Taking a break from social media is a great way to reconnect with the people and activities that really motivate you. Before disconnecting, find the reasons why you want a break. Decide the length of your absence, the platforms you want to temporarily leave and develop a program to reduce the use of social networks in general. To be able to stick to the plan, turn off social app notifications, or delete them altogether. Use the time you spent online to read, exercise and hang out with friends and family.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Log out
Step 1. Decide the length of the social break
There is no one right answer for everyone. The choice is completely yours. You can unplug for 24 hours or 30 days (or more).
- Do not feel obliged to respect the duration that you have imposed on yourself. If you have reached the end of the period without social networks, you wish to continue the break, go ahead.
- Likewise, you can also decide to shorten the length of the break if you think you've achieved your goals early.
Step 2. Decide when to take a break
The best time is during a family vacation or holidays. During those times you have the opportunity to spend time talking to your family instead of engaging in social exchanges.
- You can take a break from social media even when you need to dedicate all your time to something or someone; for example, when you are working on a school project.
- You can decide to take a break even if you feel overwhelmed by the bad news and tensions due to the political climate on social media. Try to understand if you are in this situation. For example, do you feel irritable after opening Twitter? Do you get obsessed with what you've read and think about it all day? Do you find it difficult to focus later? In this case, you probably need to log out.
Step 3. Choose the platforms you want to stop using
Taking a break from social media can mean giving up using social networks altogether, or leaving just some of them aside. For example, you could temporarily leave Facebook and Twitter, but continue to use Instagram.
- There is no guide that can help you choose which platforms to stop using. However, a good criterion for making a decision is to think about why you want a break, then abandon the sites that directly prevent you from achieving that goal.
- You can also simply log out of sites and applications on your computer and phone. Being forced to log in every time you visit a site or use an app can help you not check social media whenever you're bored or distracted.
Step 4. Develop a plan to gradually reduce social media usage
For example, if you plan to take a break from Christmas to New Year, try to use social networks less in the run-up to the holidays. Start reducing usage 10 days before the actual break. Choose a personalized schedule based on how often you visit social media.
For example, if you use social media for two hours a day, switch to an hour and a half 10 days before the break. Then, seven days before the break, move on to one hour a day. Four days earlier, it comes up to half an hour
Step 5. Tell friends and family that you will be taking a break
You can decide to break the news to the people you talk to most often so they know why you aren't responding to their messages and don't worry. Also, by making your intentions known, you will feel greater responsibility if you are tempted to open a social media app when picking up your phone.
If you wish, you can schedule posts, so that they are published during the break
Step 6. Remember the reasons for the break
Without a good cause, it will be very difficult to stay away from social networks. There are many reasons for deciding to log out of these platforms. Maybe you want to spend more time with friends and family or you are tired of using them every day. Whatever your motivation, you need to be able to put it into words so that you can answer the questions of others, who will no doubt ask you for an explanation.
- You may want to keep a list of reasons always on hand so you never forget why you are taking the break.
- It is important to know how to identify the reason for the break also to be able to resist the temptation to resume using social media. In those moments, you can say to yourself: "No, I refuse to use social media until the end of the period I have established, because I want to spend more time with my family."
Part 2 of 3: Avoid Starting Over
Step 1. Deactivate your account
If you usually access social media on your phone, delete the apps. If you have a tendency to do this from your computer, do not turn on the system for the duration of the break. A less drastic alternative is to simply turn off social notifications on the device you use most often, so you don't have the temptation to open your profile.
If you turn off notifications, be sure to turn off notifications via email as well
Step 2. Delete your account
If you find that you are happier, fitter and more productive when you are not using social media, you can decide to extend the break and quit altogether. In this case, you will say goodbye to social networks for good.
- To delete your profile you have to follow different steps depending on the platform. Usually, it's quick, easy, and simply requires you to reach the account options section of the menu (often called "Your Account"). From there, just click "Delete my account" (or similar entry) and confirm your decision.
- Remember, if you want to go back to using that social network in the future, you will be forced to start from scratch.
Step 3. Change your perspective on the social break
It is easy to think of leaving social networks as losing something. However, you should consider that this opportunity allows you to free yourself from the need you subconsciously feel to publish new content and to engage in relationships with other users via the internet. Instead of writing new posts, you can just start enjoying what you're doing, wherever you are.
Try to carry a mini-diary with you and write down all the occasions when life seems better than usual without always checking the social networks
Step 4. Find distractions to get through the toughest times
There will probably be a few days when you miss social media a lot. After some time, however, three, four days or even a week depending on how often you used it, you will begin to feel the temptation to connect. Don't give in during this sensitive time and remember it will pass. There are many ways to avoid temptation and temporary depression. For example, you might:
- Go to the movies with friends.
- Start reading again, finishing that book you bought years ago.
- Indulge in a new hobby, such as modeling or guitar.
Step 5. Recognize the artificial nature of social content
On these platforms, many people post only their best photos and hardly ever share the negative aspects of their lives. Once you tear through this carefully calculated veil of perfection, you will feel more alienated from this way of communicating and will approach it with greater skepticism. This sense of alienation will help you find the motivation to take a break.
Step 6. Think carefully before you start using social media again
If you decide to return to social platforms in the future, do so only after careful consideration. Write a list of the pros and cons, so you can identify the reasons why you would like to resume having social profiles.
- For example, among the pros you could write "read updates on my friends' lives", "have a platform on which to share good news and my photos" and "on which to have conversations with my friends about interesting news". However, among the cons, you might note "getting frustrated with posts about politics", "wasting time checking my profile too often" and "worrying too much about the things I posted".
- Compare the pros and cons to decide which alternative offers you the best benefits.
- You can also decide to impose strict rules if you resume using social media. For example, you might spend two 15-minute periods a day on that activity and never check your profiles for the rest of the day.
Part 3 of 3: Finding Businesses to Replace Social
Step 1. Talk to your friends without using social media
These platforms aren't the only way to stay connected with loved ones. Instead of informing yourself about their lives by reading their posts, call them, email them or text them. Ask, "What are you doing later? Would you like to go for a pizza and chat for a while?"
Step 2. Meet new people
Without the instinct of constantly having to check your profile, you will be more involved with your surroundings. Have a conversation with the person sitting next to you on the bus: "Great weather today, isn't it?".
- You may also be more actively involved in your community. Look for local charities that need volunteers. You could volunteer at a soup kitchen, civil defense, or an organization that builds homes for the homeless.
- Search for local clubs and groups on Meetup.com. This site gives people the opportunity to meet others to share their interests with, such as movies, books and cooking. If you don't see a group that interests you, create one yourself!
Step 3. Read the newspaper
Social media is not just a useful tool for communicating and learning what others are doing. They are also often the main source of news. However, you can stay informed even without using them. To find out the news of the day, read a newspaper, visit the website of the newspaper of your choice or buy an information magazine at the newsstand.
Step 4. Read
Many people have a long list of books they promise to read "someday". Now that you're taking a break from social media, "that day" has arrived. Settle into your most comfortable chair with a cup of hot tea and the book that seems most interesting to you.
If you enjoy reading but don't have books available, go to your local library and look for some interesting books
Step 5. Tidy up the house
Sweep the floor, vacuum and wash the dishes. Go through your closet and find any clothes you don't wear anymore, then donate them to charity. Look for the books, movies, and games you're willing to give up. Sell them on eBay or Craigslist.
Step 6. Take care of your duties
Take advantage of the time you spent on social media to respond to other communications (e-mails or voicemail messages). Start a school project or catch up on homework. If you work from home, look for new clients or sources of income.
Step 7. Be grateful for what you have
Think about all the people and things in your life that you feel lucky for. For example, write a list of friends and family who are always by your side when you feel down. Write another list of your favorite things or places - your local library, for example, or your video game collection. This will help you divert attention from social media and better endure the break.
