Social Media Addiction: 7 Steps to Get Rid of It

At first glance, we do not spend much time on social networks. Replying to a couple of WhatsApp messages, posting on Instagram, checking Facebook - all this takes no more than a few minutes. However, if you sum up all the visits to these and other platforms during the day, you get a lot. According to statistics, the average user spends about 2.5 hours on social networks. If you realize that you could spend this time on something more useful, here are some tips to get rid of addiction.

1. Admit a Problem

Some modern psychologists equate addiction to social networks and smartphones with drug or gambling addiction. And although from the scientific point of view, there is no such disease (yet), the problem still exists. The first step towards deliverance is to acknowledge that you have it. Awareness will push you to further action and tight control over your own habits.

2. Filter Incoming Information

Some of your friends and creators you follow probably publish dozens of posts every day. Realize that it is not necessary to read and answer each one. As a rule, they do not care about your reaction. And although you can respond to their posts, for example, from a professional point of view, if a question is regarding your job, it is not an urgent need. Surely there will be someone else who will answer.

3. Turn Off Notifications

To not irritate your nervous system and reduce the temptation to look at social networks, set up a notification system. If a smartphone distracts you from your main activity, it is better to disable pop-ups completely. You can view everything your friends have posted when you take a break. Not only are notifications distracting and slowing down overall productivity, but they can also cause accidents if you're reading from behind the wheel, for example.

4. Don't Be Afraid to Miss Out on Something

Modern trends in any field change extremely quickly. Accept the fact that you will not physically be able to keep track of all the events. Understanding the algorithms of any social network can help you with it. They only show you what can potentially interest you (based on your previous activities). So you still can't know absolutely everything that's going on in the world.

5. Decrease Social Media Trust

Social media, as a rule, shows the "pleasant" moments of life. It distorts the perception of your own lifestyle. It is simply dangerous for your mental health to completely trust everything published on Instagram or Facebook. In no case should you compare your life (which you know inside and out) with other people's events that you read about on the Internet. Realize that others have problems too; they just prefer not to talk about them.

6. Set Rules and Limits

Modern software allows you to control exactly what and how you use it to the minute. To reduce dependence on social networks or smartphones and laptops in general, install the appropriate applications on all your devices. They may block your access to certain services, motivating you to take a break from using them and return to work.

7. Find Something to Do in Reality

As a rule, addiction to social networks arises since you are bored in real life. Find something more interesting than using your smartphone to surf the Internet. Train yourself to see your friends or family regularly and learn to spend quality time alone with yourself. Go for a walk or have lunch at a restaurant without looking at your phone screen.

Analyze Your Actions

Instead of thoughtlessly updating social networks, analyze all the apps installed on your device right now. Determine which ones you really need for work and emergency contact with relatives and which ones you can remove without harming your life quality. At first, it will be difficult for you without them, but you will develop new habits over time.