Social media can be a great platform to connect with people all over the world, share content you’re proud of, and express who you are in a different way from what you do in real life.
While there are many benefits of social media, like staying connected with friends and family living elsewhere or promoting your work, there are also many negative connections with social media.
It has slowly but surely become a permanent fixture in the lives of almost every person around the world.
Where you used to see people reading newspapers or talking to each other on public transport, you now see heads bowed, fixated on something on their phone screen.
Let’s take a look at some of the best reasons to disconnect from social media and reconnect with the real world.
10. Take a step back – social media can be a place of constant comparison
People love to share their successes on social media, and why shouldn’t we? However, sometimes, we compare our lives to those we see on social media.
It’s important to take social media content with a grain of salt, as you never really know what’s going on behind the camera lens.
No matter where you are in your life, how low or high you are, seeing a stranger on the internet travelling the world or celebrating a new job can gnaw at us in an unexpected way. So, disconnect from social media to give yourself a break.
9. Increase productivity – get back to the real world
The neverending scourge of scrolling through different social media sites can be such a catastrophic waste of time. Not always, but sometimes.
While we use social media scrolling to wind down, it can become incessant and holds us back from other productive activities.
So, set down your phone and get some work done, get back to one of your favourite hobbies, or try a new one!
8. Spend time with people in your life – organise a meet-up with friends
We have gotten so used to our friends that we often forget how easy it is to pick up the phone, give them a call, and arrange to meet them in person.
This is one of the best reasons to disconnect from social media, as it allows us to make real-life connections.
7. A mental health break – relax your mind
Social media can be quite taxing on our mental health, so it’s important to take a break from it to give your mental health a rest.
6. Experience the world through your own eyes – life is more than likes and hearts
Social media can make us quite cynical and negative. We know already that there is a lot of bad and evil in the world, and social media certainly highlights it.
Stepping away from social media platforms encourages you to experience the world through your own eyes and lived experiences. Leave all of the negativity behind!
5. Stop overspending – step away from the Apple Pay
Constant scrolling online often results in overspending and buying things we don’t actually need. So, less interaction on platforms means you have less temptation to purchase pointless items. You’ll only shop online for essentials, gifts, or products you really need.
4. Better night’s sleep – stay away from your phone at night
Coming off social media, especially in the hour leading up to bedtime, will greatly enhance your night’s sleep. Not only will you sleep better and for longer, but you’ll also feel much better rested than you would have if you’d scrolled for hours before eventually drifting off.
3. It’s not for everyone – it’s ok to not like TikTok
Oftentimes, people set up social media profiles because it is what is expected in this day and age. If you’re not on the most popular social media platform, it’s almost looked upon as something strange to people who are.
Break away from the norm and stay off social media if you don’t really have an interest in it. It’ll free up so much more of your time!
2. Live in the now – don’t dwell on the past
If you’re on any social media sites like Instagram or Facebook, you’re often bombarded with pictures and memories from your past.
While this can often be a lovely reflection, it can also lead to dredging up memories you’d rather forget, as well as comparing your current life to the one you led several years ago. Disconnect from social media and live in the moment!
1. There are a million better ways to spend your time – it’s true
As a final thought, one of the best reasons to disconnect from social media is that there are literally hundreds and thousands of better ways to spend your time.
Social media, while fun, really is a huge waste of time for the most part. Get out in the world and spend your time more wisely. You won’t regret it!