As a blogger does your time on social media make you feel more connected, or less connected?
I know I am not the only one who has felt overwhelmed by social media. I always have a fear that I am going to miss something.
While I have days where social media makes me feel connected. There are other days when social media is a major distraction that keeps me from meeting my personal goals and deadlines.
Social media is a great tool for bloggers to use to share their content, connect with their audience, and stay up to date with the latest. But, if social media is not used correctly it can be damaging to your productivity.
What is a social media cleanse?
A social media cleanse is simply a break away from social media to cleanse your mind. This time should be used to unplug from society and focus on your personal goals.
Whether it’s a large or small project you are working on a social media cleanse should be used to help you regain focus and clarity.
Why you might need a social media cleanse
Sometimes, we all need a break. If you are subscribed to my Monday motivational emails and blog notifications you would know that this week I am doing a social media cleanse.
I am taking this time away from social media to refocus on my blog and the direction I am taking as I continue to build a purposeful and useful community here at Blog Life With Erica for myself and others.
If you are currently scrolling social media and are looking at the images of others picture-perfect, displaying a life with no chaos you are setting yourself up with an unrealistic expectation for your life.
Social media only gives us the highlight reel of the life of others. Not a behind the scenes, the raw footage- unedited snapshots.
Seeing others look so polished can cause you to start comparing yourself to others. Ultimately, taking away from your perception of your self-worth.
You can absolutely be killing it and successful in everything you do. But if you are looking in the mirror and comparing yourself with others you scroll past on social media you are failing!
If this sounds familiar… you might just need a social media cleanse.
How to do a social media cleanse
It’s pretty simple… just unplug yourself. For those disciplined individuals, this can be just simply turning off your notifications or signing out of your accounts.
On the other hand, the undisciplined you may benefit more from this time away if you temporarily deactivate your account. Also deleting the application from your phone.
Depending on your goals, you have the power to decide how long you want to commit to a social media cleanse. It can be for just a few days, a few weeks, a few months, or for a year. You decide.
Benefits of a social media cleanse
You might be wondering what the benefits are from actually doing a social media cleanse?
Well, I am living proof that a social media cleanse can change your life. Prior to the redirection of my blog I completely deleted social media earlier this year. It was the best decision I ever made!
Not only did it help me improve my spirituality. It really helped me discover a greater purpose for my blog which at the time prior to deleting social media wasn’t doing so well.
After I came back from my social media break, inspired and motivated I had the drive I needed for my blog. Taking a break helped me discover that blogging to help others on their blogging journey is my true passion and my “why” for blogging.
If taking a break can inspire, motivate and improve my life. I know it can change your life too!
Removing social media can improve your life in a lot of different ways:
- It can help you sleep better since you will have little distraction to keep you up
- You can use this time to reprioritize your personal goals
- More of an opportunity to connect personally with family or friends (write a letter, pick up the phone, or plan a visit)
- You can use this time to relax (more time for yourself)
- It can help you overcome the fear that you are going to miss something. (stop being over-consumed with the lives of others)
- Be more present within your own life (everything doesn’t have to be posted)
- Enjoy life more by living in the moment
- Will free up more time in your schedule to do other things you enjoy
When your cleanse is over
You have the power and choice to decide when your social media cleanse is over. Whenever you are ready, your friends will still be there to welcome you back.
Hopefully, once your cleanse is over you learned something new about yourself and are more inspired as a blogger.
Maybe, you really enjoyed this break and the time you took for yourself to focus on you. If so, know that you have the power to step away and take breaks when you need to. Do whatever feels right for you.
Give it a try…
How many of you are going to join me this week?
Just give it a try. I bet you could really use this time to work on something you have been putting off for some time now. I can just imagine how more productive you can be if you took at least one week off from social media.
If you are up for this challenge. Comment below that you are in! I would like to know exactly which social platforms you are taking a break from and list at least one project or goal you will prioritize during your social media cleanse.
I can’t wait to read your responses.