Taking a Break From Social Networks: The Benefits and How to Do It

It's necessary to take a break from social networks, silence notifications and limit the time we spend on them. We show you how to do this here.

We can’t deny the presence and benefits of new technologies in our lives. They’ve arrived to offer new ways of communicating, getting information, learning, connecting, and working. So, why is it necessary to take a break from social networks?

When used excessively, social networks can also have a negative impact both emotionally and on our performance and productivity. Let’s take a closer look.

The benefits of taking a break from social networks

When we talk about the benefits of taking a break from social networks, it’s because of the fact that there are various health risks behind the excessive use of new technologies. Some of the advantages of taking a break from social networks are the following.

Taking a break from social networks can improve your emotional health

How many times has it happened to you that, while looking at social networks, you felt like your life had no meaning? Or has it ever caused you to put more focus on some part of your body that you don’t like? Did you ever feel envious of the life that someone you know appears to lead?

Many times, social networks become the excuse that awakens our ghosts and insecurities. In this sense, stopping spekding so much time on them isn’t about achieving a magical effect of feeling better; in reality, it’s because many of our emotions are linked to stimuli and thoughts that trigger them.

What happens in the networks leads many people to compare themselves with others. This increases the feeling of meaninglessness, of emptiness.

Therefore, it’s important that we seek to change and look for healthier and more adaptive ideas. It’s advisable to reduce the time we spend consuming information and content that could generate discomfort, anxiety, and anguish.

It improves our sleep quality

Prolonged exposure to screens – especially a few hours before bedtime – affects the quality of our sleep. Therefore, if you choose to suspend them before resting, you prevent your brain from getting overwhelmed by audiovisual stimuli.

It improves the quality of your interactions and relationships

How many times during the day do you notice that, when conversing with someone, they check their cell phone and answer messages? Do you recognize yourself doing the same thing?

This way of functioning prevents us from concentrating on the here and now of an encounter and from genuinely connecting with our interlocutor. Sometimes we even have to ask for repetition or cross-examination.

You expose yourself to fewer risks and domestic accidents

Have you ever tripped or dropped an object because you were distracted while watching a video, or almost bumped into something because you were looking at your cell phone screen? Sometimes, that dependence on knowing what’s happening in the online world exposes us to dangerous situations that we could avoid.

It allows us to discover other possible uses of our time

If you were to check how much time you spent on social networks in the last week, you would probably be alarmed… But even more so when you think about those activities or tasks that you put off watching one video after another.

Taking a break from social networks will allow you to dedicate yourself to other things instead of procrastinating. In turn, this goes hand in hand with experiencing greater satisfaction in moving forward and achieving your goals.

How to successfully take a break from social networks

We’re not talking about a complete withdrawal of social networks from our lives. On the contrary, we should simply seek to improve the quality and quantity of the time we invest in them.

Some of the recommendations to achieve a break from social networks are the following:

• Dedicate a certain limited amount of time in the day to checking networks. Then, always stick to the limit you set for yourself.
• Put your notifications on silent. This way, in the time you spend on other activities, you won’t be aware of whether or not you receive messages. This is known as FOMO (fear of missing out) and refers to the fear of being left out of something.
• Set alarms on your cell phone. For example, you can set the amount of time you want to spend on your networks during the day. When you’re at your limit, have your cell phone alert you or lock itself.
• Dedicate time to other activities that interest you. For example, exercise, take a walk with friends, or play with your pet.
• At night, it’s advisable to turn off your cell phone completely or use the airplane mode. This way, your sleep will not be interrupted by light signals or notifications.
• Organize face-to-face meetings to escape from the virtual world. Perhaps you use technology to keep in touch with friends and loved ones. Sometimes, however, this prevents you from meeting in reality, with a coffee or a meal, for instance. Try to maintain a balance between the on and offline world.

Live more outside than inside your screens

Finally, it’s very important to point out that this is not about demonizing the use of networks. In their rightful measure, they serve to be in contact with other people we may not see on a daily basis. However, the danger exists when we believe that they’re the end and not the means.

It’s very important to make conscious use of networks to avoid technoference, which refers to the constant and daily interruption of our activities to check and connect with technology. This isn’t about going to the extreme and completely eliminating social media. However, let’s recognize that life is what’s happening out there beyond all of the scrolling.