Social Media Notifications
Start writing a post
Lifestyles

Turning My Social Media Notifications Off Was The Best Decision I Could Have Made

What's the point of staying connected if you can't engage with what is in front of you.

187
Turning My Social Media Notifications Off Was The Best Decision I Could Have Made
https://unsplash.com/photos/Ai9_QJaZfMc

Have you ever found yourself opening a social media notification, just to get rid of the banner on your home screen, and find yourself on the Instagram profile of your high-school friend's roommate's boyfriend's best friend's social media about an hour later? You can lie, but I'm sure this has happened to you at least once.

That action of just opening an app to get rid of that notification has now ruined all plans of being productive during that hour of your life that you can't get back.

Around February of this year, I decided to turn off all social media notifications from on my phone. Preceding this, I was constantly finding myself wasting chunks of time that could have been spent doing homework, studying, doing laundry or anything else productive, on Instagram or Facebook, watching Tasty videos that I would never make.

Notifications are addictive. In our minds, they are enough of a reason to pause studying or halt a conversation midway to respond to another friend who DM-ed us a funny video. These alerts that someone commented our name on Facebook or Snapchatted us a picture that is more than likely pointless, makes us feel obligated to check them. But is that what social media should be- an obligation?

It is so important, especially with our generation, to realize that social media is a leisure activity. An activity that, at the end of the day, is quite insignificant. It is something we should use to connect with our friends and share our life with others, but it is not at all a requirement.

If you're on a super cool trip, enjoy it. Post a picture or two, but just savor your time there- don't waste your precious time seeing which of your friends liked or commented on your pictures. Don't let that notification pull you away from your experience. Because trust me, going to respond to that one person's comment will lead you to responding to the others, then checking whether a certain person liked the picture, to seeing all those who liked your picture, to looking at other people's pictures, to finding out that Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick called it quits…. Again.

I won't lie and say it was easy, as silly as that may sound. At first, I would sporadically turn my notifications back on because I was afraid of missing out on something. But as I continued to push myself to turn and keep them off, I found myself wondering what in the world I could be missing out.

If I posted a picture, why is it that I felt the need to watch the progression of people actually liking it? Would my long-distance friends fade away if I missed liking their pictures? Our generation can fall into the trap of associating likes as approval or friendship, but the honest truth is the people who want to stay in your life, will. So, it's okay if you don't respond to every single one of their comments or don't like each and every picture.

Now I only get on any of my social media accounts when I actively want to use the platform. My friends all know that my notifications are turned off and are quick to send me a text if they need me to go check my Twitter DMs or Snapchat.

It was this decision that has made me a lot less dependent on my phone. I'm able to sit in a class, meeting, or even lunch with a friend without my mind wandering after seeing a Snapchat/Twitter/Instagram/Facebook notification.

Because what's the point of staying connected if you can't engage with what is in front of you?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

55112
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

35501
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

957594
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

184906
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments