Evaluate the following situation: You're satisfied and pleased one minute, and your life appears to be going great the next. You've got time to kill, so you log onto Facebook and begin browsing.
From there, you read your friend's wedding engagement announcement
And after that, you encounter a colleague's excessively racist tirade. You continue browsing and see a picture of your cousin enjoying a fantastic romantic getaway. And now your neighbor has uploaded a before and after photo that leaves you wanting to hide your quads for the rest of your life.
Without you noticing, you're doubting your profession, irritated by the government, wondering why you can't afford to travel, and researching your next fitness regimen.
Social media has turned into a rollercoaster ride of competition, perfectionism, and judgments for some individuals. So, how can we get off the ride if we're no longer having a good time?
There's no doubt that social networking is an important element of modern life, with many benefits and drawbacks. Furthermore, staying connected is beneficial, particularly with people we don't see every day. Nevertheless, we are also aware that social media can lead to depression, isolation, anxiousness, and poor views of one's self.
So, what is a healthy compromise?
Limiting the usage of social media platforms to thirty minutes per day can improve mental health and happiness. Respondents described experiencing less discomfort when they invested less time on the internet, which appears contradictory. After all, social media is called that for a specific purpose.
The problem is that on these social media platforms, there is a lot of comparison going on. Users find it hard to see beyond the embellishments and clever commentary.
We are drawn inside our thoughts by social sites. We are not truly experiencing our own lives because we are preoccupied criticizing, making comparisons, and fantasizing about what we see online. Instead, we're engrossed in a virtual space that may or may not be what it purports to be.
However, the advantages of restricting social media use do not appear overnight. It requires approximately three weeks to see the benefits of spending less time on social media.
So, while you don't have to quit when it comes to using social media, taking a hiatus or undergoing social networking cleanse may be something worth your time.
What is the definition of a social media cleanse?
A social media cleanse is simply a hiatus from social media. You decide how lengthy it will be and what it will entail. You have the option of announcing it on social networking sites or simply walking away.
Uninstall one of the applications or unfollow individuals that make you doubt your life as part of your cleanse. You might want to take a month's break from all social media sites. Maybe you simply wish to reduce your daily social media time to the suggested 30 minutes.
Hints that you may have to consider a social media pause
Do you have any doubts about whether or not your behaviors are productive? Look for the following indications:
You browse without even noticing it. There is something very reassuring about social networking sites for all of us. It has evolved into the modern respite. However, if you catch yourself on social networking sites without recognizing it, it may be a hint that you're becoming more and more engrossed.
If you can't check your newsfeed, you'll crash. Can you go through a presentation or a visit to the local supermarket without succumbing and looking at your feed? Are you unable to think of anything else but writing a Twitter post or updating your status?
You become aware that everything you see irritates you. You're furious or irritated by what you are seeing on your page, from political issues to unfunny memes or the next celebrity scandal that is meant to only elicit any kind of publicity. Perhaps you're even disturbed out by what you're viewing since you've gone too deep.
You can't appreciate everything you're experiencing unless you first tweet about that. You can't leave your smartphone unattended at a party sans snapping a video. Then you spend the rest of the night monitoring to see how often people have viewed it.
You become aware that everything you see irritates you. You're furious or irritated by what you are seeing on your page, from political issues to unfunny memes or the next celebrity scandal that is meant to only elicit any kind of publicity. Perhaps you're even disturbed out by what you're viewing since you've gone too deep.
You can't appreciate everything you're experiencing unless you first tweet about that. You can't leave your smartphone unattended at a friend's wedding sans snapping a video. Then you spend the rest of the night monitoring to see how often people have viewed it.
It will be the first thing you look at when you awaken and the very last object you stare at before you go to sleep. Most mobile phone users check their phones once they have opened their eyes. This practice has been accompanied by a rise in anxiety and stress, as well as stealing your time and energy. It has probably made you late. It's also been proven that looking at your phone before bed stimulates your mind, making it much harder to drift off to sleep.
It's no longer enjoyable to use social networking sites. It is not necessary to be engaged or to have a profile. Platforms for social media were created to be entertaining, engaging, and a means for individuals to meet. If it has lost its brilliance and pleasure, it may be time to move on.
Your timeline can sometimes feel like a massive festival of all the wonderful stuff that other people are achieving. It's difficult to look at the bigger picture and understand that no one's life is fascinating and entertaining all of the time. We must ensure that we are using social networking sites with meaning and intent. Awareness is all the rage among health and wellbeing experts, and for a valid cause. While using your phone or social networking sites, be mindful about your usage so you can spend less time browsing and more time enjoying life to the fullest.