Can you make it through a meeting or trip to the grocery store without experiencing separation anxiety from social media? Are you itching to write a Tweet or post a status and can’t think about anything else? You freak out if you can’t check your timeline.Maybe you’re even stressed out by what you’re seeing because you’ve taken doomscrolling too far. From politics to oversharing, you find yourself angry or annoyed at what you see on your timeline. You notice you’re annoyed by everything you see.But if you’re ending up on social media without even realizing it, it could be an indicator that you’re becoming too absorbed. There’s something about social media that is comforting to us, says Ehrman. You start scrolling without realizing it.If you’re having a difficult time remembering that nobody’s life is perfect, despite what they post, it might be time to take a break. It’s not common to post about divorce, sadness and hardship, but those things are still happening. It’s often said that social media is a highlight reel of people’s lives, but it shouldn’t make you feel inadequate or dissatisfied with your own life. Not sure if your habits are healthy? Check these signs: The whole idea is that you’re just more aware of it.”Ĩ signs you might need to take a break from social media
“It’s good for our mental and social health, but it doesn’t have to be forever. “Stepping away from social media is a great way to get a better picture of reality,” says Ehrman. Or perhaps you just want to get down to the recommended 30 minutes a day. Maybe you want to stay off all social media platforms for one month. Maybe your detox includes removing one of the apps or unfollowing accounts that make you question your self-worth. You can choose to announce it on social media or just simply step away. You define how long it is and what it includes. What is a social media detox?Ī social media detox is simply just a break.
So rest assured you don’t have to go cold turkey when deciding to set boundaries with social media, but taking a break or doing a social media detox might be something to consider. According to the same study, it takes about three weeks to start noticing the advantages of limited social media time. Instead, we’re caught up in a virtual world that might not be exactly the way it appears.”īut the benefits of limiting social media don’t just happen overnight. “We’re judging, comparing and daydreaming about what we’re seeing online, so we’re not fully living our own life. “Social media pulls us up into our heads,” says Ehrman. It can be hard for people to see past the filters and witty captions. The trouble is, there’s large amounts of comparison happening on these social platforms. After all, it’s called social media for a reason, right? Participants in the study reported decreased depression and loneliness when they reduced their time spent on social media, which seems ironic. But we also know that social media can be a slippery slope for depression, loneliness, anxiety and low self-esteem.Īccording to one study, keeping social media use down to just 30 minutes a day can lead to increased mental health and well-being. Plus, it’s good to be connected, especially with those we don’t see on a regular basis. There’s no denying that social media is a huge part of modern-day life and there can be a lot of positives and upsides to it.
#Take a break images how to#
So how do we stop the ride if we’re not having fun anymore?īehavioral health therapist Jane Pernotto Ehrman, MEd, RCHES, ACHT, discusses how to have a healthy relationship with social media, plus signs it might be time to take a break. The next thing you know, you’re second guessing your career, feeling angry about politics, wondering why you can’t afford a vacation and Googling the next diet you’ll go on.įor some people, social media has turned into an emotional roller coaster of comparison, perfection and opinions. You keep scrolling and watch a video of your neighbor on some amazing, tropical vacation.Īnd now, your cousin just posted a before and after picture that makes you want to hide your thighs forever. Then you read an overly political rant from a coworker. Policyįirst, you see a post from a friend announcing she just accepted her dream job. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.
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