Social media is a wonderful tool for connecting with people and finding information. But it can also spark jealously, become overwhelming, or trigger low self-esteem. In fact, more than two-thirds of adults (67%) agree social media usage is related to feelings of loneliness and social isolation.
With that in mind, it’s clear that social media can be a major reason for the daily stress and anxiety that many experience. The constant updates on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat, make it feel like you’re missing out on something important if you don’t keep up.
This is where a digital detox can be extremely beneficial. Digital detoxes have become an increasingly prevalent part of our lives. Whether that means limiting the amount of time you spend on social media or deleting apps off your phone altogether, taking a break from the digital social realm can prove extremely beneficial for your mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. Below, we highlight five ways deleting social media can help your mental wellness.
1.) Say “farewell” to the time suck
In 2019 and 2020, the average daily social media usage of internet users worldwide was 145 minutes per day. That translates to two hours and 25 minutes per day spent scrolling through feeds instead of engaging in the real world.
Sure, the term digital detox might be a bit anxiety-provoking — especially if you spend much of your time consuming content. But when you put into perspective all the other ways you could distribute that time — whether it’s meal prepping, exercising regularly, getting more sleep, or spending time with loved ones — it doesn’t seem like such a far-reaching concept. In fact, you may realize that once you disconnect, the anxious thoughts you had about a digital detox are overshadowed by the new prioritization of things that make you happy.
2.) Improve personal relationships
Social media is a great distractor and, as previously mentioned, the ultimate time suck. Detoxing from social media can actually improve relationships as it reduces the amount of communication that occurs on screen and turns them into meaningful, real life conversations. Additionally, disconnecting from the digital world gives you the ability to have deeper conversations with those you love and remain grounded in the present.
3.) Regain your focus
Social media can often seem like a merry-go-round. We log into our apps and log back out, just to log back in. Sometimes, we forget why we even opened the app to begin with. Social feeds make it exceedingly easy to get pulled in all day long and, as a result, the time spent on social media can result in decreased concentration levels. Ultimately, a lack of concentration can negatively affect your productivity at work or in school, bringing about a myriad of other issues that could cause stress, anxiety, or low self-esteem.
4.) Catch better quality zzz’s
Research has shown that those who use screens late in the evening before bedtime tend to struggle with falling asleep or maintaining a deep sleep state. This is mainly due to the blue light emitted from our devices, which stimulates the brain and hinders the body’s natural production of melatonin — our built-in sleep aid. A constant stream of notifications and updates can also cause anxious, racing thoughts, making it extremely difficult to fall asleep.
To resolve these sleep issues, the best thing to do is to remove yourself from social media completely and avoid those late-night scroll sessions.
5.) Eliminate negative thoughts for improved self-esteem
When you detox from social media, it becomes easier to control what information you consume. Social media makes it difficult to avoid society’s standards, which can lead to negative thought cycles including comparisons, FOMO (fear of missing out), depression, and loneliness. If you find yourself constantly experiencing similar feelings after a digital session, it might be a good time for you to take a digital detox. By doing this, you’ll find more time that could be better spent on things you enjoy, such as reading books or exploring nature.
So, is a digital detox worth it?
While taking a break from social media can be difficult at first, it is a fantastic way to regain some peace of mind and relieve yourself from the constant notifications. It can also improve your relationships, increase productivity levels, and get a more restful night’s sleep, all of which can improve your overall wellbeing. So, if you’re looking for ways to improve your mental wellness and reduce the stress associated with social media, consider trying a digital detox for a few days and see what happens!