8 Tips to Detox from Social Media

Whether we'd like to admit it or not, we have all been in a situation where our social media addiction has gotten out of control. In this day and age avoiding social media seems like an impossibility, but I am here to tell you that it is not impossible and it should most definitely be an important part of your self-care routine. That said, here are eight tips I have found helpful for when social media becomes detrimental to my mental state.

1. Do not bring your electronics to bed.

Your bed should be your haven, your safe space, and your area to decompress after a long day. What it should not be is a place to mindlessly scroll through Instagram or Twitter until 2 AM... so turn your phone, tablet, and/or computer off before you get in bed. This is going to be the hardest habit to break, but it will benefit you the most.

• Side Note: If you use your phone as an alarm clock, STOP THIS NOW. Invest some money into a standard alarm clock... this will help you avoid spending your last few moments of the night staring at your screen.

2. Reduce the frequency of or completely turn off your notifications.

Without a screen lighting up every 10 seconds, it will be much easier to reduce the amount of time spent on various social media platforms. If you absolutely must have notifications on, try to change your settings so that you only receive notifications from the people that you need to be in contact with.

3. Be picky about the accounts you decide to follow.

Before you follow an account ask yourself this: "How will seeing posts from this account benefit me?" If you cannot think of a positive reason to follow the account, or if you see more cons, then you do not need to follow them. Once again, if you absolutely need to follow an account for work or obligations, then try to create another account that is only for work. That way you will only see the account when you are purposely searching for them.

4. Stop your habit of social media stalking.

Have you ever found yourself 146 weeks deep in someone's feed and accidentally liked a photo, then instantly felt like crawling into a hole and dying? This can easily be avoided by thinking before you stalk. Not only that, but reminding yourself that when you stalk a profile, that you will see things you cannot unsee, and this is not good for your mental state.

5. Set aside time to respond to non-urgent emails, messages, and requests.

Rather than responding to every single notification when you receive them, try to set aside an hour at the end of your day to respond to everything that came through in that day. That way you free up your time and your mind throughout the day.

6. Do not overshare.

Social media would be a lot less of a hassle if you weren't sharing every second of every minute of every hour of every day. If you feel inclined to post something or snapchat something, go ahead and do that, but remind yourself that its not necessary to show the world every move you make and it will free up much more time if you just put your phone down and do what you need to do.

7. Get out and enjoy the fresh air.

The easiest way to detox from social media is to cut off your access to it, even if it is only temporary. Leave your cellphone at home and wander around your neighbourhood with your friends or your dog, or go for a hike where the cell service is spotty. The point is, you will be a lot less occupied by Facebook or Instagram if you are getting off the couch.

8. Replace social media time with something else.

Instead of endlessly scrolling through Instagram or Twitter when you're bored, try to find something else to do. I have found that taking up new hobbies has significantly decreased the amount of time I spend on social media. If you can't think of anything to do, try knitting, reading, crafting, or even a new sport! The possibilities are endless when you open yourself up to new ideas and activities.