Facebook Freedom: 5 Effective tips for your social media detox

Pulling the Plug: 5 Effective tips for your social media detox

Sarah Khan

21 Sep 2016

updated the 14 November 2016 à 11:27

Your social media detox need not be a daunting affair. Here are five easy, effective tips to show you how.

Create a 'social media schedule' - and stick to it

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Create a ‘social media schedule’ – and stick to it
Establish a rule for yourself to follow, e.g. no Facebook surfing after 7pm, or only scroll through Instagram during the weekends.
This helps you to not only harness your self-discipline, but also gives you an idea and awareness of when your social media urges typically set in, which in turn helps you better cope with your detox.
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Delete applications from your smartphone or tablet
This is not as drastic as it sounds - we're talking simply removing the apps from your smartphone during your designated detox period, not permanently deleting your accounts.
Why this works: It is the constant visbility and easy accessbility of these apps on our smartphones or tablets that make so easy for us to get hooked. This tip operates on a simple principle: "out of sight, (hopefully) out of mind."
Alternatively, you can ease into it by first starting with turning off your notifications for your social media accounts.
Remember, this is only a temporary measure, and won't leave you off the radar forever. Simply reactive your account once your detox period is over!
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Temporarily block sites on your laptop
It is quite ironic that the Internet gives you tools to 'save' you from itself, but there you go.
There are various tools available online that allow you to temporarily block certain websites (e.g. your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) while you're working on your laptop.
This is especially helpful if you've already committed to removing your social media apps on your smartphones, but may not have the restraint to avoid checking your accounts while working on the computer.
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Get your loved ones aware or involved
Your social media detox need not be a solitary experience. Get your family or friends to keep you in check or embark on the detox with you!
Verbalising your goals is always an effective way in helping you realise them. Communicate to your loved ones that you intend to disconnect from social media for a period, and ask them to keep you on track. For instance, they can call you out should you slip up, or change your passwords.
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Seek other equally, if not more, gratifying, ways to spend your time!
Take walks, read a book, pick up a new hobby, or even journal!
There’s nothing that allows you to be more present in the moment than taking the time for a walk (bonus: it keeps you physically apart from your phones!) or keeps you more connected with the present than journalling regularly.
There are an abundance of new things, classes and hobbies to pick up - you'll be amazed at what you can accomplish in your spare time when you're not glued to your smartphone screen.

At 65.4million (and counting) Instagram followers, it may be surprising to hear that social media maven Kendall Jenner admits to a social media detox now and then. Claiming that it helps feel more present in the moment when spending time with her family and friends, the supermodel and reality star says she deletes her Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat accounts from her phone now and then for a couple of days.

Granted, many of us might have felt compelled to do the same at some point – but how could we possibly function without social media when it feels like the world functions on it? It is undeniable that social media has permeated through every aspect of our lives – from the way we communicate, document our moments and memories, and maintain our relationships. While there are many benefits to staying connected to your social media accounts, there are equally as many compelling reasons to unplug from time to time. Disconnecting from social media has been found to rid you of negative emotions like envy and jealousy, and also allows for more solitude which can in turn harness creativity.

While it may seem daunting to disconnect, here are 5 easy ways to slowly ease your vice-like grip on your social media accounts and enjoy your present.

Sarah Khan

Photos: Getty Images

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