Social media is going nowhere fast and if you aren’t careful it can easily consume every waking moment of your life. The sad part is, some people don’t realize that. With the rise in uncertainly in our daily lives due to COVID-19, social media is consuming more and more of our daily lives. Whether it’s staying up-to-date on the latest news or getting lost in the endless scroll because you don’t know what else to do with your time, creating boundaries is key.

If you’ve fallowed me for any length of time you know that I am not afraid to take time away from social media if I need it. I like to call them "no tech zones” but ultimately it is a social media detox. It can be a day, a couple of days or even a couple of months, but the important factor here is to do what works for YOU and your needs…and mental health.

Sometimes there are real life things that pull you away while others its from being sucked into the comparison trap. It can be different for everyone but today I’m sharing 6 key signs that its time for you and social media to take a little break. Keep scrolling to see if a social media detox is in your future!

YOU’VE FALLEN INTO THE COMPARISON TRAP

The comparison trap is like the devil. It sucks you in and before you know it you are comparing every little thing about you and your life to someone on the internet that you most likely don’t even know. You start to “hate like” and “hate follow” people…you know, liking content but really you’re rolling your eyes or having a serious case of FOMO. Basically cue the hotels.com commercial with Captain Obvious where the guy “hate likes” his friend zip lining in paradise with Lil Jon; don’t hate like their photo!

Can the comparison trap lead to depression and anxiety on a larger scale? Of course it can! If you’re constantly consuming content that makes you feel bad about yourself, how can you not feel depressed?! If you follow anyone or any brand that makes you feel like crap, I want you to hit that unfollow button right now. You have the ability to control the content you consume so get rid of the negative and focus on those positive, uplifting people and brands like yourself.

YOU’RE MORE FOCUSED ON LIFE IN THE SQUARES INSTEAD OF REAL LIFE

Do you have your phone out at all times because you want to capture every single moment to share with the world? Whether you’re doing it for fun or perhaps to show off [sadly], this is a clear sign you are way more focused on your social media life than life happening right in front of your eyes. There is nothing wrong with capturing moments of your day to day life, or a fun trip you took, or the delicious meal you’re eating. You have to be able to draw the line at some point though and actually enjoy the moments you are experiencing. One quick trick is to capture whatever content you want to share, put your phone away and out of sight, and then share to your social media later that day/night so you can actually enjoy the moment.

YOU GET ANXIOUS NOT BEING ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Do you automatically check social media whenever you grab your phone? Do you feel the need to know up to the moment what is going on in other people’s lives? Do you feel you are missing such important info when you aren’t on your phone? Girl, it’s time for a detox.

If you are getting anxious not being on social media, to me that’s a clear sign social media is consuming you instead of the other way around. Setting boundaries will help to rid that anxiety of not knowing what is going on in everyone’s life.

IT IS NO LONGER FUN

I think this applies heavily to bloggers/influencers but can truly apply to everyone. If social media is no longer fun, be it creating and posting content or consuming content, it’s time for a detox. There is no sense on forcing what is not meant to be at that time. Take a step back and reset. If you’re a content creator, yes it may be your job but it should still be fun [as with any job for that matter]. There is so much behind the scenes that goes into being a blogger/influencer and if it is no longer fun, you may start to lose your creativity and drive. Take a break from it allows you mind, body and soul to reset and you just may come back with your most creative ideas yet!

YOU HAVE MENTAL FATIGUE AND BRAIN FOG

Does your brain feel exhausted or foggy and you just aren’t sure why? Could be all of that endless scrolling and tapping through stories that is draining your brain’s essential energy. The content creation side of things can also be mentally exhausting, too, and your creative juices might be non-existent. Again, you have to decide what works for you, but I typically like to lay low on social media on the weekends. I may post a story from time to time but I pretty much refrain from posting to my feed unless it’s something that seems “essential.” I look at weekends as me time and as a reset to get ready for the week ahead. Try laying low on social media this weekend and see if you feel any more refreshed with a clear mind come Monday.

SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE FIRST AND LAST THING YOU CHECK EACH DAY

When your alarm goes off in the morning, is social media [or email] the first thing you do before even getting out of bed? Do you scroll through your feed or watch stories when you get in bed at night? If this is you, you need a detox.

One of the biggest changes I’ve made in the last year or so is staying off of my phone in the morning and right before bed and y’all, it has been a game changer! I set limits on my phone so I can *technically* only use apps between 8am-8pm. It allows my brain to wake up, my mind to get focused for the day, and I don’t waste my early mornings [probably my favorite time of day] scrolling social media. An easy swap at night is to keep a book by your bed and read for 15-20 minutes before you turn off the lights instead of scrolling.

So there you have it, 6 signs you need a social media detox…or no tech zone as I like to call it. Did any of these resonate with you? Have you done a social media detox before? Share below in the comments!

Photography: Theresa Regan

This post was originally published in September 2019. It has been updated and recirculated in March 2020.