HOW AND WHY I LIMIT MY SOCIAL MEDIA TIME
Hey everyone, welcome back to The Dairy Free Diaries. Hope you all had an amazing week and are looking forward to this week’s post. I think this is a really important thing to talk about because social media is such a big part of our lives and we often forget the way it impacts us. I will be going through the benefits I have experienced by reducing my social media time, as well as the practical steps I have taken to do so. I hope to give you all some actionable steps and habits that you can easily incorporate into your daily life in order to reduce the amount of time spent on social media. Enjoy!
BENEFITS OF STAYING OFF OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media is such a big part of our lives, especially being young and growing up with it. We talk with others, share photos, and watch videos all through it. But sometimes we can get so caught up with it that we don’t realize how much it affects us and not in a positive way. Everyone’s experience is different, but I am going to share my own.
Over the past couple of months I have become a very self aware person. I am aware of how different things make me feel as well as how they affect the way I act or what I believe. And social media has been one thing that has affected me. I have noticed that social media causes me to have a tendency to compare myself to others in a negative way, which ultimately impacts my thoughts, which further my beliefs.
I think a lot of people can relate to this comparison complex that occurs because people are only sharing the best parts of themselves or sometimes a fake depiction of themselves on social media. Not everything on social media is resort, but it’s sometimes hard to remember that. And this feeling that arouses out of comparing myself was my main motivator to limit my social media intake.
And as a result, I feel 100x better. I rarely find myself comparing myself to others, which has done wonders for my mental health. Limiting my social media has also made me a much more productive person because I no longer scroll mindlessly until I realize a few hours have passed. That’s always a plus. There are so many more benefits to staying off of social media, but these are the ones I have personally experienced.
THINGS TO DO BESIDES GOING ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Workout/Go for a walk: It’s always good to get outside and get some sun, but getting outside and getting active is just that much better. It gives you an activity that will release those good endorphins, while doing something that is good for you. I love going on mid-day or nighttime walks around my neighborhood while listening to a podcast, or heading to the gym or running around the block.
Journal/Write: If you are like me, you really enjoy writing about things you are passionate about. And this is an amazing activity for those who are of the same type. Whether it be a morning gratitude journal session or writing down my goals, it is a great activity to get out your thoughts and work your mind in the comfort of your own home.
Bake/Cook something: There is nothing better than getting in the kitchen, blasting music in your headphones, and making delicious food. This is such a simple activity that doesn’t take much work and you can go ahead and knock out two birds with one stone: not going on social media and meal prepping some goods for the rest of the week
Read: For those who really enjoy their alone time, I highly suggest finding some good books you absolutely love. This is probably my most favorite form of alone time because I always feel super calm and relaxed during and afterwards. My favorite book genres are self-development, but I also really enjoy reading memoirs about other people’s lives.
Draw/Paint: For my super creative and artistic people, this is an excellent activity for you. It can also double as a great form of alone time, while also letting your creatives juices flow. I prefer getting outside to get some sun and draw in my sketchbook or paint a picture. Art can be very calming and allow you to express yourself freely.
Do a face/hair mask: Here is your daily dose of self-care, do a mask of some sort. It is so great to take some time each day to take care of yourself and feel pampered. My favorite way is doing a face mask because it is so quick, and makes my skin feel so much more hydrated afterwards. It is important to take some time to do something for yourself, and this can be the very thing.
