4 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD DO SOCIAL MEDIA FASTING

When the ‘Magic Mike’ superstar and supremely talented actor Channing Tatum announced his brief hiatus from social media last month, it came as a surprise to his fans and many a million well-wishers. “To be honest, I don’t really feel, or at least I haven’t felt very creative on social in the last couple of years now. I’m gonna go and be just in the real world for a while and off my phone,” the actor formally announced it on social media. It is true, youngsters, even adults reportedly spend 85% on their time on social media, which is not only unhealthy, it aggravates mental health concerns. In a time when social media bullying and internet trolls can be life-threatening, it is about time you take a step back and reassess your life. Here are 4 reasons why you should go on a social media fast that will help you rejuvenate your mind and soul.

To Help Assess Your Goals

How many times have you missed a deadline because you were busy checking an Instagram notification? It is true, we have all been guilty of doing it for more than once in our lives and it is about time, such behaviour needs to stop. Taking a brief break from social media would not only help you focus on you and your goals, but it will also help in channelizing your energy into something more productive. It is about time you get over social media’s ‘procrastination pull’ and get actual work done.

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To Improve Your Physical Health

If you have been experiencing wrist and elbow pain lately, then it is all thanks to constant typing on the desktop and your smartphone. The condition is diagnosed as Tendonitis and is more rampant amongst young adults and children then it was ever before. The condition can also affect blood flow and can be very painful at times. And if you can’t go cold turkey on it, then a gradual abstinence from your phone or laptop is advisable.

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To Help with Your Mental Health

This is a no brainer! Forget internet trolls and fake news, social media is the single largest place where plagiarism is rampant. Scrolling through a social media feed has become a necessity and is no longer a habit, which is very concerning. This can take a toll on your brain and your mental health. Everything on social media is filtered; 'reaction' is the new 'opinion' and most news is deferred to spur sensationalism. Take a step back and look at the bigger picture - these things can affect your mental health in a very brutal manner and thus a social media fast will only be beneficial.

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To Reconnect With Yourself & Your Loved Ones

Take that extended vacation, visit your family, reconnect with an old friend - a break from social media means you’ll have a lot more time in hand to do the things you could have been avoiding for long. Your social media feed is the new ‘idiot box’ and it is about time you shun it for some time, to reconnect with yourself and your family- and with the people who really matter.

Photo credits: Pexels

 

So what do you think? Are you ready for your social media fast already?