Author:
John Pratt
Date Of Creation:
12 April 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
Pausing social media is a great way to reconnect with the people and activities that really motivate you. Before logging out, be sure to understand why you want to take a break. Select the duration of the break, the networks you want to temporarily leave and set a schedule for reducing your social media usage. To help you keep up with the break, turn off social media notifications or remove apps completely. Use the time you would otherwise spend on social media to read, exercise with friends and family.
To step
Method 1 of 3: Log out
Decide how long you want to take a break from social media. There is no good or bad period to spend on social media. The choice is entirely yours. You can choose to take 24 hours off from social media, or you can take 30 days off from social media (or more). - Don't feel limited to the period when you've decided to stay off social media. If you get to the end of your social media free period and want to continue with your break, do so.
- On the other hand, you can also shorten your social media break if you feel like you've accomplished what you wanted to achieve.
Choose when to take a break. The best time to take a break from social media is during vacations and holidays. This gives you and your family the opportunity to spend time together and talk to each other, rather than social media exchanges. - But you can also take a break from social media when you need to devote all of your attention to someone or something - a school project, for example.
- If you feel overwhelmed by bad news and political mud throwing on social media, then you can also take a break from social media. You can look for clues that this is happening to you. For example, do you feel irritable after watching social media? Do you fixate on things you've seen and spend the rest of the day thinking about it? Do you have trouble focusing afterwards? Then you should probably take a break.
Choose the networks you want to take a break from. Taking a social media break could mean stopping using all social media, or it could mean just taking a break from certain networks. For example, you may temporarily quit Facebook and Twitter, but stay on Instagram. - There are no right or wrong ways to choose the networks you want to take a break from. However, a good way to start the selection process is to think about your reasons for wanting a break from your social media, and then take a break from the network or networks that will most directly allow you to achieve those goals.
- You can also just log out of these sites and applications on your computer and phone. If you have to log in every time you visit the site or use the app, you are less likely to check them if you're bored or distracted.
Develop a schedule to gradually reduce your use of social media. For example, if you plan to take a break from that media between Christmas and New Year, work on reducing it in the period leading up to Christmas. Start about 10 days before you plan to take a break. The extent to which you cut down depends on the extent to which you use social media. - For example, if you're on social media for two hours a day, limit it to 1.5 hours 10 days prior to the break. Seven days before you plan to take your break, shorten your social media usage to one hour a day. Four days before your break, reduce this to 30 minutes a day.
Let your friends and family know that you are taking a break. During your period of declining social media use, let your friends and followers on social media know that you're taking a break soon. This will let people know why you aren't replying to their messages and keep them from worrying when your social media break starts. It will also help to bring yourself to order when you pick up your phone and start opening the app. - If you want, you can have messages appear automatically even if you take a break. There are apps that allow you to schedule your posts on Instagram, Facebook and other social media platforms.
Think about why you are taking a break. Without a good cause, you will have a hard time opting out of social media. There are many reasons to temporarily quit social media. Maybe you want more time with your friends and family. You may be tired of using these services every day. Whatever your reason, be able to articulate it clearly when people ask - because they shall ask for it. - You may also want to keep a list handy to remind yourself why you're taking a break from social media.
- It's also important to be able to point out why you want a break from social media, to stick with it if you want to quit.At those times, you can remind yourself, "No, I refuse to use social media until my designated break period is over because I want to spend more time with my family."
If you feel exhausted, lethargic, jealous, or anxious after using social media, then you probably need a break.
Deactivate your account. For example, if you usually watch social media on your phone, then delete the apps from your phone. If you tend to use social media on your computer, keep your computer turned off for the duration of your social media break. A less extreme alternative is to simply turn off the social media notifications on the device of your choice so that you are not tempted to view them. - If you turn off the notifications, you should also turn off the email notifications.
Delete your account. If you find yourself fitter, happier, and more productive during your social media break, you may want to quit social media altogether. In that case, you say goodbye to social media for good. - The process of deleting your account depends on the social media platform. Normally it is quick and easy and you just need to navigate in the user menu to the section related to your account (usually referred to as "My Account"). Then click on "Delete my account" (or similar) and confirm your decision.
- Remember, if you ever want to explore a particular social media platform again, you can do it, although you will have to start all over again.
Reframe the decision to take a break from social media. It's easy to think of a break from social media as the exclusion of something. But instead, consider your time without social media as a release from the demands you have unconsciously placed on yourself to constantly post new content and engage in social media interactions. Instead of posting on social media, you can now just focus on enjoying whatever you're doing, wherever you are. - Try to keep a mini diary with you and write in it when you notice that your day has been better than usual when you always checked social media.
Distract yourself to get through the difficult part. There will likely be a few days when you really miss being on social media. But after a while - three days, five days, or even a week, depending on how intensively you used social media - the urge to use social media will start to diminish. Stay persistent through this difficult time and know it will pass. There are several ways to avoid temptation and temporary depression. For instance: - Go to the movies with friends
- Reading books that have been waiting on the bookshelf for a while
- Starting a new hobby such as repairing bicycles or playing the guitar.
Recognize the contrived nature of social media content. Many people only post their best photos on social media and rarely if ever negative things about their lives. As soon as you poke through this carefully calculated layer of veneer of perfection, you will begin to notice how alienated and skeptical you are about the whole thing. This sense of alienation will make you more willing to take a break from social media. 
Think before you start using social media again. If you decide that at some point you want to resume using social media, you may want to take a moment to reconsider your decision. Make a pros and cons list to help you identify your reasons for resuming your social media use. - For example, pros could be things like "keep up to date with what friends are doing", "have a place to share my good news and photos" and "conversations with friends about interesting news". But your downsides could include things like "getting frustrated with political posts", "wasting time checking my account too often" and "worrying unnecessarily about things I've posted".
- Compare your pros and cons to help you decide which option is most beneficial and make up your mind.
- You may also want to put some firm limits on yourself when you resume your social media use. For example, you can set aside 15 minutes twice a day to do something with social media and stay logged out of your accounts at all other times.
Method 3 of 3: Finding alternative activities to social media
Find your friends outside of social media. Social media isn't the only way to keep in touch with people. Instead of getting updates on what your friends are doing through social media, give them a call or send them an email or text. For example, ask what plans they have and whether they feel like going out for pizza. 
Meet new people. Without the constant instinct to control social media, you will be more involved with the world around you. Have a conversation with the person next to you on the bus. Something like, "Nice weather today, isn't it?" Can start a conversation. - You could also get involved in your community. Look up local charities or nonprofits that offer volunteer opportunities. You could volunteer at a local soup kitchen, food bank, or organization to provide a home for people (such as Habitat for Humanity).
- Check out the local associations and groups on Meetup.com. This site allows people to connect and share their favorite interests including movies, books and meals. If you don't see a group you are interested in, start your own group!
Read a newspaper. Social media is not only a great way to communicate and see what others are doing. It is also often a first way for many to get the news. But you can also stay informed without social media. For the news of the day, read a newspaper, visit the website of your favorite news provider, or pick up a current event magazine from a newsstand. 
Catch up on your reading delay. Many people are long behind the books they have promised themselves to "ever" read. Now that you're taking a break from social media, you're "ever" there. Sit in a cozy chair with a mug of hot tea and one of the books that seem most interesting to you. - If you enjoy reading but don't have any books to read of your own, go to the public library and borrow a few books that seem interesting to you.
Get your house in order. Dust, vacuum and do the dishes. Go through your closet and remove clothes you no longer wear. Donate them to a second-hand store. Browse books, movies, and games you own and find one or more to give away. Take them to a second-hand store or get them for sale on Marktplaats or eBay. 
Take care of your business. Use the time you would otherwise spend browsing social media to reply to your other correspondence (email or voicemail). Get started with school projects or do your homework. If you work from home, use time no longer occupied by social media to acquire new customers or find other sources of income. 
Be grateful for what you have. Take stock of everything and everyone in your life that you are grateful for. For example, make a list of friends and family who are always there for you when you are not there. Make another list of your favorite things or places - your local library, for example, or your game collection. This will divert your attention from social media and make it easier to take a break and stick with it.
