Why This Is The Time To Take A Break From Social Media? – Said Erin Vogel
Social media accounts are mostly known for pumping misinformation. This time, when the Coronavirus pandemic still at peak and elections are on the head in major countries like the US and India, your social media feeds may likely be filled with loads of emotions, anger-inducing posts that can affect your mental health.
According to the survey, conducted by Harris Poll, on behalf of the American Psychological Association (APA), 68% of U.S. adults stated that the 2020 election will have a great impact on the mind, and many invite stress in their lives.
And one significant way to control your stress and maintain mental health is to avoid social media for a while. “Taking a break from social media during the election week could help many people who believe more social media posts instead of authorized News Channels. There is an abundance of misinformation about all sorts of topics – said Erin Vogel, Ph.D. social psychologist and postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University.
While social media may have some positives effects on mental health such as connecting you with others, it also has various side effects on your mental health such as stress, depression, etc., which may lead to chronic at some time.
Social media is being used all over the globe immensely. And people often compare themselves to the ‘highlight reels’ and feel worse. Taking a break from social media for mental health is the only key.
The sad reality of today’s society is that we spend lots of time on social media feed which eventually leads to multiple problems inadvertently. However, if you don’t know, there are thousands of benefits of social media detox. Have a look over them and also check how to take a break from social media if you really think social media is dominating you.
Few Benefits of Staying Off Social Media
- It will connect you with your family, friends, and people. You can build up a strong relationship with people by meeting up personally. Taking a break from social media will enhance your social engagement physically.
- Social media may connect you with numerous people but online that may feel you somewhere lonely and increase your anxiety. Staying off social media will engage your mind in other activities and reduce your anxiety.
- How often you scroll your social media accounts can spend that time reading books, exercise, meeting new people, learning new things, overall you can be more productive and improve yourself at that time.
- Don’t chase the unnecessary posts of your friends. Put your phone at bay and appreciate your special moments, live old memories, and enjoy the memorable time you had with your loved ones. It will help you to recall the memories, revamp your mood, and take you out of anxiety.
How To Take A Break From Social Media?
1. Delete the Apps
Delete the unwanted apps from the phone so you have to be intentional before logging in. And if you can’t do, find friends who can give you the right advice. Deleting social media accounts will help you to resist unwanted scrolling and go through that stressful stuff. The fewer social media apps you will have on your phone, the more you’ll be staying away from misinformation.
2. Find Out New Things To Do
If you jump on social media channels every next second, then add some other interesting things to do to your list that can divert your mind and intention to scroll social media pages. Read novels, do some crafts, be a writer, and so on.
3. Find Out Positive Ways To Follow News
Another way for taking a break from social media posts is to find out another positive way to get updated with the right news at the right time. Check more TV news channels and try to balance negative information with some good stuff.
If uninterested posts taking back to social media feeds, you will start to experience a negative feeling again – she said.
4. Scroll Past Political Post
If you want to check some part of the social media feeds, scroll some old posts that aren’t helpful now. Recent political posts can be stressful for you, at the same time you may find old political news interesting as it may create some curiosity to know about the political agenda of the politicians.
5. Start Reading Novels
Reading a Novel is one of the best ways to detox social media. Whenever you’re free, take an interesting novel start reading it while keeping your phone away from you. It would distract your mind from social media and also enhance your skills. One of the benefits of staying off social media is you can collect numerous novels and share your perspectives with your friends.
Now you can guess, how addiction to social media may affect humans’ mind and their lifestyles. Even the thought of taking a break from social media – even temporarily – may fill you with dread. The benefits of taking staying off social media may improve your mental health and well-being greatly.
So, stay away from social media accounts as much as you can that will keep you misinformed and invest your time in some other useful activities.