Social media has become a part of everyone’s lives for better or for worse. Whether you have to be connected for work or use it to stay in touch with friends, Instagram, TikTok and the like have become digital hangouts on a global scale. Although it can be a valuable marketing tool, unless you have a career in the field, social media can quickly turn into a bad thing. If you’re struggling to disconnect and find your balance, here are some ways for you to unplug.
Disable Notifications
One of the most common reasons why people go to and from social media so often is due to the notifications they receive on their phone. It’s an incentive that literally calls you back to the app. Whether it’s a trending post or a new comment, notifications can draw you away from the present and cause you to spend more time scrolling. Because they can pop up at any time, it can be a huge source of distraction. You might even find yourself getting anxious when you don’t hear them. Something many people tend to gloss over is that you can easily disable notifications. All it takes is for you to go into your device’s settings or the settings of the platform and click “disable.”
Lock Your Phone Away to Get Clarity
You may stress scroll to avoid dealing with real-world problems or put together a post that makes it seem like you have it all together when you’re really feeling lost. You need to figure out when and why you turn to social media, especially if things in your real life aren’t living up to your feed. Finances are a major source of stress for people, especially young adults. If you find money fuels your anxiety, then it’s time to stop scrolling and start addressing the issue. Maybe you’re worried about credit cards or college tuition. If that’s the case, begin exploring your options. There’s refinancing, consolidation and private lenders. A loan from a private lender can be a tremendous help to pay for tuition costs. They have lower interest rates and more manageable repayments, leading to fewer college debt worries while you’re in school.
Set a Time Limit
With how social media connects us to everyone else in the world, it can be tempting to stay on as much as possible. FOMO can keep you in an endless, toxic loop that drains your energy, motivation and even happiness. The best way to stave off excessive usage is to limit yourself. Choose a set amount of time and use it to browse through your preferred platform. To better manage this, be sure to activate a timer, so you don’t accidentally spend more time than you planned. Once the time is up, immediately put your phone away and do something else. It will be hard at first, but you have to make a commitment to stick to your budget. Your time is valuable, and it shouldn’t be given away to social media indefinitely.
Disconnect an Hour Before Going to Sleep
The blue light emitting from your phone can impact your health. It can prevent the release of melatonin, the hormone that helps your mind and body relax before sleep. The stimulation from scrolling can also lead to more anxiety, depression, jealousy and racing thoughts that keep you up for hours on end. Clock out an hour before bed, and keep your phone out of reach. Opt for relaxing nighttime activities instead such as reading a book or doing some meditative stretching.
