Social media is the epitome of a double-edged sword. It can keep you in the loop with current events, local events, or the funniest memes life has to offer. It is a way to network with new people and connect with them.
Yet at the same time, there is so much wrong with social media when it comes to affecting your mental health. By now, you should know the drill of what makes social media stressful. Toxic political debates that go nowhere. Pessimism as far as the eyes can see. Everyone bragging about how perfect their families are. A bit of envy as you see your friends taking a new vacation every week.
Sometimes, you just need a break. Finding that balance between always being on social media and being dead to the world is hard, but taking a break for a week or two is not a bad idea. Here are a few reasons why.
1. You’re More Focused One of the biggest problems with social media is that it’s too distracting. We rely on it whenever we have down time.
The people behind Facebook have made it so it’s so satisfying to get a notification or make a comment. Looking at social media on occasion is fine and all, but some people drown hours into it and distract themselves from work, school, working out, or doing something more productive. Taking a break from social media is one way that you can end up being a bit more focused on what you do. When you come back, maybe you can be more disciplined and only check it at certain times
2. You May Find Yourself Sleeping Better
Getting a good night’s sleep is important for staying mentally fit, and yet too many people do not get the sleep they need. This is due to a multitude of reasons, and one of them may be social media. You go to bed annoyed at something you saw on social and you end up staying awake all night. You can’t sleep, so you check Facebook, and before you know it it’s 6 in the morning. These are extreme examples, but looking at social media can definitely stimulate the brain when it’s in need of rest. Taking a break may help you improve your overall sleep schedule.
3. Less Negativity Everyone on social media is always so negative, and this can affect your outlook on life. We know that the world has issues, but always hearing about all the negative things about the world can take a toll on your overall mental health. Actually making some time to see the good in the world can help you stay positive and be mentally healthier.
4. You May Realize You Don’t Need it Social media is important for many reasons. You need it for business, to stay in touch, and so on. But after taking a break, you may realize just how unneeded some aspects are. You may end up dialing back your social media use, or just not using it at all if you find that you don’t need it. Luckily, you can be able to deactivate Facebook while still messaging people you keep in touch with. Also, less weird and random Facebook messages, so that’s a plus.
5. Seek Counseling If you find yourself too addicted or hung up with what is going on with Facebook, Twitter, or the various other social media platforms, why not talk to a counselor? A counselor can provide better advice than most of your Facebook friends, and they can help you if you have an addiction.
Click here to figure out how you can receive online therapy that you deserve.
