Hey guys! I’m back!!!!!!! As many of you guys have noticed, I’ve been fairly absent from social media and the blog. Everything is ok, don’t worry! I just kind of felt maxed out. I was in need of a little detox. You know, an internet cleanse. I got a ton of messages and emails, making sure I was ok… which I totally appreciate!

Opening my phone every morning to see news of death, disasters, name calling, drama, complaining, extravagant lifestyles, one uppers and everything in between can be really exhausting. There’s so much negativity, unwanted commentary, shaming, etc going on all day. Everyone is an expert. Everyone is promoting their lives, successes, failures and opinions.

Around my birthday, I just couldn’t do it anymore. I didn’t deactivate, but made a conscious effort to stop looking at my phone. When we went on vacation last week, I felt like it was the perfect time to go on a little Social Media vacation too. I literally started leaving my phone at home or turned off in my bag for long periods of time. I also decided to take a little hiatus from my blog. Sometimes, I just get maxed out. I couldn’t completely disconnect, because I still have to work and pay my bills. But, it was really refreshing. So great, that I thought it would be a great “welcome back” post!

So, why are we all so worried about taking a break from social media? We know it’s mentally draining. We know it’s making us crazy. And on the other side, what are some of the benefits of shutting your Twitter off for a few days? How can not scrolling through your Instagram 5 times a day improve your life?

Taking A Social Media Vacation

You don’t need to be headed to fancy, far off destination to take advantage of one of the best, free vacations available: shutting off your phone. I swear, it’s one of the most relaxing, detoxing experiences.

Before the iPhone, we had to get our social media the old fashioned way, by dialing up our internet and checking our MySpace account before our parental control regulated internet time ran out. Back in those days, we were still connecting with the people around us. If you take a social media vacay, the sun will keep on shining, Taylor Swift will keep singing & your friends will all still keep complaining about the same silly things.

Whether you’re tired of trying to compete with other people’s lifestyles, or are just drained from reading people’s political rants, I promise, you’re not the only one who feels that way. I would be willing to bet a lot of money that most people around you would agree and wouldn’t blame you for taking a little trip to no-phone land.

How to Take An Internet Hiatus

Give yourself a goal. Whether it’s not checking your phone at dinner for a week, leaving your phone at home when you’re running errands or turning your phone off when you’re at with friends. You don’t have to go cold turkey for a month. If you want to be ambitious, try to stay off of social media for 2 full days.

Here are a few tips:

Don’t Sync Your Email to Your Phone

This one was really hard for me, but when we were on vacation, I stopped my email from syncing to my phone for a few days. I still checked it when I got up in the morning and put out any fires, but I wasn’t obsessing over it all day. You could also consider disabling your emails over the weekend! Pro Tip: set up an “out of office” notification so people know you’re away!

Bring Your Camera With You

Worried you might miss something Instagram-worthy? Just bring your camera! You can upload pictures or content to your story after your detox. The photos will still be there when you’re back! Bonus: you’ll probably get higher quality pictures!

Buy A New Book

If you start feeling the “social media itch”, read! They actually make books still, crazy right!? Or, use the time to do something fun like cooking a new recipe, hanging out with friends, taking your dog on a walk or exploring a new part of your town.

Social Media Detox Benefits

You’ll Be Happier & More Content

I’m not guaranteeing anything life changing right away, but it’s really important to take a step back and stop comparing ourselves to what we see on social media. Every time I scan through Instagram, I see someone I want to be more like, look more like, have their material possessions, etc. I love my life, but it’s hard not to compare ourselves to the realities other people are portraying.

Rarely do people post the photos of themselves when they’re at their lowest moments or not looking their best. If someone’s makeup is looking extra glam, they’re probably going to post a picture of it. But do they always post a picture right after a break out when there’s a volcano about to erupt on their foreheads? Probably not. We have to stop comparing our worst moments to everyone else’s perceived best moments.

Sometimes, taking a little break is the best way to appreciate what’s around us. Not to mention, it’s really hard to compare ourselves to other people when it’s not in front of us!

You’ll Get More Done

Think about all of the time you’ll have for activities!? I am guilty of spending insane amounts of time on social media. NOW, what if instead of scrolling through Instagram I was doing something productive!?

Instead of sitting on my phone, there are so many things I can do to improve the quality of my life. Whether it’s learning something new, cleaning out your closet or finishing your homework. There are tons of things that will get accomplished faster when you’re not on your phone.

You’ll Be More Appreciative

Ok, ok, now is when I get all deep and talk about emotional stuff. Taking a vacation from your social media will help you appreciate what’s around you. We all have something to be grateful for. Sometimes, it takes shutting the negativity off to focus and realize it. Taking time away from social media now will pay off in the long run. You’ll have more time to focus on what’s important to you and your perception of what’s going on around you will most likely improve.

Sweater: Show Me Your Mumu / Agenda: Ban.Do / Laptop Case: Amazon Phone Charging Backup Station: SanDisk

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