We all know how easy it is to get sucked into social media apps like TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. It’s easy to lose track of time by scrolling through your newsfeed and watching videos.

But spending too much time on these apps can harm your mental health and productivity.

Studies have shown that too much time spent on social media can lead to feelings of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. It can also lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation.

The constant comparison to others on social media can lead to feelings of inadequacy and can even lead to cyberbullying. It can also be difficult to disconnect from social media and its constant stream of information, leading to an unhealthy obsession with staying connected.

Therefore, limiting our time on social media and taking breaks from it when needed is essential.

Taking regular breaks from social media can help us to reset and refocus our attention on other activities.

Here are some tips to help you avoid spending too much time on social media:

1. Uninstall Apps
   1. Uninstalling the apps from your phone can help you avoid the temptation of checking them throughout the day. You can always log in from your computer if you need to access them.
   2. A less drastic approach is to move these apps to a folder that is ‘far’ on the phone’s screens, so you need to do a few actions to get to them.
2. Set a Timer
   1. Set a timer for yourself to limit the amount of time you spend on social media. Once the timer goes off, it’s time to log off and move on to something else.
   2. Using your phone functionality to limit the app’s daily usage is better. Try it, and you will be amazed at how quickly you reach these limits.
3. Block Notifications
   1. Turn off notifications for social media apps so that you don’t get distracted by them.
   2. This will help you focus on the task and avoid the urge to check your phone.
   3. A less drastic way is to move all these notifications to the ‘summary’ of the reports.
4. Your Hobby – Prioritize the hobby or activity you enjoy and focus on that first. Only after spending your hour (or more) on this do you ‘allow’ yourself to open the social media world.

Social media can be a great way to stay connected and informed, but it’s important to remember to take breaks from it.

Taking regular breaks from social media can help us to reset and refocus our attention on other activities (e.g., sports, art, and anything else that puts a smile on our faces).

Good luck!