When was the last time you went an entire day without checking up on your social media? It’s been a long time for me, too!

Apps like Facebook and Instagram have connected the world. I mean, we can instantly know what’s up with that friend we met during our semester abroad in Italy, and checking up on our BFF who lives on the other side of the world has become a breeze (does anyone remember when a long-distance call would cost an arm?!).

Even though social media DOES have a lot of benefits, we can’t deny that the downsides aren’t exactly great once you start to notice how social media can affect your life.

Not only has procrastination gotten as easy as ever, but social media consumption has been proven to cause depression and anxiety. To top things off, everyone’s seemingly perfect Instagram lives can quickly have a serious impact on our self-esteem.

If you’re reading this blog post, chances are the intro isn’t even necessary because you’ve already identified that social media has become a problem. Whether you’re having feelings of inadequacy after scrolling through Instagram or you simply would appreciate a break to fix that sleeping schedule, I wanted to take some time today to give you some helpful tips on how to do a social media detox.

How To Do A Social Media Detox:

Write a list of things you’d like to do that you never have time for

Did you know the average person spends AT LEAST one hour and forty minutes every single day using social media? That’s almost twelve hours a week and TWO DAYS a month.

Two days is just enough time to read several books, start a new hobby, cook yourself yummy meals, or exercise and practice self care. Write a list of things you would like to do (that you never seem to have time for) and challenge yourself to go through that list instead of spending time on social media.

Delete your apps

I know it may sound hard to go completely cold turkey, but if you’re serious about it, this is the most efficient way to start a social media detox.

No, it doesn’t have to be forever but set yourself a goal and once you’re past those 7, 15, or even 30 days, you can loop back and decide if you even feel like downloading them again.

Get rid of the source and you’ll be set for success. One of the things I noticed when I deleted my apps was that I’d grab my phone and my fingers would automatically look for the Facebook icon. Once I realized it wasn’t there, I’d be like “riiiight” and I’d immediately move on and do something else instead.

Set time limits on them

If you’re not ready for tip #1 and you just want to limit the time you spend on social media, that’s cool too! In that case, apps like Freedom are the way to go. This app will block social media apps during certain hours. I recommend starting by blocking social media during working hours, at night, and when you’re out socializing.

If you need to use social media for work, I know that blocking and deleting apps isn’t an option if you need to get your work done (I’ve been there!). Maybe you’re a blogger or a social media manager and you absolutely need to tap into those social media icons throughout the day to get that paycheck.

If that’s the case, I’ve got you! You can install Chrome extensions like Facebook Feed Eradicator. You can still post as usual, but you won’t be able to get distracted as it will replace your feed with inspirational quotes.

Set a “sleeping time” for your phone

One of the things I struggle the most with is turning off my phone at night. Scrolling through Instagram or watching a Youtube video is so much easier than reading a book, isn’t it?!

I mean, seriously, back in the day, I would read several chapters or write in my journal, both of which would get me sleepy and help me fall asleep at a reasonable hour. These days, most people scroll through Facebook for hours in bed and that’s a perfectly simple way to screw up your sleeping schedule (and don’t get me started on how not getting enough sleep can affect your physical and mental well-being… that’s a topic for another post).

Decide on a time for your phone to go to bed (like 8 pm), turn it off, and don’t touch it again until the next day (pro tip: set your charging station away from your bed). 

No excuses. If anyone urgently needs to get in touch with you in the middle of the night, they’ll call.

Get a real alarm clock

As per the last tip, I know what you’re thinking: But I need my phone on and next to my bed in order to set an alarm and wake up for work. 

I know I’ve used that excuse until I remembered that I used to wake up for school/work in time before smartphones even existed.

And then it hit me… alarm clocks, like… actual ones, not apps! Yep, they still exist and as a bonus, they make for some super cute bedside decor.

And that, my friends, is what you need to do to start a social media detox!

Seriously, once you realize how much time you waste scrolling through social media, you’ll immediately feel inspired to make changes. Life is too short to spend it comparing your life to others and there’s just so much you can do instead of tapping into Instagram for the fourth time in a row.

Don’t get me wrong. I do like using social media – it’s a wonderful way to showcase my work, to meet people from all over the world, and to get inspired, but setting myself a limit on how much of it I consume has been a life-changer! It’s not easy at first, but you’ll get used to it pretty quickly.

Have you ever done a social media detox? I’d love to know what your experience was and how it impacted your life! Tell me all about it in the comment section below.