10 Signs you need a Social Media Break

Social Media is great, no doubt about it. It has changed our lives so much that almost everything is on social media. We have come to learn so much about our world through social media. But sometimes, you need to listen to your inner self and be able to see the signs you need a social media break.

There is so much good to learn from social media, however, we need to always be aware that we only see what people want us to see on social media. If we use social media excessively, it is very easy to get caught up with the highlight reels of other people and start feeling inferior because our lives may not necessarily be as exciting as the things we see on social media.

For instance, we wake up one day and while scrolling through social media, see that our friend just bought his dream car or landed that dream job, our neighbor is having the time of their life while traveling through Europe, or our colleague just got engaged to the love of their life. This can easily cause us to think that our life isn’t going as great as it should be, especially if we are going through something at that particular time and struggling overall.

When it has come to a point where you start comparing your own life to the things you see without being aware of the things that happen in people’s lives behind closed doors, you start feeling like you’re not good enough and this can lead to a lot of things such as anxiety, mood swings, lack of motivation and many other mental conditions.

For this reason, it is very important to be able to read the signs you need a social media break. This will help you stay grounded, focused on your goals, and most importantly maintain good mental and physical health.

So what are some of the signs you need a social media break?

1. It’s the first thing you do as soon as you wake up and last thing you do before bed

We are all a little guilty of this very bad habit. While it’s okay to occasionally do this, if you find yourself caught up in this habit every day or even most days, start realizing this before it’s too late. And if you are already there, don’t beat yourself over it. Now that you’ve realized that this is the case in your life currently, make a conscious decision to take a break from social media to reset yourself and start fresh.

2. You constantly check your phone for notifications on social media

If you’re always sneaking at your phone hoping that you have some likes or notifications, then this may be a good sign that you need a social media break. Don’t let your life be dictated by the number of likes and comments you get on social media. 

3. You cannot enjoy anything without posting about it 

Do you get the urge to post about every nice meal you have, every sightseeing and every social occasion? If this is true for you, then it’s another sign you need to let your foot off that social media gas pedal and slow down. Take the time to enjoy what you cook or eat at a nice restaurant without having to share it with the whole world. When you’re at social events and family gatherings, be more present and fully embrace your people and their presence. 

4. You often check social media during work hours

If you work near a desk, then you might get a lot of flexibility sometimes on what work you actually do, even when you’re in your office. If you find yourself checking social media every hour or whenever you’re not working on a task, that’s not good. Start by being aware of this unhealthy habit and do something else whenever you do have some free time at work. You could read some helpful articles rather than checking social media.

5. You are on social media whenever you have free time

Let’s be honest, even if we are pretty busy people, chances are you have some window of free time during different times of the day. And this might be a good time to check social media to check what your friends and family have been up to. But if you find yourself utilizing every free minute you have to excessively scroll through social media, then this is definitely a sign that you need a break from it. 

6. You feel like other people’s lives are more exciting than yours

Another drawback of excessive social media use is starting to compare the best moments of other people’s lives to the most mundane moments of your own life. Remember, people do not often share the not so good parts of their life and only share the highlights or good things about their life. We only see what people choose to share with us. When you see these highlights of other people and think how much better their lives are compared to your own life, it’s very easy to start spiraling down a negative path that you don’t want to be in.

7. You have started to feel more anxious lately

Have you noticed that you have been feeling more anxious lately and don’t understand why? Reflect back to how much you have been using social media mindlessly. This could be one of the reasons for your anxiety and is a sure sign that there is good to be gained from taking a social media break.

8. You have trouble falling asleep at night

This is more common if you’re on social media just before bed. By stimulating your mind with all the data right before bed, it can become more difficult to fall asleep as well as sleep deeply. This can lead to you waking up feeling restless and exhausted. So ask yourself if you’ve been doing this and make a decision to take a short break from social media until you have fixed your sleeping habits.

9. You are easily getting frustrated seeing other people’s posts

Do you get irritated by seeing what other people share on social media? Sure we all do have our own judgements about what we see on social media. But it’s two different things to have your own judgment on something you don’t agree with and getting irritated by seeing these things. If you have noticed this, then this may be another sign you need a social media break.

10. You have lost focus at work and started missing deadlines

Another sure sign that you need a social media break is your performance at work. If you have lost focus and start missing deadlines at work, then this could be due to distractions you see on social media and because you have lost your motivation for more important things. 

Always remember, social media or any other technology should only be used to your advantage. You should never let anything else take over your life and well being. While social media is an amazing tool to stay connected to your community, be aware of what’s happening around the world and get inspiration, if you don’t have self discipline on how to use it to your advantage, it can lead to a lot of distress in your life.

So be smart and mindful, and use social media wisely.