It's easy to get caught up in the number of likes and followers. We let them define our worth and identity. Sure, social media is a fun way to past the time but sometimes we take it a little too seriously.
No one should be spending hours photoshopping or face tuning themselves to look a certain way. It feeds into a toxic habit of changing the way we look to seem "perfect."
Taking a social media cleanse doesn't have to mean getting off a site for good. Taking a few days away or even a couple of weeks can be a good way to break away from any unhealthy habits you have developed.
I did a social media break when I broke up with my boyfriend and it helped me immensely to heal and move on. I deactivated my account so I wouldn't be tempted to just open up the app. As a result, I wasn't tempted to see if my ex was active on Instagram. I wasn't checking to see his activity like whose pictures he was liking or who he started to follow. All of which are small but volatile actions that would've prevented me from moving on.
It was hard at first to not be able to check my feed or look at posts to pass the time. Whenever I was bored or wanted to pass the time social media was my way to do so. But it allowed me to use my time doing other constructive things like writing.
It was nice to be away from any pressure or stress to present myself in a certain way online. I wasn't worried about posting so everyone could see what I'm doing. I wasn't comparing my life and body to others I saw.
I also learned to let go of any feelings of jealousy or envy about others I saw online. I had a bad habit of wishing my life was like someone else's and I kept wishing my life was as adventurous and exciting as others. I've come to the conclusion, though, that no one has such an exciting life unless your like the Kardashian's.
Try taking a social media cleanse and you might find your mental health and headspace to be lighter. Everyone is putting on a persona and slightly skewed version of themselves online, but it doesn't mean you have to.
