5 Things to Do When Taking a Break From Social Media
For most people, it’s not if they’re on social media. It’s a matter of how much time they spend every day, week, or month posting or engaging on their social media platforms.
According to research from Statista, the average social media usage worldwide is 143 minutes daily. That’s down from 151 minutes a year prior. But 142 minutes — nearly two and a half hours — is still an awful lot. While social media can be a good thing, too much of a good thing can morph into a bad thing. You don’t want to live your entire life online. Some of the dangers of social media include the potential for isolation, cyberbullying, depression, or anxiety.
If you’re overwhelmed by social media, you should take a break. But when weaning yourself off of social media for a while, you must find things to replace that habit.
Continue reading to see five things you can do when taking a much-needed break.
1. Spend Time Outside
When was the last time you sat out on the back deck and just enjoyed the fresh air? Grab a coffee or cup of tea and enjoy a good book while spending a relaxing afternoon outside. Whether morning, afternoon, evening, or night, you can leave the four walls of your home and go outside. Leave your phone, tablet, or laptop inside. Remember, the goal is to detox from social media.
2. Go Camping
North of 50 million Americans over six years old went on camping trips in 2022 and 2023, according to Statista. Whether or not you’re part of this demographic, you should consider planning a camping trip to get away from it all. You can enjoy the great outdoors by roughing it.
Of course, some people would rather do anything other than sleep in a tent. RVing is one option if you prefer glamping over camping. The important thing is that you enjoy the great outdoors.
If you really want to enjoy a rural excursion, ensure you bring what you need to start fires for cooking and staying warm. It’s also a good idea to invest in fire pit rings that help ensure that fires don’t get out of control and cause wildfires. Don’t leave home without it.
3. Spend Time With Someone Close to You
Life can get chaotic since people have many things to attend to. Work, school, and more can eat up huge chunks of time, so it’s a good idea to make the time for those you care for the most. But when taking a break from social media, you’ll have more time to catch up with family and friends. Are there people you haven’t spoken to in a while? Call them up and set up a meeting. Whether in a private home or an establishment, you can reconnect with someone close to you.
4. Get Some Sleep
Adults require seven to nine hours of sleep per night. If social media keeps you up when you should be sleeping, take the opportunity to get more sleep during your social media hiatus. A chronic lack of sleep can lead to many severe health problems. However, you can lessen the risks of such issues by getting enough quality sleep at night. Avoid the temptation of checking social media by switching off notifications or keeping your phone anywhere other than your bedroom.
5. Listen to Music
Another way to spend your time is to listen to music. With the many steaming options available these days, you won’t have a problem finding the kind of music that floats your boat.
Taking a break from social media is a good thing. You’ll find it easier to do so when you have other things to fill whatever time you would normally spend on social media. The five recommendations above will give you options when you need a break.
