4 Benefits of a Social Media Break

By: Mystique Myrthil

Social media has been a part of my life ever since 2008 when I created a MySpace account, and dang, do I miss creating personalized playlists. Ever since then, I’ve been on all current social media platforms daily. It’s a way for me to keep up to date on news, trends, and more.

In the last few months, however, I found myself spending too much time on social media. By too much, I mean I was opening my apps as soon as I woke up. I felt like it was consuming my life and it got overwhelming. So I decided to take a two-week break. I know it might sound long, but I wanted to challenge myself, and who doesn’t love a challenge. 

I researched a few ways to break from social media before starting mine, and this one quote stood out. “Using social media to the extent that it dominates your activities daily is not good.” Dr. Josh Klapow, Ph.D.

As an active social media user, I was in denial that I was using my apps excessively. Then I thought about it: I could scroll through all of my apps, and three hours would go by without even realizing it. I’m sure some of you can relate. This is when I knew it was time for a break. Here’s what I’ve taken away from my experience

1. Fight the FOMO

The first few days of my social media break were difficult; It felt like I was missing out on everything in the world. I’m an extrovert and I love talking to my friends, planning outings, and anything social-related. Not being able to do those things was challenging, but after a week, I got used to it and realized that if someone really wants to know how you’re doing, they’ll reach out.

2. Reconnect with the real world

Since I started working again, my focus has been on my job for the past two months. This was draining and it took a toll on my mental health, which is one of the reasons I started gravitating to social media heavily – it was an escape from everything going on in my life. Following my screen time cleanse, I’ve had more time to do things I usually would do on days off or after work, such as going to the gym, riding my bike, and writing. I found that when I’m away from my phone, it’s freeing to be in the moment and not worry about who’s looking at what I’m doing.

3. More downtime

Being off of social media for two weeks has been like a roller coaster filled with lots of ups and downs and wanting to re-download my apps! But I’ve gotten so much done that I usually would procrastinate. Taking this break made me realize social media was getting in the way of my life. I honestly have felt more accomplished this month than I have in a while.

4. Make it a habit

It’s easier to create patterns of bad habits rather than good. I learned that I need to take breaks for myself more often because social media is a significant part of my life: I use it not only for socializing and learning but also for my job. Using it too often can cloud what I’m searching for and take away from the experience I want for myself. 

Taking a break from social media is more than these four key points. Maybe a two-week break isn’t right for you but there are no guidelines for this and you can make it work for you. I hope sharing my experience inspires you to step back from your screen, take a break, and reconnect with your surroundings.