Thinking about a social media detox? It might be exactly what you need

Social media is great for so many reasons. It can connect you with your audience, help you be more authentic, and build your business. But I think we can all agree that there is a point when the constant stimulation becomes overwhelming. And anyone who’s ever done a social media detox will tell you it’s worth trying every once in a while.

You’ve probably seen at least one celebrity post about needing a break from social media. Alerting their followers they might not see posts for a while. Ed Sheeran is a big fan of the social media detox. He even took it a bit further than most and ditched his cell phone altogether.

Lizzo also took a break from social, back in 2020 she left Twitter for over a year before returning.

How to do a social media detox

The first step in determining how to go about a social media detox is to consider why you want to take a break. For many people, it’s the overwhelming feeling of not being present because they’re distracted on social. Or, it’s the constant comparison of your life or business progress to someone else’s. You could be experiencing feelings of guilt or inadequacy due to what others post or the number of likes and followers others have. For creators and business owners, it’s sometimes the feeling of losing out on business or money any time they’re not “on.” Overwhelming, social media makes it very easy for you to compare yourself to others.

So when these feelings get to be too much, there are two main ways to do a detox. One option is to reduce the time spent on social media and another is to do a clean break.

Think about which one would work best for you. If you’ve got a vacation coming up, consider scheduling posts so you can take a true break and enjoy your vacation. That can help you feel like you’re not neglecting your business while still taking care of yourself. Some creators will take one day a week when they simply don’t go on social. They let their followers know when they’ll be back, and stick to that time off. But if this all feels like too much, you can try limiting your time each day instead.

A recent study from Swansea University found that people who cut their social media time down by even 15 minutes a day had improved physical health. They also have improved sleep quality and a reduction in depressive symptoms. That sounds great and an obvious argument to partake in a social media detox. But, you might be wondering how to go about it.

The results of a detox

If that’s not comptelling enough, there’s even more data to show it’s highly effective to take social media breaks. In a randomized control trial, researchers found that taking just a one-week break from social media led to reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety.

“For a lot of people, [it] gave them an opportunity to reflect on how much they were using social media, and their reasons for using it. Were they using it mindlessly, just scrolling? Or were they using it for a positive purpose, to connect meaningfully with friends or family,” Jeffrey Lambert, lecturer in health and exercise psychology at the University of Bath, who carried out the research, told the Guardian.  

A year after the study, Lambert said some people continued the detox and hadn’t returned to social media. Others, like me, created rules for how they use it. Some deleted the app from their phone or committed to not using it in the morning when they first woke up. Other options are to commit to not being on social media during meals or during certain hours of the day. Again, it’s all about what works best for you, your audience, and your business.

Detoxes for creators

It’s easy for content creators to dismiss social media detoxes. It can feel unrealistic because so much of the creator economy business model is tied to online presence. Creators can fall victim to thinking they have to constantly be online because it’s part of the job. But, just because you don’t feel ready for a clean break from social media, doesn’t mean you can’t do a detox. One of my favorite things about social media detoxes is that they can be tailored to each person to fit their lifestyle and maximize benefits.

For many people, myself included, that why is the overwhelming feeling of not being present because of Instagram, TikTok, or any other app. I realized I was spending so much time checking Instagram that I wasn’t present. I wasn’t enjoying dinners out with friends or paying attention during conversations. I felt so much pressure to post on Instagram–and tracking likes–that I worried more about getting a cute picture of myself than enjoying the moment as it was happening.

Personally, I opted to reduce the time I spent on social media instead of quitting completely. A few years before I did my social media detox I had already deleted Facebook and Twitter from my phone. So those apps weren’t an issue for me. My main vice was Instagram. So, I decided to delete that app from my phone too. The goal was to keep myself from checking it when I was out with friends or even just trying to enjoy a movie or a day at a museum. Thus, increasing my ability to be present.

I left Instagram on my iPad and my laptop, so I could stay connected with friends. But once I deleted it from my phone, I didn’t feel the need to “wow” people with my lifestyle. Or that my life didn’t stack up to others because of what I was seeing them post. Instead, I was focused on what made me happy. Gone were the days of doing things for the sake of the photo.

While this worked for me, some people prefer to do a clean break when it comes to social media detoxes.

Consider starting with a break

It can be really intimidating to think about getting off of social media. And the biggest thing to remember is that detoxes are designed to help you, not cause more stress. So, find parameters that work for you. And if you feel a little uneasy during those first few days, don’t beat yourself up about it. It’s tough to change up habits. So an adjustment period is normal. But, try to push through the uncomfortable because most people find a lot of benefits from lessening their social media intake.

Also, as a courtesy, if there’s anyone in your life that will be nervous about you if you aren’t posting, try to give them a head’s up. We don’t want to be causing anyone else undue stress, either.