A day of your life without social media—can you imagine how it will be? If all social media were shut down suddenly, would it affect your life so badly?
It is certain that you will miss the latest updates from the pages you follow. You may miss uplifting your friends whenever they update your news feed with selfies of whatever they like. You may think you will miss your old friends because you are unable to contact them through social media.
Why should we quit? Is it because of social media is too bad? No.
Social media is known as a great place to learn. It’s a place to improve your creativity and productivity. It’s a great way to improve your knowledge by gathering information all over the world. It gives you the opportunity to communicate, cure your loneliness, and also earn money.
But: Even though it’s full of great content, full of great advantages, what if you become addicted? That will be the worst thing that has ever happened in your life.
Are you ready for a change? We live in a world where we connect with our friends and family on social media platforms every day. The amount of time we spend on these channels is astounding. However, there are some areas in life where this kind of connection just doesn’t fit the bill. So, whether you’re ready to drop your social media account or move on from them, it is still important to know how to live without social media if needed.
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I would like to share the real experience I had that inspired this title. There are hundreds and thousands of uncertain incidents happening all over the world due to this addiction. as a person who quit social media for five years. I am very excited to share my experience of what happened when I quit social media permanently. How could I do this, and why did I do it? Because of this experience I recently had. I hope this will be helpful for the people who are seeking a solution to this problem.
Is social media actually ruining our lives?
Here is an easy answer from my experience: yes, it is.
This is how social media affected me. You know that everything has two sides. One is positive; the other is always negative. Unfortunately, most people prefer to attract negativity rather than positivity. Even though social media like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Tik Tok, etc. have so many positive vibes, if we become addicted, the addiction will ruin our lives.
Social media first came into my life when I was in 12th grade. I joined Facebook out of curiosity. I’m not thrilled about it either. And also, our class president came up with the idea of having a group chat with every classmate to share study materials.
That was the most stupid idea because we waste our precious time gossiping about the series’ upcoming episode or gossiping about others rather than exchanging study materials. That’s not a problem of social media companies; it is our problem. Then, with time, it affected me so badly.
How do social media affect me?
I became introverted with no more dinner time with my family.
I began to take around 50 selfies a day with different filters to find the best way to upload my profile.
I wasted my pocket money to pay internet bills.
I felt like life without social media had become so boring. Day by day, the number of my followers on Instagram increased. I was so happy, but I don’t know exactly why I should be happy.
Even though I went to the food cart to eat ice cream, I used to take perfect Instagram shots to capture some heart, not the moment.
I used to spend too much time scrolling through my News Feed, forgetting about the work I had on my plate.
There were times I was so worried because the number of likes for my post was lower than others.
At that time, I felt like I wanted to post something new every day, whatever I could get my followers and friends to remember about me in a certain way.
With the passage of time, I developed a new habit of checking the notifications all day, every hour, looking for new notifications, despite the fact that I knew no one tried to talk to me that much. I just did it.
I used to compare myself, my language, my appearance, and even my entire life without the presence of others, and then complain and feel bad about it.
I skipped my daily routine. The life before I was addicted to social media I took a shower two times, but addiction made me lazy.
I totally became a procrastinator. Unimaginably, I dropped my grades. There was no need for me to think about my future.
I had no free time for neither me nor for my family. It killed my peaceful sleep. Sometimes I spent sleepless nights not for studying but for watching series or gossips about celebrities or something. I just spent some nights scrolling down other profiles, blaming myself not being like others.
Then I moved into chat apps on Instagram and Facebook. I started checking messages even though I knew nobody was messaging me nonstop. But I did it as if it were a habit. At the end of the day, if I turned back and looked at what I did, I was a worn-out but empty shell.
My friends teased me a lot in college, saying I was always online, like an on-call person. Even though I made new friends, made chances to meet new things, opened up for new opportunities but I felt like everything made me so frustrated.
This was how I ruined and wasted most of my precious time in high school life on all unimportant things in just 18 months. Addiction to social media has ruined my healthy life, my free time, and everything.
Why You Don’t Need Social Media
Social media has been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember, but lately I’ve felt like it’s gotten in the way of living a real life. In fact, it may be responsible for some of the biggest regrets in my life and that includes a lot.
So what’s with this obsession with social media? How can we stop letting technology control our lives and get back to having fun?
What you see on social media isn’t the whole story.
It’s important to remember that social media is a curated version of reality. People only show you what they want you to see, and what’s more, the way people interact online isn’t always indicative of how they act in real life.
Social media can negatively impact your body image.
Social media can make you feel bad about yourself. It’s easy to get caught up in the world of social media and think that everyone else is looking good and having a great time, while you struggle with your weight or appearance. This false sense of self-worth often leads to feelings of shame or embarrassment when we compare ourselves with our friends on the internet.
The longer we spend looking at images of people who don’t resemble us, the greater the chance we’ll begin to believe our own falsehoods about what body shape is acceptable by society’s norms. We may then adopt these thought patterns as we strive to meet the impossible standards that online figures, such as celebrities, have set for us.
Social media can affect your mental health.
- Social media can be a source of stress, anxiety, and depression.
- Social media can cause you to feel lonely, or even lonely for no reason at all.
- You may also envy others who have social media accounts that seem more fun than yours (or maybe just cooler).
Checking social media can waste a lot of time.
Social media can be a time sink and checking social media can waste a lot of time. A study by the Center for Science in the Public Interest found that people who check their phones or other devices at least once every hour consume an average of four hours per day on these platforms.
The study also found that those who use social media more than six times per day are as much as 11 times more likely to feel socially isolated than those who used it less frequently.
This doesn’t mean you should never look at your phone. It’s just important to make sure that you’re using it for what it was designed for: communicating with friends and family members (or even strangers) about things related to your life. Otherwise, try not checking at all if possible
How quitting social media improve your life?
It is not something that can be felt by just imagining things. Because it is totally connected with your whole life. Try it once; you won’t believe how peaceful, great, or happy you are. It will be more enjoyable. All your anxieties and stresses will disappear like a mystery. Your life would be easier.
As Angel Raza said, quitting social media is like being cut off from a fake world and seeing the light for what it actually is. As your life will be full of happiness and you will feel less alone, you will also be mentally better off.
1. I found more time to spend with myself.
It’s a different feeling if you can spend a few minutes each day with yourself. It has a huge value and helps shape me in an incredible way. Spending time alone with myself can help me learn about myself. I got to know more about it. I found out what I should improve, how I should take care of myself, and in what ways I missed my lifestyle. I have much time, I used some of it to study and know myself.
2. Stop comparing myself
Everyone is comparing lives on social media and wants the perfect body, perfect image, perfect outfit, perfect life – we’re striving for this perfection, and it’s so unhealthy because there’s no such thing as perfection.
Emily Atack
Comparison gave me headaches. I used to compare myself to others on social media and blame myself for not being as perfect as others. There were times I had four or five camera apps with different filters and various editing options.
It is very stressful, as even if I take 50 photos, I have to choose the best one to upload. Sometimes there are none, which can make me satisfied.
No, I have no such stupid habit. I have no more apps for photo editing. I don’t want to choose the best to upload. Instead of those, I have a customized e-library on my mobile. Comparison impacts our minds so badly. Therefore, we need to stop it as soon as possible.
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3. Time to engage in hobbies and fun
At times, I act like the slave of social media. I have no time for hobbies or fun activities. People around me always chastised me because I was never as focused on my studies as I was on my phone.
But now I have time. Therefore, now I am spending my free time gardening, reading books, and spending time with family, relatives, or friends. The more I have time, the more I nurture myself, except to a great extent, by engaging in hobbies.
4. Stopped procrastination.
I broke the habit of procrastination. It is difficult at first for someone who has been addicted to social media for a long time. But following and learning to avoid procrastination gave me the power to overcome it.
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5. I improved myself
I improved myself by doing various things. I used to read books, at least 2-3 per week. And if there are more, I used to read a lot in the library. It really helps me a lot to improve my knowledge and become a better person.
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6. I able to stop wasting my time.
Time management is actually an essential item for the success of one’s life. Addiction to social media is one of the huge factors that kills your free time. Since I quit, I can manage my time properly. Even after a tiring day, I still have plenty of time to take a break. I have time for my pet and my family. I learned that time is precious.
7. Quit complaining
I started to quit complaining. And I learn to find the mistakes I have made and the things I need to improve instead of going around complaining about myself.
8. It strengthens the bond with my relationships.
I had no time for others since I got stuck in the middle of my circle with social media. I often spent time checking on texts, calls, and updates about others. But after quitting social media, I realized there is a group of people who always check on me rather than send texts or messages. So, I have more time, which helps me strengthen and build good relationship with my loved ones.
9. I reduced my stress level.
It helps me free up myself from stressful incidents and the bunch of toxic people who destroy my peaceful mind.
10. I focused on my studies
Yes, the best thing that ever happened in my life happened because of the decision I made to quit social media. I finished my bachelor’s degree with high grades. I found my dream job as a teacher of English after working hard for three years. and begin working part-time as a tutor.
11. I found my passion
It opens the door to find my passion instead of gossiping about others.
12. Quality sleep
I have peaceful sleep for around 8 hours per day and wake up more peacefully ever since I quit social media. As there is no social media before or after waking up at all, there’s no rush to check my phone for new notifications.
13. Time for my physical well-being
I diverted my precious time wasted on social media to take care of myself. After that, I lost weight and kept my fitness by making it a habit to go to the gym every day. And also, I can wake up early in the morning. I walk with my pet dog, and one of my family members keeps me fit.
14. I become so happy
I have a mind free from unwanted stresses. I have plenty of free time. No more comparisons, no more complaining. I discovered the happy me, whom I had missed the most.
Preparing to disconnect from social media
Social media is a powerful tool that can help you connect with friends, family, and colleagues. But it can also be a distraction and a waste of time. If you’re struggling to cope with the stress of social media, here are some ways to live without it:
1. Turn off notifications
If you get notifications from your phone when someone posts something on Facebook or Instagram, turn them off. This will stop the temptation to check social media throughout the day and help you focus on what’s important in life.
2. Delete apps from your phone
Delete apps as soon as they’re installed, so that you don’t waste time looking at them or checking how many times they’ve been opened. Keep only the ones that are genuinely useful and essential for your daily life, such as email or calendar apps or games like Candy Crush Saga or Angry Birds.
3. Use an RSS feed reader instead of reading news on social media sites
RSS feeds (which stands for Really Simple Syndication) allow you to follow news stories by subscribing to an RSS feed. This means that whenever there’s new information available, you’ll receive an email alert letting you know about it instantly. You can also use this method if you want to know what people are talking about around.
4. Think about the benefits of disconnecting.
Consider what you’re losing when you log off social media, and what you might gain by disconnecting. If you’re not sure why it’s so important to you, ask yourself what you could gain by disconnecting from social media. Do any of these thoughts sound familiar?
- I don’t need Facebook for my personal life anymore.
- I’m getting better at managing my time, and I’m spending less time on Facebook than ever before, and that makes me feel good about myself.
5. You don’t have to delete your accounts to reduce your use of social media.
You don’t have to delete your accounts. There are plenty of tools out there that help you manage your time, keep track of what’s happening in the world and stay connected with friends and family.
For example, one popular option is using Facebook’s “Time Well Spent” tool which allows users to set limits on how long they can spend on their phone or computer each day. They can even choose specific activities they want to do (e.g., “read a book”) instead of spending time scrolling through Instagram or checking Twitter every few minutes which may not sound like much but adds up over time.
This way, you can still keep up with friends but reduce anxiety about missing out on important conversations by scheduling those around what matters most: What do I need today?
Ways to Live a Great Life Without Social Media
Social media is one of the most important tools for communication and connection in our modern age. It’s also something that can be addictive and harmful if used incorrectly but it doesn’t have to be. Here are ways you can live without social media:
1. Do some gardening.
Gardening is a great way to get fresh air and exercise. It’s also a great way to relax and escape daily life’s stresses and help you stay healthy. You can do many different types of gardening, from indoor plants to growing vegetables outdoors.
2. Try the radio.
If you’re like me, then you probably don’t have a lot of time to spend on social media. But even if you have some free time, finding ways to fill those moments with something productive and healthy can be hard.
One way that I’ve found helpful is by listening to the radio. I enjoy having music playing in my ears while I’m reading or walking around town. It helps keep me company when there’s nothing else around! And listening through streaming services such as Spotify or Pandora has become easier than ever before thanks to their popularity among younger generations who prefer listening over watching videos of cats dancing on grass (not really).
There are many stations available online as well; just search for “music” followed by your city name (for example, “music New York”) and away we go! You’ll be surprised by how many options there are out there, especially since most people haven’t considered using them until now! It might take some time getting used to them, but once mastered, they will make life simpler overall.”
3. Read books about your interests.
Reading is a great way to learn new things and expand your knowledge. You can read fiction, non-fiction, and anything in between. Reading is also a great way to connect with people who have similar interests or hobbies as you do. Reading can be a great way for you to unwind after work or school because it gives you time away from social media so that when you come home it feels more like being at home than walking into an electronic prison where there is no escape from the text messages coming through every second of every day.
4. Host a “no-phone zone.”
A “no-phone zone” is a space in your home that you can go to when you need to be alone, away from people and technology. It could be a room with no windows or doors, or maybe it’s just an empty corner where you can shut down your phone and enjoy some peace.
It’s important for people who want to live without social media (or any other forms of digital distraction) not only because we’re becoming increasingly reliant on our devices as we spend more time online but also because there are real consequences if we don’t pay attention to what happens around us when using them: studies show that people who spend less than one hour per day on their devices had lower levels of depression than those who spent more time doing so.
If this sounds like something you’d like to try out yourself then consider setting aside some time every day even if only 10 minutes to take care of yourself by reading a book or listening to/watching something soothing before returning to the world after taking care of yourself physically (e.g., yoga).
5. Find something else to do or take up a new hobby.
- Find something else to do. If you’re tired of being on social media and want to find something more wholesome and engaging, try taking up a new hobby. It could be something like learning how to sew or play an instrument or even simpler: just playing with your pet. which means making sure that whatever hobby we choose has minimal expenses
- Make sure it’s not too expensive. The last thing we want is for our hobbies to cost us money—and that means making sure that whatever hobby we choose has minimal expenses involved (like buying supplies). You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on an instrument or guitar lessons if they’ll end up being useless in the long run anyway; however, there are plenty of cheap ways for beginners who just want some fun with their hands without worrying about breaking the bank: try going home first before investing too much time into finding someone who knows what they’re doing.
6. Listen to podcasts.
Podcasts are a great way to get your favorite shows in one convenient place, and they’re free. You can listen on your phone, laptop or desktop computer or even your car with the car radio app. Podcasts can help you get the information that you need without having to go through the hassle of searching the web.
Social media can be great, but it’s important to find healthy ways of keeping yourself busy and connected with the world no matter what.
Social media can be a distraction. It’s easy to get sucked into scrolling through your feed, consuming content without really engaging with it, and consuming content without engaging with it, which can lead to mental health issues like anxiety or depression. On top of that, some people are more susceptible than others; if you’re someone who struggles with social anxiety or depression (or both), having an app on your phone is likely going to make things worse rather than better, and consuming content without really engaging with it, which
We’re not trying to tell you that social media is bad for you. It’s not. We think it can be a great way to stay connected with friends and family. But we do want to point out some ways in which we can use our phones less, or at least find healthier ways of doing so. We hope this has given you a few ideas about how best to approach your relationship with social media and maybe even inspired some changes in your own life.
Don’t let social media get in the way of living a real life. Social media can be a great tool for connecting with friends and family, learning new things, sharing your life with the world, and finding new people. But if you let it get in the way of your real life by spending too much time on social media instead of spending time at home or outside with other people in real life (or even just focusing on something else), then social media will become an unhealthy addiction that takes away from what matters most: living a good life.
Final Thought
Life without social media is something you need to experience for yourself. If you are looking for an answer, I hope this article will fulfill your desire. But if you want to experience the real impact, you need to try it.
Social media isn’t bad at all. But quitting has a huge impact on your life in a positive way. As a person who experienced it, I can assure for it. Everything has two sides, but the results of using them depend on the way we use them. Social media ruins your life when you become an addict, not just a follower. Nowadays, it is very common to use social media. But keep it in your mind and try not to let it control you.
References
- Quitting Social Media May Improve Your Mental Health
- What Happens When You Quit Social Media
- 30 days Without Social Media – Youtube Video
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I have been addicted to social media for 20 plus years. I finally decided enough was enough and came off. I have been off social media for 4 months now!
I am happier, healthier and I sleep better. It honestly feels like I have been unplugged from the Matrix. Social media isn’t real life, I like to compare it to a theatre. Everyone is trying to be perfect and they’re always comparing themselves to other people. The anxiety of going back on social media is higher than the anxiety of not being on it and I never want to feel like that again. I can honestly say that it has completely changed my life. My mental health is better and my anxiety levels are almost non existent, compared with how they were!
Great article!!
Thank you for your comment! I’m so happy to hear that you have been able to quit social media and improve your well-being. It’s not easy to break free from the addictive cycle of likes, comments, and shares, but you did it! You are an inspiration to many people who struggle with the same issue.
And also I’m glad that you found my article helpful and informative. I appreciate your feedback and support. I hope you continue to enjoy your social media-free life and discover new hobbies, interests, and passions. You are awesome! 😊
This post really makes me reflect on my own social media usage! The idea of having more meaningful connections and spending time on hobbies instead of scrolling is so appealing. I’m definitely considering a social media detox after reading this. Thanks for sharing these insights!
“I’m so glad to hear from you! A social media detox can really help create space for more meaningful connections and personal growth. Wishing you the best if you decide to take that break—I’m sure it will be really refreshing! I am happy that my post help change someone even for a once.