Social media. The one thing that connects us all, but disconnects us from ourselves and reality. I am a social media addict, like many other people, but I recently discovered the beauty of not having social media. I consistently go through periods where I delete all of the apps off of my phone and allow myself to breathe.
It is so liberating.
I don't have multiple notifications throughout my day that distract me from my schoolwork, my friends, and myself. Based off of my multiple social media breaks, here are four reasons why you should go on a break.
1. More productivity
Getting rid of social media meant I wasn't getting constant notifications that diverted my attention from my work. I already have ADD, so notifications on my phone from social media made everything ten times worse. Social media is like a black hole. Once you start scrolling through Instagram, the next thing you know it's been an hour and you still have only written 10 words for your paper (two of which are your name).
By getting rid of social media, my phone wasn't constantly grabbing my attention away from my schoolwork. I had more time to actually focus on what I was doing.
2. No comparison
A lot of the times social media is a facade. We post the best aspects of our life, and we leave out the rest. Most of the time, even the "best" looking photos can be deceiving. Because of these deceptive posts, we constantly compare our lives to others and think to ourselves "I wish I looked like that" or "I wish I had the money for that." We compare our looks, vacations, cars, and even our food on a daily basis.
By removing yourself from these various platforms that harbor comparison, you can free your mind.
3. More time to do meaningful things
Being a student can be tough, so finding time to do things you really enjoy can be hard. Many of us spend hours on social media daily, but it really isn't a meaningful activity that helps to reduce stress. Taking a break from social media allows for more time in your day for reading a book you haven't had time for, going on a hike with some friends, or taking a yoga class. Social media has become something we do daily, but it is usually just mindless scrolling.
If you spend about two hours on social media per day, you can do a lot more things that give you happiness and meaning in your life.
4. Less negativity
While social media is filled with funny memes, cute videos of dogs, and pictures of amazing food, it is also a large source of negativity. On platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, we see constant news. While being informed about what happens in the world is very important, the negative aspects of the world seem to overshadow the positive ones. Deleting social media gives your mind a break from the constant complaining online as well. We have all done it, but sometimes other people's negative moods can make us mad, angry, or upset as well.
Having a break from these platforms can help to enhance your happiness or stop more negativity from consuming your life.
