We all know the feeling: You’re scrolling through Instagram and you see a picture of your best friend’s new baby, and suddenly you’ve been sucked into a rabbit hole of baby photos and dog videos. Before you know it, an hour has passed and you’ve done nothing but scroll through pictures of other people’s lives.
We get it—social media is addictive. But there are also some ways to keep yourself from getting sucked in so easily. Here are some tips for unplugging from social media:
1. Make it a habit to check your phone at specific times throughout the day, rather than constantly checking it throughout the day.
2. If you find yourself constantly checking your phone, set restrictions on apps like Facebook or Snapchat that allow only one check per day or hour (this will help prevent “binge-checking”). Set a timer for each app that allows you to do so (like Instagram). This will help keep track of how much time you spend on each app—and helps keep you from getting sucked into the black hole of scrolling.
3. When posting on social media, only post things that are useful, funny, or beautiful.
4. Spend time with friends or family instead of scrolling through social media feeds all day—the real world is much more interesting than what’s happening online!
5. Turn off notifications for those apps that send them constantly (like Twitter). This will help keep interruptions out of your life and give yourself some peace and quiet while working.
In the end, it’s important to remember that it’s your life and you can choose how you want to spend it. And hey, maybe unplugging from social media isn’t for everyone. That’s fine, too! What’s most important is that you find out what works for you and your online habits, and then make the most of them.
