4 Ways to do a Social Media Detox

Scrolling through your Facebook feed, checking the tweets of your favorite celebrity, and drooling over pictures of Instagram influencers to get “motivated” now seems to be the only logical thing to do when you’ve got no plans for the day. Or you can also do this during lunch hours, while waiting for someone, as you wake up in the morning, and let’s be honest here, while doing “number 2” (LOL).

If yes on all of that, social media have literally taken over your life by occupying all your free time. You’re officially addicted to it. And just like other addictions, something must be done to save yourself.

You need a social media detox, my friend.

Lucky for you, I can give 4 ways on how to do a social media detox. Let’s begin, shall we?

1. Scheduled usage of social media apps.

Social media detox, digital detox, or digital minimalism. However you want to call it. The easiest way to do a social media detox is to schedule your usage. This means that you can still satiate your need to browse through your social media feed, albeit in a restrictive way.

By scheduling your usage of social media apps, you free up your time for more important activities so you can remain productive throughout the day and you can also focus on your self-improvement.

To do it, you should set an aggregate time (total amount of time) when your allowed to use your phone for social media purposes. I suggest that you limit your usage to just 1-hour each day. You can then divide this time frame into several sessions.

For example, you can browse through your social media feed for 30 minutes during lunch time, and for another 30 minutes after dinner.

When the 1-hour limit has been fully consumed, it’s time for you to stop using your phone. Remember, it takes courage and discipline to strictly adhere to this method.

2. Use apps to control your usage.

If scheduled usage of social media apps just won’t work for you, you can try using technology to do this for you.

If you’re an iPhone user, you can use its Screen Time feature to limit your social media consumption. It functions as a timer which reminds you that you’ve reached your time limit for the day.

To use this iPhone feature, simply go to Settings > Screen Time > App Limits. Turn On App Limits and click Add Limit. Check Social, and set the time limit to 1-hour

If you want to use a third-party app, here’s a list of apps (iOS and Android) that can help you.

3. Look for an alternate activity which does not require your phone.

Fighting the urge to do something is difficult when you focus on controlling yourself to not do it. If that’s how you find yourself, you should divert your attention to other things. Look for an activity that you can do without using your phone.

Perhaps you can read a book, write a blog, or learn something new. You’ll benefit twice as much if you do this – freedom from your social media addiction, and you get to learn something new. Talk about hitting to birds in one stone.

4. If nothing works, go cold turkey. Delete those apps.

Finally, if none of the above-mentioned methods worked, and you keep on picking up that phone and scrolling nonsensically, it’s time to unleash the “most evil” of all the cures. It’s time to go cold-turkey — delete those apps.

If you’re deeply hooked in social media use, this is like a cruel punishment and it might make you feel like it’s the end of time (just kidding). But don’t worry, your social media friends and followers aren’t going anywhere. They might not even notice that your away.

And that’s the magic of it. Social media makes you think that you are obliged to always keep people up to date with what’s happening in your life. It’s as if they truly care. But the truth is, they hardly notice you. They’re busy with their personal lives just as you are.

Final Words

Ultimately, whichever approach fits you, it all boils down to how you control yourself and how bad you want to break free from the shackles of social media addiction.

I’ve been there. Social media use is very satisfying and very entertaining. But it’s also a great way to waste your life.

In any way, it’s really quite frustrating at first because your mind is stimulated by this activity — that’s why it’s addictive. Your feeling of frustration for not getting enough of social media is similar to withdrawal symptoms people feel when they stop smoking, drinking or using drugs. Although you won’t experience any of the symptoms that they encounter.

Aren’t you convinced yet that you need this social media detox? Read 3 Reasons to Quit Social Media Today