Although social media definitely keeps us connected to the outside world, it\u2019s also true that constantly scrolling through your Instagram feed can take a toll on your mental health.<\/p>\n
Dr. Catherine Jackson<\/a>, a licensed clinical psychologist and board certified neurotherapist, explains that constant exposure to social networks can have negative effects on your brain, making it wise to unplug every now and then. However, going cold turkey from social media isn\u2019t always an easy task, so to help, we consulted with both Dr. Jackson and psychologist Dr. Nancy Irwin<\/a> about all the easy ways you can successfully detox from the digital world.<\/p>\n From turning notifications off to disabling apps, below are 10 helpful pointers to keep in mind when disconnecting from social media.<\/p>\n Try to create a healthy social media schedule<\/strong> Do it with a friend<\/strong> Decide how long you need a break<\/strong> Schedule posts while you’re away<\/strong> Turn off your notifications<\/strong> Only use devices for work<\/strong> Delete or temporarily disable apps<\/strong> Keep your devices out of sight<\/strong> Invest in a traditional alarm clock<\/strong> Fill your time with other activities<\/strong> xx, The FabFitFun Team<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":"Although social media definitely keeps us connected to the outside world, it\u2019s also true that ...","author":5485526,"featured_media":142435,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[260],"tags":[],"thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/static.fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/26110409\/shutterstock_1321535093.jpg","thumbnail_url_middle_card":"https:\/\/static.fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/26110409\/shutterstock_1321535093-386x200.jpg","formated_date":"June 26, 2019","category_name":"Life","category_icon":"https:\/\/d3vodd1ws13xud.cloudfront.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/10113832\/entertainment.svg","author_name":"","trending":false,"sponsored":false,"random_color":"#487504","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142411"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5485526"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=142411"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142411\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/142435"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=142411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=142411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=142411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\u201cCalculate the number of hours you invest in your phone over the course of a day or a week, then decide how much time you really need to give it,\u201d says Dr. Irwin. Figure out the best times to check your phone, she explains, and then structure that into your daily schedule in the same way you do classes, work, appointments, meals, or the gym.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cEnroll a buddy and try to hold one another accountable,\u201d advises Dr. Irwin. \u201cTurn your phones and laptops off, store them away in a safe place (but out of sight), and enjoy other activities, such as cooking, playing a board game, or reading a book,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIt\u2019s important to decide if you want to do your detox for either a week, a month, or an entire year,\u201d notes Dr. Jackson. Once you decide, she suggests letting your subscribers and followers know ahead of time, so they’re not left wondering or worrying about your absence.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIf you must post while taking a break, schedule posts ahead of time, so they are shared while you are away,\u201d Dr. Jackson recommends. Doing this will allow you to better enjoy your social media detox without feeling guilty or the need to log on, she says.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cNotifications can trigger an increase in dopamine (the reward neurotransmitter) in the brain, and that good feeling can be very addictive,\u201d Dr. Jackson explains. However, she notes that a constant influx of alerts, messages, and notifications can become overwhelming and exhausting, so turning off your notifications may reduce the number of distractions you get per day.<\/p>\n
\nDr. Jackson says that another way to go on a social media detox is to use your devices for work and basic communication purposes only. \u201cOnly use your computer at work for work and only use your phone for calls and text communication,\u201d she suggests.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cRather than simply turning off notifications, you could simply remove apps altogether to take a break from social media,\u201d Dr. Jackson advises. Don’t worry, when you’re ready to return to social media, you can easily add the apps back onto your detox.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cLeaving your phone or tablet in another room or away from your constant view will allow you to take a break,\u201d Dr. Jackson says. This way, you won’t fall prey to alerts or temptation to check your devices several times throughout the day.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cSetting the phone alarm means you may bring the phone to bed, which can lead to the temptation to check social media before going to sleep,\u201d Dr. Jackson explains. Instead, she suggests turning your phone off for the night and using a radio alarm clock instead.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cTo remain committed to your detox, be sure to identify what you will do instead of spending time online,\u201d Dr. Jackson recommends. Having a plan will help you remain on track and focus less on the social media you aren’t engaging in, she adds.<\/p>\n