So we know how addictive social media can be. Trust us, we really do. This means we also know how hard it is to take even a short leave of absence from it.
It becomes that itch you have to scratch, that craving you can’t resist, the urge you must fulfil…
Only, buck up now. It’s totally possible to live life without it.
You just need to do these things…
Step One: Delete all social media from your smartphone
All of it: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp… the lot.
Step Two: Buy a radio alarm clock
This is an important second step – for the reason that one’s daily addiction to social media usually begins with that first-thing-in-the-morning hit.
You know it’s true. You wake up to your phone alarm, and since it’s in-hand, it’s but a few taps before you’re thumb-deep in your Instagram/Facebook/Twitter feed.
Time to break that habit. Buy a radio alarm clock. The alarm goes off, the news comes on, and as you sleepily doze, you’re unwittingly – practically – absorbing all the day’s headlines too. By the time you grab that shower, you know all the morning’s news and you’ve not even looked at a screen. #Winning.
Step Three: Start reading
What would you usually do whilst waiting for the bus/tube/train en route to work? Probably look at social media. With a copy of Grazia in-hand, there’s no need for any of that; you’ll be far too engrossed in ‘More Fash Less Cash’, ‘Chart of Lust’, ‘Me My Selfie and I’ etc.
Once you’ve finished your favourite glossy of the week, move on to a novel. Yes, an actual reading book. Need some inspiration? Try these excellent titles.
Step Four: Remember, you still have your phone
If anyone needs to get hold of you that urgently, they’ll ring, text or email.
Don’t think without access to social media you’re exiling yourself to Bedrock alongside Wilma and Fred. (Although thinking about it, how fun would that be?! Foot-powered cars? Yes please.)
Step Five: Think about your concentration
How many times have you settled down to watch something on Netflix but actually spent most of the time scrolling through Instagram?
Every time?
Why not watch what you set out to watch, entirely? Not only will you enjoy it more when you’re fully engaged (like the old days) but you’ll probably find your concentration in general improves.
Like at work, when it kinda matters.
Step Six: Don’t be afraid to do nothing
Often we reach for social media in awkward social moments: like when we’re in restaurants waiting for a date to arrive and don’t want to look like we’ve got nothing to do…
But we don’t have anything to do. Why is that a problem?
Having nothing to do (except wait) is not a problem in other places we frequent – like the airport. There, when we’re waiting for the gate to open we’re not worried fellow travellers are staring at us, judging us for doing nothing. Why should it be any different in a restaurant?
It isn’t. Sit up tall and look out at your surroundings. It shows confidence if you don’t need to hide behind your phone. Then when your date arrives, you can dazzle them with all the things you’ve observed – like that other date going on a few tables back. Yeah, that looks mega #awkward.
Step Seven: Create rules
If you don’t think you can do a digital detox naturally, try making rules. Like: not looking at it when you eat. Or not checking social media in the two hours before you go to bed. Or not checking it till midday. Or not checking it on weekends.
Once you start to free yourself from the shackles of social media, truly, it becomes less important. And when you’re not so caught up in what everyone else is doing, you can fully concentrate on what you’re doing.
Far more interesting, no?
[READ MORE: Work Out How Long You Spend On Your iPhone](
https://graziadaily.co.uk/news-real-life/real-life/work-long-spend-iphone/)
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