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Over the last few weeks more than ever everyone is on their phones or tablets watching the news, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. We are trying to know what is happening with the latest updates since we are all in quarantine due to the corona virus. They say practice social distancing which is very hard for most of us that are used to going all the time. No one talks about how to distance yourself from social media during this time.
In society, everywhere you look you see someone on their phone. It’s the most convenience way to stay connected to the outside world. You may think I will just get online for a few minutes and an hour later you don’t realize how long you have been on Facebook or Instagram. I found myself wasting so much time and not feeling like I could get anything done because I became so distracted with scrolling the net.
Social media can feel like a necessity. There are times I love it and it can help motivate me to get things done. Then there are times it becomes draining and I get caught up watching YouTube videos of other people living their life while here I am just watching and not living mine. It wastes a lot of time. If you have an iPhone, you can check your phone to see what social media you spend the most time on.
A few years ago, I stopped going on Facebook because I found it was a major time suck. I decided I would use Instagram instead and found that it was just as much of a time waster. I told myself no social media then for the last few months I only get on YouTube. I must monitor my YouTube use because I have been known to watch several videos back to back. I am a curious person I love to research and learn the ins and outs of everything. My personality is known for asking questions, I have always been that way because I love to seek knowledge. I must really limit my time on YouTube also because it’s the same rabbit hole of all the other social media platform just in video form.
Just like carbs and sugar I truly believe social media is addicting. I am not a doctor but from my own experience I can get obsessed with scrolling newsfeeds for hours. Getting my fix on knowledge. Being self-employed and a single momma of three I had to have a reality check with myself. In this blog I am going to talk to you about some of the things I did to cut back on my social media time or how I control the amount of time I am on it.
These are my top suggestions in no order. You know yourself and what you will or won’t do so find what fits your life and make it work for you.
Shut Your Phone Off
I suggest powering off your phone if you just can’t help yourself. If you get notifications and just must look to see what it is then you might be tempted to look. Shutting your phone completely off will not cause any distractions and allow you to focus on something else. Spend more time with your children. Get back to a hobby you stopped pursuing. Finishing that book, you started and stopped reading because you couldn’t find the time to read it.
Put Your Phone on Silent or Vibrate
If you have a business or family that might need to get ahold of you due to an emergency, then shutting your phone off might not work. However, you can put your phone on silent or vibrate. Changing the setting can still allow you to get a phone call in case an emergency.
Turn Off All Notifications
Don’t want to shut the phone off or turn it on silent, no problem. Go into the settings of the social media’s platform that you use and turn off all notifications. Not having the alerts takes the temptations away. Out of sound out of sight. Then you can just leave your ringer or text alerts on in case you need to be available for family if there is an emergency. Once I did this, I have never turned the notifications back on. I do still have Facebook and messenger and I never know if someone has messaged me because I have the notification turned off.
Only Allow Set Times for Social Media Browsing
Give yourself a set time each day or week that you allow yourself to get on your social media. I have been doing this more and more lately. I have my child’s schoolwork to help her with plus I have two businesses I do from home, so time is money. I have told myself no social media until after 3pm. I block schedule my time and this allows me to accomplish so much. You could schedule your fun time on social media when it fits into your schedule and that way you have something to look forward to later in the day or evening after you accomplished all your other momma tasks.
Take A Social Media Time Out
There are times our children are not the only ones who can use a time out. Taking a break completely whether it be a day, a week or a month from social media might just be the thing you need to detox. Like I mentioned earlier I took a very long break from Facebook. I felt like Facebook was not benefiting me and sometimes it made me feel insecure. It was a time in my marriage that was difficult and seeing other’s appearing so happy doing things as a couple really took a toll on me. The social distancing, I did from Facebook was a good thing for me emotionally during that time.
Final Thoughts….
Social media has become such a huge part of people’s life that it’s scary to think about not using it anymore. Taking breaks and living in the moment of life is something social media will never give you. Learn that life goes by so fast and shouldn’t be wasted. Of course, I do use social media still however it on a very limited basis and with intention only.
I would love to hear your thoughts on social media distancing, have you ever tried it?
Leave a comment below and tell me about your experiences.