Why Taking A Break From Social Media Is Important For Your Mental Health

Sometimes, it’s hard to put your phone down, even if you’re aware that every second you spend doomscrolling leaves another mark on your well-being. Even if you’re not doomscrolling, if social media is dominating all aspects of your life, it may be time to take a step back and re-evaluate your relationship with the digital world. In fact, giving yourself some space from online platforms often leads to better mental health - and that’s why Mission Connection is here to help you explore ways you can take that much-needed break from social media.

Read their guide at https://missionconnectionhealthcare.com/blog/taking-a-break-from-social-media-the-path-to-digital-well-being/

Social Media and Mental Health

While social media is now an integral part of daily life, Mission Connection’s guide says that prolonged usage can impact an individual’s emotional stability. 

The guide cites two key signs of overuse: emotional exhaustion, where users may experience heightened stress or anxiety levels, and reduced performance, which is often characterized by a marked decrease in an individual’s ability to concentrate on tasks due to distractions from notifications. 

Comparative behavior and impulsive checking are also indications of unhealthy usage patterns. If these sound like behaviors that you engage in, that may be a sign that you’re using social media too much. Luckily, a digital detox is all you’ll really need to improve your mental health.

Time To Touch Grass

You don’t even have to go too crazy with your self-imposed limitations. According to Mission Connection’s guide, spending as little as 30 minutes less on an online platform daily can significantly improve your well-being. Research suggests that limiting social media interaction can decrease depression and feelings of loneliness; that’s because users who distance themselves from online spaces also tend to see an increase in real-life engagement through face-to-face interactions and offline hobbies, leading to enhanced personal satisfaction.

Social Media Detox

Of course, if you need a hard break, a social media detox may be in order. Although there is no correct way to begin one, Mission Connection’s guide says that you can start by clearly defining your goals, engaging in self-reflection, and setting boundaries with technology. For example, do you want to improve your focus or reduce your anxiety? Even determining that much will help you better stick to your plans.

And if you have trouble managing FOMO, try creating a list of engaging and fulfilling offline activities and making an effort to connect more with friends outside the digital world. This will take your mind off of things happening online and let you focus more on what’s around you.

Once you’re ready to return to social media, Mission Connection’s guide says you should reintroduce platforms gradually and create new usage rules. Additionally, you’re advised to regularly assess the impact of social media on your mental health and adjust your usage accordingly. If you find that you’re starting to experience a lot of negative feelings again, you may feel like another break is necessary - and that’s totally okay.

Of course, those aren’t the only strategies for reducing the impact social media has on your mental health. If you want more helpful tips or you just want to learn more about the benefits of a social media detox, Mission Connection has it all on their website.

Visit https://missionconnectionhealthcare.com/ to learn more.