Digital detox: How to take a break from social media

by Adreana Hamilton

Taking a break from social media can be difficult when you have a career that requires closely following it.

Feeling overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, or physically drained by all the negativity in the media? It might be time to cut back on social media usage, but how exactly can you unplug when you have to be plugged in for work or school?  

According to a study at Pew Research Center, 69% of adults and 81% of teens in the U.S. use social media. This puts an enormous amount of the population at a higher risk of anxiety and depression associated with social media use. Scaling back from your social media accounts has many restorative benefits; let’s take a look at what they are and how to do it.  

Benefits of a Social Media Detox 

• Improved mental health 

• Decreased stress levels 

• Better sleep quality 

• Higher self-esteem & self-awareness 

• Increased productivity 

• Deepened personal connections 

How to Cut Back 

• Turn off Social Media Notifications 

  
  

Turning off your notifications removes some of the temptation to check in and see what’s going on in the digital world. We all know it never ends with checking one post. Doom-scrolling is a real doozy.  

• Limit Your Screen Time 

  
  

iPhone and Android devices usually have a feature within settings that will allow you to set specific time limits on certain apps and help establish a better nighttime routine. 

• Set Communication Limits 

  
  

Use your phone settings to only receive important calls or texts during certain times of the day. This way your coworkers can still get in touch with you if need be.  

• Tell Your Friends 

  
  

Telling your friends or family you are taking a break from social media increases your accountability to follow through and encourages you to spend real time with them in person versus simply “liking” or commenting on their post. 

• Pick Up A Hobby 

  
  

Most of the time, we doom-scroll on social media out of boredom. Instead, put your phone away in another room and pick up a book, paint, put a puzzle together, or go outdoors! We always thank ourselves afterwards.  

Though there are many positive benefits to social media and it’s important to stay up to date on things happening around the world, there has to be a healthy balance to improve mental health.  

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