Unplug to unwind: Social Media Detox for Beginners

Dear you, starve your distractions to feed your focus.

Simply put, a social media detox is a time period in which one drastically limits or foregoes their use of social media to reflect on their own physical and mental health.

In light of the growing number of online ties that bind us together, it's important to take a break from social media once in a while.

If you're thinking about taking a break from social media, here are three things to keep in mind:

Wellbeing: If you want to feel better mentally, taking a break from social media is a good place to start. It's necessary to put down our phones and disconnect from the internet every once in a while because, as the old adage goes, "A healthy mind leads to a healthy body." A break from scanning for new messages or alerts can help us relax and regain control of our feelings.

We may all benefit from taking a break from social media for a few minutes each day to refocus and centre ourselves.

Less scrolling, more living.

Concentration: A social media fast also helps with concentration and productivity. When we let ourselves be sucked into the dopamine-rich world of social media, we lose sight of what's truly important in life.

Taking a break from social media can help us concentrate on our work, leading to greater efficiency. The great Dale Carnegie said, "Live in day-tight compartments" in his book How to Stop Worrying and Start Living.

Independence: Unplugging from social media can help you restore your independence. Constantly engaging in social media can lead to a feeling of dependency, particularly on the validation from online activities.

To recover a sense of independence in your life and the acts you take, it’s vital to take deliberate measures towards minimizing your exposure to and presence on social media.

Life is what happens between social media scrolls and your self-doubt.

Find inspiration in the words of Søren Kierkegaard in his book Fear and Trembling, in which he said, “Our century is a very contradictory one: sophisticated in many respects and yet extremely childlike—capable of the greatest betrayal and the greatest self-sacrifice.”