How to Take a Break From Social Media and Why It's Important

Nowadays, it's so easy to get caught up with social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Their algorithms trick our minds and make us addicted to them.

But how do we know when we've been on social media too much? When should we say we've had enough and take a temporary break online?

Let's look at some of the best ways of taking a break from social media below.

Is Taking a Break From Social Media For You?

The simple answer is: Taking a break from social media is for everyone. 

Whether you've gotten addicted to Facebook, Twitter, or any other social networking site, it's always a good practice to put your phones down and focus on your well-being.

And if you're one of the people below, you may need to take a break from your social media accounts as soon as possible:

• easily frustrated with social media posts and comments;
• always comparing your lifestyle with others;
• spending most of your day on social media;
• having trouble falling asleep;
• constantly checking your social media accounts right after you wake up; or
• losing your focus and productivity.

Tips For Taking a Break From Social Media

There are many possible ways to take a break from social media. But regardless of what you do, you want to ensure that it's healthy and not too overwhelming.

Tip #1. Define Your Goals.

Before completely vanishing from your social media accounts, you must set your goals and objectives. Ask yourself what you want to gain out of your temporary break.

With a clear goal in mind, it becomes easier for you to pinpoint how to go about your social media detox. For instance, you can simply restrict your access to these sites or delete them from sight.

Tip #2. Start Slowly.

Don't force yourself to be away from social media in one go. It may be mentally exhausting to stop what you've always been doing.

Instead, start your social media detox journey slowly. Take small breaks first and build your way up to much longer ones.

Tip #3. Inform Important People.

If you've spent so much time on social media, people will easily notice you're gone. And, of course, you wouldn't want your family and friends wondering where you are or what happened to you.

So to prevent them from worrying, tell them about your social media detox beforehand. Inform them when you'll begin and end your break.

Tip #4. Disable Push Notifications.

One trigger that causes us to check our social media accounts regularly is push notifications. When you see a new like or reaction to your post, you'll have the urge to open the app.

That's why the best way to be more present in your daily life is to disable your phone's notifications.

You can turn them off on your phone's settings. There's also an option to restrict notifications from a specific app only.

Tip #5. Stop Posting Photos and Stories.

Another reason you spend so much time on social media is your addiction to reactions and engagements. But if you refrain from posting any photos, videos, or stories, you won't be tempted to check your notifications and profile.

Tip #6. Disable Your Social Media Accounts. 

Alternatively, you can log out of all your social media accounts. Doing this will force you to type your password again and prevent you from impulsively checking your profile.

You can also temporarily disable your account if you want a more challenging yet effective way to go about your addiction. This won't delete your social media accounts, but it will hide your profile from others.

Tip #7. Delete The Apps. 

If you still catch yourself using your social media apps, you can try deleting them from your phone. There's also an option to prevent new app downloads from the Google Play Store and App Store.

Tip #8. Focus On Yourself. 

Once you've gotten used to being offline, look for fun and exciting things to do. This will distract you from your routine and allow you to focus on better things.

You can learn a new hobby, connect with real people, or exercise. You'll also find yourself with more time to accomplish your tasks.

Benefits Of Taking a Break From Social Media

Apart from controlling your social media addiction, you'll experience multiple benefits because of your time away from your phones and online. Because of fewer notifications, fewer lifestyle comparisons, and reduced time on your screen, you will have:

• fewer sleep disturbances;
• reduced episodes of anxiety, depression, and stress;
• a better mental, physical, and emotional well-being; and
• reduced feelings of loneliness and worthlessness.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a way to block apps so you can be more present in your life, Opal is here to help. Opal, the #1 Screen Time App, is designed to help you schedule your days, block distracting apps and focus fully, on any device.

Here's How to Block Apps With Opal:

1. Download Opal from the App Store and sync the Chrome extension;
2. Create an App Group to block specific social media sites;
3. Start a session.

Yes, it's that easy! While you'll still be able to open your apps, you won't be able to refresh your feed and see any new posts.

Say hello to focusing on better things.

Check out our full guide on how to block apps on an iPhone.