What Happens When You Quit Social Media?

Do you want to quit social media?

You aren’t alone. In a recent survey, 45% of US Facebook users confessed that they have considered quitting social media.

Unfortunately, giving up social apps isn’t as easy as it sounds. Many people have become accustomed to using social media, and they often wonder what to do after quitting social media. In fact, many people can’t imagine life without Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube.

The good news is that giving up social media isn’t impossible. We have many people and celebrities who quit social media successfully.  In fact, those who have managed to quit social media confess that the decision is life-altering. For instance, celebrities who quit social media, such as Selena Gomez, Tom Holland, and Dove Cameron, confess that their mental health and social life have improved.

If you feel your relationship with social media isn’t healthy, maybe it’s time to close your social media accounts. But you may be wondering, is quitting social media really worth it?

Well, here’s a look at what you gain when you take a social media break.

You Face Less Stress

Social media is easily accessible, which is why a high percentage of people are on it 24/7. Unfortunately, the impulse to be constantly aware of what is happening online increases the stress hormone cortisol. Besides, social comparison of oneself to others on social media can lead to stress. This is because comparing yourself with others increases the belief that their lives are better than yours. This is especially true as most people on social media share the best version of their lives.

Staying away from social media reduces FOMO and gives you a higher level of satisfaction. Besides, you feel calmer as life without social media is more peaceful and characterized by less negativity.  The overall effect is that you feel less stressed. Studies show that quitting social media and mental health are positively correlated, as being away from social apps significantly improves one’s well-being.

Better Self Assurance

Most posts on social media comprise happy exciting moments that others want us to see. When we see people at their best, we feel like we are being left out or falling behind.

Further, a high percentage of people constantly seek external validation when on social media. We crave more likes, comments, and shares as we see them as a way of acceptance from others.  This attachment to positive reinforcement can keep us detached from real life and even negatively affect our self-esteem. Moreover, constantly comparing your life to others zaps your confidence.

Quitting social media apps helps block such comparisons and increases one’s self-confidence. By unplugging yourself from social media, you’ll be able to celebrate your accomplishments, and you’ll have fewer people to compare yourself with. Besides, you stop being like others and settle into yourself.

You Can Get More Sleep

One of the characteristics of social media addiction is constantly scrolling your social media accounts. People including kids who are addicted to social media have an uncontrollable urge to use social media even past bedtime.  Doing this every day means that one never gets enough sleep. Besides, the blue light emitted by your phone or laptop when scrolling through social media disrupts your sleep.

According to CDC, adults aged between 18 and 60 should get at least 7 hours of sleep daily. Lack of enough sleep affects your memory and recall. Additionally, poor sleep leads to reduced attention span and can also cause serious medical conditions such as depression, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

When you give up social media, you’ll start being more intentional about your sleep and what you do just before bedtime. The result is that you’ll get more hours of sleep. And even when you need a cool-down activity before bedtime, you’ll be able to engage in healthier physical activities such as reading a book, meditating or taking a warm relaxing bath.

You Can Reduce Procrastination

Undoubtedly, without social media, you get more work done.  You don’t have to worry about checking who has commented on your Instagram photo or what your favorite celebrity was up to during the weekend. 

When you keep checking social media again and again, it eats into your productive time. As a result of this, you take longer to complete whatever you are doing.  Moreover, having a YouTube or TikTok video in the background while working interferes with your imaginative mind and concentration.

According to the American Psychological Association, juggling multiple tasks, such as scrolling through Snapchat and completing an important report, reduces your productivity by 40%. If you ask us, this is a very high price to pay for just a few likes and shares.

The solution, get rid of your social media accounts. You’ll not only rid yourself of the constant and nagging notifications, but you’ll finish your tasks faster. Not to mention that your concentration levels will improve and your creativity will flourish.

Conclusion

Are you thinking of quitting social media? We admit that staying away from social apps isn’t easy, and even if you aren’t a social media addict, the fear of missing out may be keeping you from quitting a popular social media platform such as Twitter or WhatsApp.

However, if you focus on the benefits discussed above, taking a social media break will become much easier. And to help you stay away from social media for good, here are more tips you can use:

·         Start by limiting the time you spend on social media

·         Turn off notifications

·         Uninstall social apps from your phone

·         Find healthier distractions

·         Check-in with friends and family

·         Quit with a friend