Signs That It's Time To Log Off Social Media
For many of us, before we start our day it begins in the bed scrolling through social media feeds. From those feeds, we gather our daily dose of news, celebrity gossip, friends and/or family life events as well as watching a television show recap on Instagram. Some of us dodge graphic video clips and images of police brutality, violence within our communities and the many other unfortunate events that plague the Black race in general. The rest of us become a participant in stating our opinions, arguing about bigotry, racism, LGBTQ, LGBTQ phobia, politics, misogyny, etc. The latter is draining.
Social media has enabled people to express themselves and explore different horizons, but at times it’s too much. It’s time to chill out and focus on our mental health.
Here Are 5 Signs That It’s Time To Log Off
1. You’re Triggered By The Content
It’s hard to censor and filter content because everyone is entitled to their opinion. The oversharing and graphic content, especially when it comes down to traumas, global events and sensitive topics (i.e. sexual assault and abuse) can get overwhelming.
This also goes for people who have pointed discussions online about divisive topics related to racism, sexism, homo/transphobia, politics, and religion. Dedicating too much time to online negativity is toxic and can harm your mental health.
If you notice your timeline is filled with posts that trigger flashbacks, make you feel uncomfortable or puts you in a static of panic/stress, it’s time to take a break.
2. You’re spending way too much time online
One minute you’re looking at a wig installation video, then at a blink of an eye, an hour passes and you’re staring at dog videos. It happens, it’s okay. But if this happens every single day and you’re pushing important projects aside to watch videos, you should probably log off and get back to work.
3. You’re comparing yourself to others + now you feel bad about yourself
Remember earlier when you were congratulating your friends on their promotion and other achievements? That was super nice.
But imagine seeing 15 of your friends flexing for the gram, posting their travel pics or showing off the keys to their new home. Sometimes we can get in our heads and start comparing our worth based on what we see online.
If you find yourself indulging in self-loathing and belittling yourself, take a deep breath, log out for a bit and remind yourself that everyone’s timing is different. Everything in your life will come to you when the time is right. You are worthy.
4. You’re choosing social media over your relationships
Social media allows connecting with all kinds of people from all parts of the world. We get to learn more about ourselves and others through online communication, however, if your social media usages stop you from communicating with real-life friends and family, that’s a problem.
If you’re not responding to people’s texts, but you’re constantly posting statuses and photos, that’s a problem. If you’re canceling dates or get-togethers just so you can watch IG Live, that is also a problem. Take time out for your loved ones.
And also, remember, the most important relationship in your life should be the one you have with yourself. Dedicate time to self-care and prioritizing your mental health and well-being.
If any of these signs resonated with you, consider doing a social media detox. You don’t have to quit social media cold turkey, but you can set a time for yourself for how long you want to spend online.
If you’re normally online 3 hours a day, set a goal to only be on your phone for 2 hours and progressively spend less time until you feel comfortable.
