The benefits of a social media detox and what to do instead

The benefits of a social media detox and what to do instead

Most of us can admit we spend way too much time on social media. Take a look at your screen time on your phone, you might be surprised at just how much time you are scrolling mindlessly. Social media is a blessing when it comes to connecting with people you can’t catch up with in real life, but the memes, the fake news and celebrity drama sucks us in, and we entertain it too much!

Stop scrolling

One of the worst habits to get into is checking your socials as soon as you wake up. It’s not a good idea to dive right into your socials in the morning because it’s just not a healthy way to start the day! Say you posted a photo on Instagram last night, you check your like count and comments as soon as you wake up, I’m guessing if your post was received well, it’d lift your mood, if it wasn’t, your day isn’t off to a good start, is it? Don’t let social media dictate your mood for the day.

Morning routine

If you shower in the morning, shower as soon as you get up. It’ll wake you up, make you feel fresh and it’s a healthy way to start the day. One important thing to note in order to have a good morning is to get a good sleep. Bad sleep will affect your whole day, you’re moody because you’re sleepy, you might have a headache, dry eyes, or even feel dehydrated. In no particular order, a healthy morning routine should look something like this:

• Shower
• Glass of water
• Coffee/tea (optional)
• Breakfast

Benefits

Deleting your socials for a little while will have you feeling less isolated. It’s not nice to see that your friend group went out to a dinner without you, is it? Taking a social media detox will eradicate any FOMO! You’re freeing yourself from all the nasty posts that are made on social media. You won’t be reading nasty comments from strangers. You won’t be able to read hate speech or interact with any negativity from keyboard warriors if you aren’t online!

Unhealthy comparisons

One negative aspect of social media is how we tend to compare ourselves to others. Photos are so easily manipulated, even without editing! Angles are everything, and most of us only post the pictures where we look our best. Taking

a break from social media means you’re taking a break from the filters, the strategic angles, the editing, all the things that make us feel insecure! It’ll benefit your mental health.

Unrealistic expectations

Similarly, to how we compare ourselves to influencers, celebrities, and others online, the world of social media sets unrealistic expectations. People always showcase the highlights of their life, but it doesn’t reflect how they’re life is actually going, so don’t believe everything you see!

Out of your control

You cannot control what you’ll see on social media, sure you can block certain pages from topics you don’t want to hear about, but if it’s important enough you’re going to hear about it on at least one social media platform. Who would want to start their day with bad news!? Taking a break from social media will have you in full control.

Detachment from reality

Are you really yourself on social media? Think about the photos you post; do they accurately reflect your general behaviour and lifestyle? Probably not. Photos online just don’t have enough credibility to prove that someone is living your ideal lifestyle. Don’t stress yourself out about feeling inadequate about your life because for all you know, you’re living a much better, healthier lifestyle than the one you’re seeing online!

What to do instead

There are plenty of things you can do instead of social media to promote a healthier lifestyle. Try some of the following if you’re struggling without social media!

• Go for a walk. It’s good for your heart, you can do it with friends and go at your own pace.
• Take up a hobby
• Make a to-do list. It’ll help you plan your day and finish tasks or chores you’ve been avoiding
• Meditation is good for the mind, body and soul. We recommend meditating for 10 minutes in the morning.
• Start a blog! It can be quite rewarding, we should know!
• Read or write a book
• Call a friend/family member

Did you know your willpower is stronger in the morning? Do the things you need to get done! Social media is an enormous part of most of our lives now, and a good portion of us can’t live without it. It’s amazing to stay in touch, and keep up with old friends, or reconnect with people you haven’t spoken to for a while, but it can be so toxic, and damaging to your self-esteem, which ultimately affects your mental health!

Goodbye, drama

The ultimate benefit of a social media detox is that you are free from the drama. Social media can create a lot of unnecessary stress, so taking a little break every now and then is going to be beneficial for your health. We get too involved in things that don’t matter, put down your phone and enjoy the real world, it’ll clear your head and might give you a fresh perspective on just how toxic social media can be.