5 Tips To Detoxify Your Social Media Use
Looking for a detox that has nothing to do with food? Whether you’re observing Lent or ready for a fresh start to spring, now may be a good time to check in with your social media hygiene and detoxify the algorithms curating your feeds. Here are some friendly reminders and tips for managing your social media usage…
Stay aware. Self awareness is key when scrolling through social media. Ask yourself how you feel when consuming different types of content. What kind of content makes you anxious? Sad? Angry? Tense? What kind of content makes you feel happy? Excited? Connected? Seen? Understood? Modify your usage according to your emotional experience and keep in mind your reasons behind engaging with various social media platforms and content.
Detoxify your feed. Override the algorithms! Now that you are more aware of how certain content makes you feel, search specific words and engage with the content that makes you feel GOOD. Mountains. Beach. Dogs. Cats. Plants. Sports. Charity. Sunsets. Nachos. Spend some time taking a little more control over the content that you’ll see the next time you open the app.
Remove notifications. Notifications pop up randomly at any time of day and can easily distract us from the things that we want to be intentional about such as work, family time, or relaxation. If you find it difficult to ignore every notification that appears on your screen, turn them off altogether. That notification will be there the next time you make the conscious decision to check the app. Control the app yourself, don’t let the apps control you. And don’t forget to also turn off notifications on your wearable devices as well.
Set an app timer. Or install an app blocker. We’ve all done it: shamelessly (or shamefully) hit ignore on the app timer when you’ve hit your time limit. If you’re tired of hitting ignore, why not take it one step further and find a trusted app blocker that won’t let you lose any more time on the app.
Take a short break. Research has shown that good habits can form gradually over time but some people benefit from going cold turkey. If you’ve tried the above tips and are still feeling stuck in a social media choke hold, try a short ‘n sweet break. Delete the apps from your phone for a predetermined length of time. This will take the pressure off of you to completely stay away from social media forever, and also give you a chance to break the habit of unconsciously reaching for your devices and mindlessly scrolling. When your time is up, ask yourself if you really need or even want to redownload the apps. Maybe you decide you only want your favorites back, or discover that you really can go without them.
Social media is meant to be a fun and positive social experience. But just like any substance or behavior, it can cause dysfunction in excess. If your relationship with social media is fraught with tension, anxiety, and sadness that impacts your mental wellness, consider speaking with a mental health professional for guidance on how to place boundaries around your social media usage. Happy scrolling!
