Why Everyone Should Be Limiting Social Media Usage
The benefits from social media are abundantly clear, but the possible risks are not so obvious. Social media is crucial for many of us to communicate with others and learn new information. However, in excess social media could be harmful to one’s mental and physical wellbeing. According to Statista, the average global internet user spends 2 hours and 22 minutes on social media. Whether it’s a New Year’s resolution or just an act of self-care, cutting back from social media is something everyone can benefit from. Here are five reasons why everyone should be limiting social media usage:
- Improve your mood
- Quit comparing yourself to others
- Cut out distractions
- Become more social
- Invest time in yourself
Improve your mood
Social media has the potential to decrease a person’s self-esteem and increase feelings of depression and anxiety. Additionally, these negative mental health effects are more likely to harm teenagers and young adults who use social media more frequently. Excessively using social media can also be a distraction or a coping mechanism for other mental health issues like stress. Limiting social media usage can improve our mental wellbeing and how we view ourselves as a result.
Quit comparing yourself to others
Social media makes us prone to constantly comparing ourselves to the people we follow. We feel as though we are missing out compared to the seemingly perfect lives shown on our newsfeeds. The truth is that social media never tells the whole story and we are only seeing the best highlights through a glamorized filter.
Comparing ourselves to unrealistic portrayals of daily life can lower self-esteem, create jealousy, and cause a weaker self-awareness. Reflecting on the content we consume and how social media creates an unrealistic idealized lifestyle is the starting point for gaining a better and healthier sense of self.
Cut out distractions
Using social media becomes problematic when notifications and engagement hold our attention over daily activities and work. The truth is there is no feasible way to divide our focus between social media and basic tasks without sacrificing quality or time. By limiting social media usage, we are able to become better focused and think more clearly. The best way to minimize the distractions is to turn off or limit notifications while you are completing something important.
Become more social
We all know that social media is meant to bring people together, but too much social media can have the opposite effect. Excess time on apps can bring us away from meaningful quality time with the people we care about. Empty interactions on social media can also lead to increased feelings of loneliness because we are missing the necessary connections for fulfilling communication. Take breaks from social media in social situations to build relationships with family and friends.
Invest time in yourself
The more time spent limiting social media usage, the more time you have each day to invest in yourself. Ask yourself what you have always wanted to set aside time for but never seem to get around to. Instead of scrolling through a newsfeed, pick up a good book or start a side hustle to earn some extra money.
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