How to Spend Less Time on Social Media

Originally published: September 11, 2021 01:30:42 PM, updated: November 19, 2022 12:00:00 AM

There are numerous advantages to social networking that are rarely discussed. It has the potential to keep us engaged with individuals all around the world. It's incredible to be able to see new images of friends and family every day. I can send a quick message to someone to see how they're doing.

Many stay-at-home moms, entrepreneurs, and side hustlers have made money through social media. Perhaps through advertisements, marketing their direct sales products, or spreading the news about their new business. Every day, I enjoy earning a living from the comfort of my own bed.

When someone has a child, they have the opportunity to share it with the entire world. With a simple status change on the day you are married, you can inform everyone.

However, there are some drawbacks to excessive social media use. And here are a few reasons why you should put down your phone and start participating in the old-fashioned thing known as the real world.

1. You're down on yourself

According to studies, those who spend substantial time on social media have more anxiety and lower self-esteem. You're not thrilled for your friends when you see their milestones and triumphs flash over your screen; you're sad about your own (apparent) lack of accomplishment. Are these folks even friends of yours? Are you spending too much time worrying about their goal-cutting and not enough time focusing on your own?

2. You've distorted reality

While we're on the subject, all of the success and happiness you see on your feed from your thousands of "friends" is also carefully produced and presents a rosy view of events. Nobody's life is as gorgeous or carefree as it appears on Instagram and Facebook. Consider how many times you took that selfie to ensure it seemed to be natural. By no means are you alone? Remember that appearance and reality don't always match—and that your pleasure shouldn't be contingent on the happiness of others.

3. It's not actually social

When you're always on social media, you may feel less lonely or as if you're keeping up with all of your pals, but it's not getting you any closer to natural, enduring, and close relationships with any of your friends. It's just a waste of time. Your true, close friends are the ones with whom you have actual conversations—even if it's over the phone or via Skype if you can't meet in person. Would you still communicate with your pals if their accounts were to be deactivated?

4. You've become a jerk

Are you that friend who can't get through a whole dinner—or a concert, picnic, party, or other get-togethers—without checking their phone? It's not even for important work emails, personal calls, or messages, to be honest! While you're attempting to communicate, your friend is browsing through their Facebook and Instagram accounts. It's pretty impolite and degrades everyone's experience. So, if you aren't already that friend, make sure you don't become one.

5. Your life is public

You forget that your entire life is public and eternally recorded in visual photos and words if you don't set boundaries and share everything that happens to you at random. Just keep in mind that both safety and reputation are crucial. Also, tone it down a notch.

6. You're distracted

Social media is a huge source of distraction. Maybe you're doing something cool, but instead of appreciating the moment and being present, you're preoccupied with how to take the perfect photo and write an excellent article. Instead of seeing the world, you're starting to perceive things through a virtual, filtered lens. Worse yet, you've lost touch with your life since you're most alive when you're online. Or the person who is the least bored. However, every hour you spend on your phone is an hour you are missing out on in life. Consider what you could achieve with all of that extra time!

It's a good idea to limit your use of social media or even go on a full detox now and then to ensure you're getting the most out of its numerous benefits without letting it affect your mental health or social skills.

Ways to help you cut down on social media time

1. Put your phone away for at least an hour before going to bed

The blue light emitted by screens enhances our brain activity while delaying the release of melatonin (our sleep hormone). As a result, reading social media before bed may potentially be harming your sleep quality. Avoid staring at your phone, tablet, or computer for at least an hour before going to bed to ensure you're totally relaxed and ready for some shut-eye.

2. Take a week-long break from social media

Every week, set aside one day to ignore your social media notifications. Taking a break now and again will show you how simple it is to minimize your consumption, and it will also allow you to spend that time doing other things like learning a new hobby, getting some fresh air outside, or meeting a friend in person.

3. Checking your phone first thing in the morning is not a good idea

A healthy morning routine is a terrific approach to get yourself ready and motivated for the day ahead. Limiting your phone usage is one thing you might want to consider to start your day off well.

Rather than sitting in bed checking your Instagram feed or responding to emails, get out of bed, stretch, and eat your breakfast before looking at your phone.

4. Keep track of the amount of time you spend on social media

Identifying the starting point is the first step in making any adjustments. Look at the figures on your phone if it records your screen time and quantifies what they imply. For example, if you spent one hour and thirty minutes on Sunday, did most of that time be spent looking through Facebook during your lunch break or Snapchatting throughout the day? What could you have done instead with this one hour and 30 minutes that would have made you even happier?

Identify which apps you're using most, when and why you're using them, and how to replace that habit. If you're a goal-oriented person, you can also make a screen time or social media time goal based on the time you know you are currently spending. For example, cutting one hour and 30 minutes down to one hour by next week will be a much more achievable baby step than aiming to cut screen time down to 30 minutes). Baby steps are the key to forming healthy habits, and knowing exactly where you're at is the key to making baby steps.

5. Delete all of your accounts

If you're sick of social media and want to detox completely, the simplest way to do it is to remove all of your applications or block your accounts if you use a computer to access them. When you're ready to return to the social media realm, you'll be able to redownload or reactivate them.

Why not personalize the information you look at in addition to the previous recommendations for limiting your time on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter? Instead of pulling you down, try to follow accounts that post encouraging, honest, or hilarious stuff.

6. Utilize the mute (or unfollow) button

Do yourself a favor and turn off or unfollow everyone on Instagram except accounts that provide you with inspiration, motivation, and enjoyment every time you look at their feed or stories. Not only will it enhance your confidence, but with fewer profiles and feeds to scroll through, you'll automatically spend less time on social media.

7. Disable notifications

Notifications and alerts are designed to draw your attention away from whatever you're doing and encourage you to pick up your phone. Turn off social media notifications to give your phone a break and allow you to pick when you want to check social media rather than letting it choose for you. Bonus tip: You can also disable text message notifications, which will give you the most liberating sensation you've ever experienced.

8. Change up the location of social media apps on your phone

We often find ourselves clicking on apps without even realizing it. Confession: whenever I open my phone to look at a note, send a text message, or check the weather, my finger automatically clicks on Instagram first. Sometimes, I'll realize I just spent 15 minutes on Instagram and have no idea how I even got there. More often than not, we're not reaching for our phones to open social media, but we go to our phones for other reasons and check social media by habit or as a mindless break.

Final works

I hope these tips encouraged you to learn how to spend less time on social media so you can focus on growing your business!