How frequently do you check your Twitter notifications on your phone first thing in the morning? How frequently do you focus more on getting the ideal Instagram shot while on vacation than having fun? How frequently do you engage in an online debate on Facebook? A social media detox helps us understand this issue a little better.
If you are experiencing the anxiety and tension that come with using social media, a social media detox may be all you need.
1. Block the websites and delete the apps
Remove the social media apps from your smartphones in particular. This action is necessary. If you keep the applications on your phone during the detox or try to convince yourself that you’ll only check them once a week, I can practically guarantee that you won’t succeed.
2. Talk to your loved ones.
The individuals who are closest to you may have a greater understanding of you than you do. What have your loved ones noticed about your interaction with your phone? You might find that you’ve unintentionally adopted certain undesirable habits, like checking your phone during a discussion or sending texts while eating.
3. Wrap your phone in a rubber band.
You may quit picking up your device without thinking if you use this easy trick. Now that you have to physically reach for your phone, this causes you to briefly stop what you’re doing and think about what you’re doing.
4. Create folders on your home screen.
The social network icons are more likely to be clicked when they are prominently displayed on your home screen. You have to go through an extra step to access social media apps when you put them in a separate folder, which can reduce mindless clicking.
5. Engage in meditation.
Meditation can help you be more attentive to what you’re doing, including how you use social media, in addition to improving your ability to handle stress and sleep.
6. Establish a bedtime for your phone.
Tell yourself that your phone goes inside its charging station and is unavailable until the following day after a specific time (for example, 9 p.m.). Move your charging station from your nightstand to a location that is out of reach. You’re less inclined to stay up late browsing social media if you have limited access to it. Your ultimate objective should be to completely remove your phone from your master bedroom.
