Practical Ways to Prevent Social Media

Addiction:
Social media is addictive for many people because it gives them a sense of connection with
others and the world. It lowers inhibitions, makes users feel less shy, and gives them an
opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings with strangers. It also helps users build an online
identity by providing a platform for sharing photos or posting blogs. Social media can be
beneficial, but it can also be detrimental when used in excess. Constant usage of social
networking sites like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp can lead to addiction as well
as negative effects on your personal life and mental health. Here are some practical ways to
prevent social media addiction and balance your usage of these apps without hurting yourself or
others.

Don't use your phone as an alarm clock

If you're someone who is addicted to your phone, you might be tempted to use it as an alarm
clock. But doing this can make it harder for you to wake up naturally and actually get out of bed
when your alarm goes off. Most people have a natural sleep rhythm that goes along with how
their body processes and uses energy. People's sleep cycles vary, but many people are naturally
programmed to wake up when their cortisol levels naturally rise in the early hours of the
morning. This is why many people are most easily woken up from their sleep at this time. If you
use your phone as an alarm clock and keep the brightness turned up on the screen, it can trick
your body and mind into thinking it's still the middle of the day, making it harder for you to
wake up. Instead, try using a traditional alarm clock that doesn't allow you to use your phone
until you wake up.

Stay away from your phone at dinner time

We're all guilty of checking our phones while waiting for food at a restaurant, but doing this can
negatively impact your personal relationships. Your partner or friends might not say anything,
but they might feel ignored or unimportant when you constantly look at your phone while
spending time with them. If you feel the urge to check your phone at dinner, try to resist the
temptation. Instead, talk with the people you're with and try to put your phone away while at the
dinner table. This way, you'll show others you're interested in what they have to say. If your
significant other would like you to put your phone away, don't wait for them to ask you to do so.
Instead, put your phone in another room or in your pocket so you can't see or feel it. You'll be
less tempted to pick it up and check it, and you'll be able to better focus on the person you're
with.

Be selective about the emails you read on your phone

It's common for people to check their emails on their phones, but sometimes you'll want to resist
the urge to do so. Instead of checking your email whenever you have a few moments of
downtime, try to be selective about which emails you open and respond to on your phone. When
checking your email on your phone, only open messages that are necessary or that you want to
respond to right away. This will reduce the amount of time you spend scrolling through your
inbox and make you less tempted to open and respond to email messages that aren't important. If
you only check your email on your phone when you have a few moments of downtime, you'll be
less tempted to open and respond to messages that aren't urgent.

Have a designated time for scrolling through social media

Some people are tempted to scroll through social media for as long as possible, regardless of
whether or not they have an event or meeting coming up soon. This can negatively impact your
daily schedule. To prevent this from occurring, try to have a set time for scrolling through social
media. If you're a student and don't want to interrupt your studies, try to scroll through social
media during your break. If you work a nine-to-five job, try to scroll through social media during
your lunch break. If you know you should only spend five or 10 minutes on social media, you'll
be less likely to lose track of time and unintentionally spend hours scrolling through and
becoming addicted to your phone.

Take a break from social media regardless of whether you're feeling addicted or not

If you constantly feel the need to use social media, this could be a sign you're addicted to it. But
not all addictions are obvious. Some people struggle with social media addiction, but might not
know it. Therefore, if you feel like you spend too much time scrolling through social media apps,
take a break from them. You might feel like you need to scroll through social media to feel
happy, but this isn't true. You can be happy without scrolling through social media. Social media
might make you feel connected and important because you get lots of likes and comments, but
these can disappear just as quickly as they appear. It's best to rely on things that don't disappear
or change, like your real-life relationships.

Conclusion

Social media is a great way to stay in touch with friends, family, and colleagues, but it's
important to understand that it can be addictive. If you feel like you're spending too much time
on social media, there are many practical ways to prevent social media addiction and regain
control of your online habits. Don't use your phone as an alarm clock, stay away from your
phone at dinner time, be selective about the emails you read on your phone, have a designated
time for scrolling through social media, and take a break from social media regardless of whether
you're feeling addicted or not.