social Detox – 14 Tips To Get Over Social Media Addiction
Need to do a social detox? Here are the best 14 tips for anyone wanting to successfully do a social media detox.
Let’s chat about doing a social detox.
Even though social media is great way to stay in touch with family and friends and get the latest news from your favorite celebs and brands, the truth is there can be a downside.
A massive downside!
Is it any surprise that Internet searches for the keyword social media detox rose 314% this past year? That’s according to a Pinterest study of trends for the year 2020.
I personally am not surprised, given that I too tried to limit the amount of time I spent on social media over the last few months.
Maybe you’re one of many adults also trying to change your relationship with Facebook and other online platforms.
If so I wanted to offer you some suggestions that will help you to clarify your priorities and reclaim your time.
How to Spend Less Time on Social Media:
SOCIAL DETOX STRATEGY
1 – Book your time.
You have probably discovered this for yourself.
The hours can fly by when you’re browsing and posting and getting sucked down into the rabbit hole of social media.
You need to keep track of your online activities, so you’ll see where you need to cut down.
The best place to start is by limiting yourself to one or two daily time slots for social media.
Decide that time in advance.
SOCIAL DETOX STRATEGY
2 – Set a curfew.
Just like your kids don’t benefit from spending time on their devices before bed, the same truth applies to you.
Scrolling through your Facebook feed before bed can disrupt your sleep due to mental stimulation and the light from the screen.
So do your best to turn off all your devices a couple of hours before going to bed.
SOCIAL DETOX STRATEGY
3 – Silence your phone.
Do you check your phone each time you get a notification?
If so, you definitely need to stop that bad habit in its tracks.
Remove temptation to constantly check your phone by turning off the sound or letting it go to voicemail.
Of course, you don’t have to ignore your phone all day, especially if you are expecting an important call or need to check in with kids but you can control when and how often you check these notifications.
SOCIAL DETOX STRATEGY
4 – Rearrange your screen.
This is something I did this year – put my social media icons out of sight.
I stored them in a folder called TIME WASTERS until I later removed them from my home altogether.
You can do the same – move them to the bottom of your phone or onto another page, so you have to scroll down to see them, or put them in their own folder.
SOCIAL DETOX STRATEGY
5 – Curate your groups.
All those groups you joined over the years?
You don’t have to stay in them forever.
Clean up your newsfeed by dropping out of groups you no longer need or care for.
If the list has stretched out over the years, you can trim it back a little at a time.
SOCIAL DETOX STRATEGY
6 – Shrink your circle.
Unfriending someone sounds harsh, but there is another way to stop getting their notifications in your news feed.
It’s by choosing to unfollow or mute their posts instead.
Go ahead and unfriend them though if you seriously don’t care if you never hear from them again.
It may be the kindest thing to do for both of you because hey, you can’t be friends with everyone.
SOCIAL DETOX STRATEGY
7 – Use technology.
Some apps are the good, protective kind that defend you from other apps that you have trouble blocking on your own.
If you feel like you’re still wasting too much time, try installing a program like Offtime, Flipd, or FocusMe to manage the amount of time you spend online.
What to Do with Your Time Away from Social Media:
SOCIAL DETOX STRATEGY
8 – Communicate offline.
Guess what?
Less time on social media means more time to spend however you like.
You can use the time you’ve freed up to interact with your family and friends face-to-face or one-on-one. YES.
Like real people used to do in the olden days – FACE TO FACE.
You can plan a party or a coffee date or even a little catchup.
If they live too far, consider sending them a letter or a greeting card instead.
Or pick up the phone and call them direct…nice and old fashioned but excellent at reconnecting you with others!
SOCIAL DETOX STRATEGY
9 – Create a more active lifestyle.
The rule of thumb is to engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week.
So why not do that now that you aren’t glued to your phone anymore?
You can train for strength, flexibility, and balance – whatever your mind and body needs.
SOCIAL DETOX STRATEGY
10 – Get a hobby.
Do something challenging and enriching.
What is something you always wished you could try doing?
How about playing a musical instrument or growing your own vegetables?
Or what about joining a sports club or a Meetup Group for comic book fans?
Seriously you can do whatever you like in your new free time.
There are no rules here as long as you know that it’s never too late to chase your dreams.
SOCIAL DETOX STRATEGY
11 – Volunteer your services.
It’s always nice to give back to your community and volunteer.
You can contact a local charity to help organize a fundraiser or shovel snow for elderly neighbors.
Or maybe work on a political campaign or clean up a nearby park.
I myself have volunteered with our local church parish for the last ten years by teaching scripture classes to the public school kids (different grades, 1 to 6) and organizing the annual sacramental program.
It really does feel good to give back to the community.
SOCIAL DETOX STRATEGY
12 – Plan a trip.
I love a holiday and now you can spend more time making your next vacation extra special.
Research possible destinations and plan your itinerary.
Borrow guidebooks from your library and talk with others who have visited there before.
Be sure to leave room in your schedule for relaxation and spontaneous fun too.
Rather than just watching other people have fun on social media, now you get to make your own fun.
SOCIAL DETOX STRATEGY
13 – Take a class.
There is nothing better than learning new things in life and a great way to do this is by signing up for courses online or at a community college.
You can earn certifications that help you advance your career or which just make you feel spiritually and mentally fulfilled.
SOCIAL DETOX STRATEGY
14 – Read books.
This is what I did when I stopped being obsessed with social media.
Well, I wasn’t yet obsessed but I could tell I was heading that way if I didn’t quickly nip my time spent there in the bud. I rediscovered the pleasure of reading books.
My gosh, I forgot how much I loved reading books until I forced myself to do it every night before I went to bed and first thing when I woke up.
There are so many great books out there for you to enjoy in any genre.
Take your pick.
The world is your oyster here!
All in all, it is relatively easy to become more mindful about your social media activities when you make a DECISION to cut back.
You just decide ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
This could mean a full detox or adjusting a few daily habits.
Either way, achieving greater balance with your time spent on social media will definitely increase your happiness and productivity in the future.
I wish you the best of luck.
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I’m Frances Vidakovic – a mindset & action coach for quietly ambitious women who want to stop overthinking and finally take aligned action. I help women achieve their goals and follow through on what matters, without sacrificing their sanity or soul.