If you’re feeling stressed about social media but yet enjoy being able to connect with others online, work on your mindset. When other people write about their amazing accomplishments, choose to read about them only for inspiration and not to compare yourself to them. When you log into your social media accounts, plan how long you’ll be online, post or look for something inspirational, and log off. Avoid excessively scrolling through your Facebook news feed if you’ve had a rough day; seeing the great things that happened that day to hundreds of your Facebook friends could cause you to feel worse. If you still feel tired of social media after limiting your time on it, and you want to take a break from being constantly connected with others online, here are 5 habits you can practice.
1. Send messages via snail mail
It may take a few more minutes to send a letter than to “like” someone’s Facebook status, but handwritten notes are much more meaningful and heartwarming. I challenge you this week to cut out one hour of social media time to mail a few cards to friends or family members. You can find a card to purchase for pretty much any reason. If you really want to be creative, design your own card. Grab some colored pencils, stencils, or stamps, and craft a personalized card. Your inner artist is just waiting to be unleashed, and you will make the recipient’s day.
2. Enjoy the quiet
Having personal quiet time regularly is an excellent way to reduce stress. Take a few moments to close your eyes and rest. You can meditate, pray, or write in a gratitude journal. Or, you can simply enjoy the peace and serenity that surrounds you. You may discover that spending time alone being quiet helps boost your creativity. After all, many people get their best ideas in the shower, a phenomenon explained in this article. Whether or not you feel innovative when you’re quiet, taking time out of your busy day for a quiet moment can be very beneficial.
3. Meet in person
Social media is amazing in that it allows us to connect instantly with people across the globe. Yet, no matter how big an online community you have developed, connecting on the internet is definitely not the same as meeting in person. Spend some time away from social media and meet people in person. You can get together for a workout, coffee, or late-night appetizers and a beer. The key is to actually meet and enjoy your time together.
4. Reinvent yourself
When you take a break from the social media, you will no longer be bombarded by other people’s lives and opinions. Your time and your mind will be free to explore new hobbies. This could be a good chance for you to rediscover your passion and motivation in life. Hence, taking a break from social media helps you focus on what actually matters to you.
5. Get out in nature
Unplugging yourself from the internet has significant benefits. Look up and out to the magnificent world around you. Don’t be confined by your cell phone. This is the time when you will discover that you are genuinely living in the moment. Getting out in nature and experiencing feelings of awe can greatly improve your life. Paul Piff, an assistant professor of psychology and social behavior, did a fascinating study on awe. He discovered that brief moments of awe experienced in nature make people feel less entitled and less narcissistic. According to Piff’s research, feeling awe helps people cultivate their altruism and makes them feel more connected to humanity. Spend some time admiring the beauty of nature, even if it’s just by taking a moment to look at the night sky. The world is vast and beautiful, and you can experience all it offers if you just take a break from social media to look around. The next time you feel tired of social media, I encourage you to unplug and try one of the above ideas. I’d love to hear how it goes! Featured photo credit: Instagram and Other Social Media Apps/Jason Howie via flickr.com
