Rent a cabin in the woods. Lock your phone in a box. Connect with a friend. Do whatever you have to do; give yourself a break.
Is Social Media Addictive and Why?
When we think of addictions, social media isn’t usually our first thought. We think of things like drugs, alcohol, maybe even sex, but not many of us refer to our endless scrolling as an addiction.
But psychologists estimate that between 5 and 10 percent of the population in America is currently addicted to social media.
Do you fall into this category?
Do you find yourself constantly thinking about your social media posts? Do you feel stressed out if you don’t have the opportunity to check your social media each and every day?
Is social media impacting your ability to focus or concentrate on work or school? Is social media affecting your social relationships? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might very well have a social media addiction.
Even if you don’t fall into the category of addiction, chances are you’re still using social media way too much. Think about it, how many times a day do you mindlessly pick up your phone and scroll through Instagram? Or Facebook, Tik Tok? Or all of the above?
In America, the average person spends over 2 hours a day on social media!
Imagine how many things you could accomplish if you got that time back!
But why is social media so addictive?
Well, it has something to do with the way that social media affects the brain. According to a study by Harvard University, when people use social networking sites, the same part of the brain that ignites when using an addictive substance is lit up.
The majority of people find social networking rewarding, which causes dopamine levels to rise and rewards our brain with a positive feeling.
Think about how you feel when you post a picture, and someone generates a positive comment on your photo. This activates the reward center in your brain, and eventually, you start to associate social media with a positive reward. And this is how addiction starts.
In addition, social media can also quickly turn into addiction when people use it for depression, loneliness, or to release stress.
Take a Social Media Break! Why?
While social media can help us stay connected, it has also been associated with various adverse side effects that are detrimental to our well-being.
Not only can social media increase feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression, but it can also prevent us from making meaningful real-world social connections.
How many times have you seen two people texting together who are sitting at the same table or who are in the same room? This happens all the time.
And as we use social media more and more, we’re losing our ability to connect humans to humans.
Not only that, but social media also raises the issues of cyber-bullying and promotes unrealistic expectations of physical beauty.
Those who compare themselves to others on social media often experience feelings of inadequacy and may develop issues with their body image and self-esteem.
So it’s time. It’s time to take a break from the mindless scrolling and reconnect with yourself, reconnect with your family and friends, reconnect with nature, and remember what you love most in the world.
And just think of all the things you will accomplish when you have two extra hours of free time!
How to do a digital detox?
It’s easy to say, “I want to take a break from social media,” but sometimes, actually doing it is a little more complicated.
Remember, after all, that it lights up the reward centers of your brain! So how can you ensure that you succeed in taking a break?
● Turn off all of your notifications for all social media platforms. If you see a notification arise, you will be tempted to check it. Just turn them off to avoid temptation.
● Plan distractions. Now that you have free time, what will you spend it doing? Choose activities that don’t require your phone and things that you love doing. Will you go for a run? Relax in a nice, hot bubble bath? Make some time for dinner with friends? The busier you are, the less likely you will feel tempted to check your social media.
● Lock up your phone. If you can do so, lock your phone away or give it to a family member to hide. If you need your phone, keep it during the day but put it in another room when you go to bed. This will prevent mindless scrolling before sleep.
● Clarify your intentions. Let other people know your plan. Why are you leaving social media? How long will you be gone? Is there another way to contact you? This will give people other ways to reach out and hold you accountable for your words.
So, the time has come. Take a social media break and do more of the things you love.
Read here some more interesting articles:
Meditation Benefits and how it helps your body and mind.
Mind, Body, and Soul and Tips on how to Balance them.
What is Mindfulness, and what are the benefits?
Resources: AddictionCenter.com and DigitalMarketing.org
Find here some more helpful information:
The Social Media Victims Law Center (SMVLC)
