Maybe you feel overwhelmed by the noise on social media and wonder if there is an effective way to avoid social media burnout and recharge your mind.
But what is a sign of social media burnout?
Have you found yourself reaching up for your phone as soon as you wake up? Or do you feel anxious after checking your social media feeds? Furthermore, are you struggling to stop browsing social networking sites? If yes, you might be experiencing social media burnout.
You are not alone. In fact, a lot of people go through the same predicament.
Burnout doesn’t only drain your energy but also cripples you from performing at your best. Social media has become a distraction rather than a platform to socialize, disrupting your productive flow as you fall down the rabbit hole of the virtual world.
Here are 15 ways to avoid social media burnout to take control of your time.
1. Evaluate your online activities
Ask yourself if checking social media is making a difference in your life. Is it a healthy place to release your emotions? Or, do you feel bad watching other’s highlight reel? Understanding your triggers will help you weed out the negative influences that drain your energy and avoid social media burnout.
2. Set your objectives
Determine the reason WHY you have to check your social media account. Having a definitive purpose will keep you from scrolling aimlessly for hours.
Four actions to avoid virtual networking burnout
3. Unfollow or unfriend if you must
For your mental health, unfollow or unfriend people who feed on negativity or put you in a state where you are triggered. Do not feel guilty because, at the end of the day, it’s an act of self-protection and preservation. You can still be friends in real life but you don’t read their rants all the time on social media.
4. Choose your group wisely
You are the average of the five people you spend your time with – so, choose carefully.
For entrepreneurs, set a niche and find your specific target market. Participate in a specific group instead of hopping from one island to the next.
5. Set boundaries
Set a time when you disconnect from work or personal-related posts. Turn off the work-related apps after office hours and vise versa for personal accounts. It’ll help you to focus on each aspect of your life and strike a “balance.”
6. Structure your time
Set a time limit on how long you will be checking your social media accounts. One hour in a day should suffice. If you find it hard to discipline yourself, install apps or features to remind you of your 1-hour limit.
Five decisions that help avoid social media burnout
7. Keep on moving
After every 30 minutes, stand up to keep the blood flowing. Sitting down for a long time has serious implications for your health. Use the Pomodoro technique to have 5-minute breaks in between your productive work sessions. Utilize the time to stretch or go for a quick stroll.
8. Rest your eyes
Switch off your screen and look far away every 2 hours to avoid “digital eye strain.”
9. Turn off all notifications
Turn off all social media notifications to keep you focused on the tasks at hand and avoid social media burnout and noise.
10. Uninstall some Apps
One of the best ways to avoid social media burnout is by deleting timewaster applications.
11. Sleep
Shy away from your phone screen an hour before going to bed. Doing so will help you have a sound night of sleep. Also, a well-rested brain can invite creative juices to flow in. Don’t you want that in your professional life?
Four more steps to avoid social media anxiety
12. Unplug
Take a whole day to unplug from the noisy world of social media. Use the time to connect to your offline world. Read, cook, or dive into your forgotten hobbies to be one with life instead of watching it passing by before your eyes.
13. Meet with or call a friend
If you have the means, set up a schedule to hang out with family members and friends. And stop social media or your phones from taking over your meaningful conversations and interactions. Nothing beats face-to-face and actual conversations over coffee or tea time.
14. Don’t be the tool, use the tool
Learn to use tools to automate your social media posts and presence. Having a social media planner also helps. This strategy works well for entrepreneurs and professionals whose work includes social media interactions.
15. Install apps to keep your focus
Use applications that will help you block the usage of social media while working.
Social media has drastically changed the way we do things or interact with each other. Networking sites are a great tool to use in marketing and expanding your network.
However, when your social media habits get out of control, the tool can become a big timewaster and energy-devourer that will hold you back — professionally and emotionally. I am guessing this not what you want. So, what will you do with this information?
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