It is safe to say that social media is huge. More than half the world is on some sort of social media site, as they connect with people, share things about their lives and entertain themselves with new content. Social media can be a great thing, as it allows you to keep in touch with people that you would not have necessarily been in contact with before, from old friends to family members across the globe.
However, like many good things in the modern age, too much of it can have some damaging effects. Whether it is constantly comparing your life to those you see on social media or wasting countless hours each week on these sites when you could be doing something else, a break from the apps can definitely be good.
Here are some reasons to take a break:
Frees up your time
Over the past few years, many smartphone companies have brought out features that allow you to track how much time you spend on your device and see exactly which apps you use the most. Screen time has increased even more as of late, which means your devices are creeping into more hours of your day, meaning you have less time away from them than ever before. Imagine what you could do with all those free hours after ditching the apps for a while.
Leads to better mental health practices
Social media has been linked to worsening mental health issues in some individuals. There are so many ways these sites can impact the way you think and cause things like stress and anxiety. While this does not mean that this is the case for everyone or that you should quit it altogether, but rather that moderation is key.
For those struggling with their mental health, a break from social media might not only give you some much-needed clarity but also the time to look into getting the right support. You may be surprised at what is available to you, especially if you live in a more urban area. For example, a quick search for a therapist in Cape Town at https://www.therapyroute.com/therapists/south-africa/cape-town/1 will show you just how much is out there.
Allows for much more time to think
With less to do on your phone, you find may find yourself picking it up less and less. This really gives you time to think about anything really.
It seems that whenever anyone has a spare few minutes, they are reaching for their devices to scroll. When you are taking a social media break and therefore not do this, you may find that you enjoy having the short bursts of time to just sit with your own thoughts.
From improving your patience and coming to life decisions much quicker, there are so many benefits to having more time to think.
Social media can be a fantastic asset to your life, but, like anything, it is important to know when to take a break.
