It’s a true sign of the times for anyone who is old enough to remember life without the internet. Life has transformed significantly from what it once was, and many people’s lives now revolve around social media in some form or another. You can’t go to a restaurant without seeing someone stop to take a photograph of their plate from every angle. You can’t visit some of the world’s most talked-about and historic sites without witnessing people vying for the perfect spot for a selfie. Even old pastimes that were never quite worth taking pictures of — laying on the sand at the beach or reading a book on the balcony — have suddenly become fodder for social media.
Although it’s fun to share these elements of life with friends and family, it can also be exhausting to be constantly and consistently engaged on the digital landscape. How can you tell, however, when it’s time to reconsider your relationship with the internet? If you find that you can’t quite get through an activity without posting about it, then it may be time for a social media detox. Don’t freak — this could be one of the best things you ever did for your sanity and quality of life!
How to Quit Social Media
So the big question is how to quit social media when the first thing you do after opening your eyes in the morning is scroll through your Instagram feed, then head straight to Twitter to catch up on the news, and then pop over to Facebook to see what’s happening. These are activities that are naturally embedded in the fabric of your day. Guess what? That makes you a prime candidate for a social media detox.
Here’s what you need to realize. There’s a lot of power in quitting social media. So the first step to quitting is to simply acknowledge that it may be helpful to you in ways that you can’t even appreciate just yet. For example, you know that you’ll probably have a lot of free time on your hands. But who knows what you’ll do during all of that newfound free time? You could start writing the novel you’ve always dreamed of penning. You could contact that friend you keep meaning to meet for lunch. You could take up gardening. The point is that you won’t know what those empty slots in your schedule might hold until you make space for them in your life.
If you’re committed to making a clean break, you have a couple of options. You can go the cold-turkey route and simply abandon all forms of social media with a flourish. You’ll either feel a.) really empowered and in control of your life or b.) shaky and weird and sort of uncomfortable and itching to get back on as soon as you get rid of your accounts. Be prepared to experience either of these emotions or even some combination of the two if you choose this method.
Your other option is to tell everyone that you’re leaving. Post your intentions on all your accounts, either by stating that you’re leaving forever (if that’s your plan) or going on temporary hiatus to reconnect with life. Invite them to stay in touch via email or phone, take a deep breath, and disconnect. There: all done.
Benefits of Getting Off Social Media
There are several benefits of quitting social media, many of which may take you by surprise. Key among them is your mental state. It’s tough to recognize the impact that social media may have on your sense of well-being until you actually leave the universe of constant selfies and mundane updates. If ever there was a time to consider the old “comparison is the thief of joy” adage, it’s now. If you constantly scroll your feeds agonizing over so-and-so from high school and her awesome life, then you’ve just stumbled upon the first benefit. You’re not going to think about so-and-so anymore because you’re going to be way too busy handling your own important life and focusing on your own amazing accomplishments from now on.
It’s an instant mental boost. Think of social media as a wall holding you back from reaching your ultimate destination. If you’re constantly staring at other people’s lives and wishing you had some of what they had, you’ll remain stagnant. Knock down the wall and you have nowhere to go but forward. For many people, it’s freeing in the most unexpected way.
Then consider what’s been missing in your life. Make your social media detox count by replacing your digital time with real life time. Here’s how that works. If you’re one of those AM social media people who can’t go to the bathroom without a quick scroll, you’ll reclaim that time right away. Use it to do something different, like a series of morning stretches or a quick yoga session. Play with your dog. Make a healthy smoothie to kickstart your day. Go for a walk around the neighborhood. Go to the nearest café, chat with the barista, and treat yourself to an indulgent breakfast for taking this huge life-changing step. It’s a big move, and the gradual benefits may be huge.
Things to Do Besides Social Media
If, however, you quit and then just look around wondering “now what?” then you may feel a little underwhelmed by this whole quitting social media thing. If you feel like you’re more connected when you’re online, find new ways to connect in the real world. Remember, there was a time when none of this existed. There were no smartphones to whip out during dinner, no tablets to scroll through on the train. So what did people do in the “old days”?
They did … everything. They read books by the dozens. They took invigorating naps. They exercised. They hung out with friends and family. They cooked. They cleaned. They went for long drives. They went on vacation. They tended to life. In short, they lived. You can do those things too. You’ve got this! All it takes is a quick click and you’re ready to embrace a social media-free lifestyle.
Zazzle’s Lifestyle Expert is here to help create life’s best & most important moments. Discover unique ideas and endless inspiration to create meaningful memories with family, friends and your community.
