Have you ever thought about participating in a social media detox? Social media apps are now a regular part of our routine. In fact, 72 percent of Americans use some form of social media. The lowest percentage of vaccinated recipients is in the 18-49 age group, and the percentage is even greater if you look specifically at those in this age range.
Because social media has become an integral part of daily life, it’s not surprising that it has become part of other facets of our lives as well.
Our social media use can affect our mental health, our relationships, and our finances. But a social media detox can help us improve all of our priorities and financial circumstances.
What is a social media detox?
A social media detox is the removal of social media from your life for a period of time. Essentially, it’s a period of social media minimalism. This can look very different for every individual. Some people might choose to detox from social media for a weekend, while for others it will last for a longer time.
Some may also choose to detox from social media during certain hours, such as only opening social media apps after a certain hour in the evening.
A social media detox has many benefits for your finances and other aspects of your life. And the good news is that you can use the program the way that works best for you.
How a social media detox can improve your finances
You may think there is no connection between social media and finances, but there is. A social media detox can remove many of your temptations and free up your brain for financial matters.
The urge to impulse spend is reduced
Many of us buy at least one item online every day. Research shows that 76% of shoppers have bought an item they saw on a brand’s social media post. Many of them did not go on social media with the intention of shopping.
But they saw a B- list item they liked and impulsively bought it. The more you spend on social media, the more susceptible you are to impulsive spending.
Reduces the fear of missing out (FOMO)
It’s harder than ever to avoid FOMO – fear of missing out – when social media users are sharing their whole lives. When you notice that all of your friends or influencers have a new item on Instagram, you may feel that you’re missing out on a good opportunity if you don’t also purchase it.
Avoiding exposure to other people’s shopping habits will prevent your feelings of missing out from arising.
Exposure to digital advertising is limited
Advertising has advanced quite a bit. If you mention an item in today’s society, you may see digital advertisements pop up in your Instagram or Facebook posts.
When advertisers notice that you frequently click on an ad or go to the sales page, they will display it to you more often. The more ads you see, the more likely you are to purchase.
Can increase your income
Have you taken the time to consider that the time you waste on social media could have kept you from obtaining a better job, receiving a raise or promotion, or increasing your earnings in some other way? When you are less active on social media, you will have more time and energy available to pursue other interests. Some people may gain time by earning more money.
Resets your priorities
When you have a lot of time available on social media, you might feel pressured by the need to surround yourself with beauty. While social media might make this appear to be more urgent, it’s important for you to still make time to focus on yourself.
Stepping away from your responsibilities will allow you to carefully consider other topics in your life and achieve a greater sense of fulfillment. You may be reminded of hobbies you once enjoyed but have since forgotten, and may increase your income to allot more funds for these items and less for shopping.
Other benefits of a social media detox
Your finances aren’t the only beneficiaries when you spend time on social media. Your mental health, happiness, and other areas of your life can also see tremendous benefits.
Reduces comparison and envy
It seems like everyone is getting promotions, starting companies, getting married, and having babies on social media.
It’s easy to become envious of others who have seemingly better lives than you do. Many people do not discuss their difficulties on social media; it’s all behind the screen.
But your mind forgets that when you are scrolling. By stepping away from social media, you may be better able to enjoy life’s great moments, and may even have more time to appreciate them.
Saves time to focus on other goals
It frequently seems as though there isn’t enough time in the day to get to our goals. But how much time per day do you typically spend on social media? By deleting these applications, even if only temporarily, you’ll have more time to focus on your ambitions.
Encourages you to live in the moment
Have you been with one’s significant other or friend and found yourself looking at social media? Or perhaps you spent your days at the beach with your phone in your other hand, scrolling through Instagram.
These behaviors have become widespread, unfortunately. Setting limits on using social media, such as not having it present during social time with others, can provide you with a greater sense of focus. You can also take the opportunity to spend time on yourself while helping others.
Benefits your mental health
Studies continue to corroborate the connections between social media and mental health. According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health, the use of social media apps such as Facebook can trigger symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.
And over the course of a 12-year period when social media sites became popular, the feelings of anxiety and depression increased by 71%.
Social media might be affecting your mental health without your knowledge. By taking a mental detox, you could give your mind and body some breathing room.
How to do a social media detox
Ready to kick a social media habit? There is no one-size fits-all plan. Here we’ll share some ideas to get you started, and you can choose from the options that best fit your circumstances, goals, and lifestyle.
Use your screen time feature to set limits
Most cell phones have a feature that tracks your screen time. You can see how much time you spend on each app, and how much time you spend on your mobile phone overall.
It’s a great way to see what your biggest time wasters were. You can also use downtime, when your phone only allows access to texting, calling, and selected apps. This is a quick and easy way to save time on your phone.
Turn off notifications
Notifications can make social media impossible to ignore. Even if you tell yourself you will not check your email or Facebook until a certain time, that can change when a new notification appears on your phone.
Redesign your home screen
Have you ever picked up your phone and found that you were on Instagram? You did not intend to do it, but the subconscious took over. Hopping on social media throughout the day is almost a requirement nowadays.
One way you can reduce this tendency is by decorating your home screen and rearranging your social-media applications into a location that is harder to access. Doing so once per week will minimize your risk for falling into that trap.
Unfollow influencers that make you want to spend
If you spend a lot of time on social media or follow many influencers, you’ve seen that there are some people whose suggestions make you want to spend more. Perhaps it’s because their suggestions are always spot-on, or that you have the same style and like all the clothes they post.
Despite what your favorite influencer may bring a little entertainment to your day, it may be a good idea to unfollow him or her. Spending money on it isn’t worth it if you don’t enjoy the content.
Don’t keep your phone in the bedroom
Many of us check our phones before going to bed and right before we wake up. If you are looking for a way to limit your social media usage, consider detoxing when you’re in the bedroom.
Choose a place in the kitchen or living room where you’ll keep your phone at night. Then you’ve woken up and had time to complete your own tasks before seeing anyone else’s life.
Schedule designated social media time into your day
If you enjoy using social media but find it distracting when you should do other things, consider spending most of the day at a detox center.
Then set aside a time in your schedule when you are allowed to be on social media. The more you adhere to these restrictions, the more control over yourself you’ll gain.
Delete social media apps
The simplest way to commit to a social media detox is simply by eliminating the apps from your phone. This will stop you from accidentally opening your social media accounts and violating your self-imposed boundaries.
When you delete your social media accounts during times of sobriety, you can simply re-install the apps when you’re permitted to use your phone again.
If you want to detox from social media on weekends, you should delete the apps on Friday and re-install them on Monday morning.
A social media detox can change your life!
Not all social media detoxes have to look the same – you can plan yours to fit your lifestyle.
