In the age of “instant everything,” how can we slow down?
With new inspiration only a swipe away, the internet keeps us well-nourished with current and upcoming trends. And for those who are in the business of social media, just the idea of silencing notifications can cause them to feel they’re falling behind. But as much as staying up-to-date is on trend, detoxing is as well. This is where we come in: Sit back, stop scrolling, and learn how you can unplug when social media is your job…
Limit your social media use to business hours
In a study by Yale and UC San Diego, researchers found a correlation between social media use and worse mental health. Underneath the positives of social media, the negatives run rampant — comparisons, unrealistic expectations, misinformation, bullying, and on and on… And sometimes it can feel like keeping up with the Internet simply isn’t sustainable. While this can’t be avoided entirely when you rely on it for an income, it is up to you to set boundaries that create space for your own, technology-free experiences. Start off by not checking your phone right when you wake up or lay down at night, and continue to push the hours so that you are only scrolling while you’re working. To keep your usage in small doses, you can try setting a timer, create content more than you consume it, implement a scheduler (Hootsuite, MeetEdgar, Later).
Measure your experiences in memories, not likes
The phrase “Pics or it didn’t happen” has become the mantra for social platforms like Instagram, and it can feel unnatural now to experience a moment without documenting it for our followers to see. It’s exciting to broadcast a birthday, big news, a fancy meal or a vacation. If you work in social media, you understand the algorithm — each of these posts gives a small endorphin boost, followed imminently by a wave of disappointment and an urge to post more, better. Understanding the process is an important part of the job, but for your personal platforms, try hiding the number of likes or silencing your phone after clicking “Share.” Another idea is to have a tech-free day or weekend. To go further, deactivate your account for a few days or a week and check in with how you feel (your thumbs might still reflexively reach for the app on your screen).
Introduce substitutes
“To do nothing is to hold yourself still so that you can perceive what is actually there.” This is a line from Jenny Odell’s book, “How to Do Nothin: Resisting the Attention Economy.” When you go offline, your adrenal system actually re-regulates itself to a baseline level, and there are many other health-related benefits. Going cold turkey is a tough way to cut off any addiction, and trying to sit still without a screen can be uncomfortable at first. With more time on your hands, a great way to enjoy the space is to replace social media with other habits — exercising, drawing, meditating, exploring on foot, self-care, trying out recipes from a cookbook, and more. Part of the fun is coming up with ways to spend your time that suit you.
You can detox the digital landscape to release the compulsion of technology’s instant gratification and help your mental hygiene. Without deleting your accounts, find your own balance of which daily activities recharge or drain you. Explore your imagination and find out how you can better your digital health without being plugged in.
