Many would say they have an addiction to Facebook, but are they really? True addiction to Facebook, and other types of social media, is actually harmful. It can cause rifts in relationships, family problems, and even a waning performance at work or in school.
However, even if you don’t have a full-blown addiction to Facebook or any other social media, spending too much time on the internet is still unhealthy. Every moment you spend scrolling over newsfeeds is time not spent on more productive and important things, or with family and friends. It also prevents you from being active, which could have repercussions to your health in the long run.
Here are some tips to fight your addiction to Facebook.
1. What are you missing? Make a list of what you are missing around you when your are spending too much time on social media, and you may be surprised that you are missing a lot. The things you miss out on may include time with loved ones, reading books, honing a skill, important and insightful conversations, and many more.
2. Find time to stay off social media. Give yourself tasks that will help you keep off social media. Do other things, like volunteer in an organization, enroll in some class, go to the gym, jog around, do some gardening, or just clean the house. Anything that will keep you off the screens.
3. Use an app. Yes, there’s an app for everything. If you really can’t stop yourself from peeking into your social media notifications, why not use an app that will let you lock yourself out from social media during a certain period of time each day.
4. Avoid social media late at night. When it’s late at night and everyone’s asleep, it can be tempting to check your social media accounts–and before you know it, you’re mindlessly surfing through the internet. Don’t feed your addiction simply because no one’s around.
5. Consider putting limitations. Give yourself a certain amount of time daily when you can go through your social media accounts. When you stay within these limits, give yourself a reward. Also consider limiting the sites you use. If you’re active in over 3 social media sites, then you may be overdoing it.
6. Take up a hobby. And it should be offline. Have something to do besides sitting in front of your computer or browsing through your phone.
7. Have a vacation. A social media vacation, that is. Consider going cold turkey and avoiding social media for a week, a month, or even a year. Maybe you’ll find it better to quit altogether than to moderate your use.
8. Connect outside. Set a get-together with friends and actually talk with them face to face. Catch up with friends and family outside of social media. Who knows, the offline connection you make may actually be more memorable.
9. Hide drama. As much as you say you don’t like drama, you have to admit–you enjoy reading people’s dramatic status updates just for kicks. However, this can reel you in your social media more than necessary. So just hide the drama and move on.
10. Have one access. Have social media free zones and times. For example, you may not have your phones on the dining room and bedroom, therefore cutting you time from Facebook, Twitter, and other sites.
Anything too much is harmful–and the same goes with social media and addiction to Facebook.
It’s a plaeusre to find someone who can think so clearly