More often than not you are either looking at your computer or you have your smartphone within reach. And, even more so, you probably pick it up and scroll through Facebook, Instagram or take a Snap at least a few times per hour. According to Mediakiz, an Influencer Agency, you will spend an average of five years and four months on social media platforms throughout your lifetime.
Often times we find ourselves scrolling the newsfeed or stalking on Instagram out of habit, or because we have 5-seconds to kill at the red-light. Right? I know you have done this at least once.
For a lot of entrepreneurs, we run most of our businesses online and social media is typically the meat of our marketing strategies. Digital marketing is not going away anytime soon, but to stop obsessing over social media, we first need to set boundaries with ourselves. Here are my top 5 tips to break your addiction of social media.
Create social media boundaries and time limits
Since your business probably runs on social media, a full digital detox is not the answer, instead pick 2-3 times and set a time limit that you will use for social media. Use this time to engage with your followers, create connections in Facebook groups, and follow up with messages. By allocating time to only focus on social media, the rest of your day will free up for other revenue producing parts of your business.
Physically remove yourself from your phone
The simplest way to reduce your time on social media is to create distance between your phone and yourself. If you have your phone beside you on the computer, you are more than likely going to pick it up mindlessly. Before bed, plug your phone in the other room and read an actual book instead of the news feed.
Set a technology free period
Designate a period of time each day where are all technology is turned off. This means televisions, internet, etc. The time of the day will vary based on how your life and business functions. It may be between when the kids get home from school until their bedtime or maybe it is after dinner until the next morning. Find a period that works for you and stick with it.
Turn off the notifications or simply log out
Do the push notifications give you anxiety? Your phone chirps and someone left a comment, you have to check, who was it, what did they say. It’s hard to simply go cold-turkey. The easiest way to avoid the anxiety is to mute your notifications. It’s hard to rely on willpower alone, so download extensions to your browser that will block notifications and alerts as well. My favorite app for this is Cold Turkey which allows you to block distractions on your computer.
Find a new hobby
With all the free time you now have from reducing your social media scrolling, you can finally finish that scarf you started knitting. Or, you can spend more time on self-care, practicing yoga, playing in the backyard with the kids. Your options are limitless. Plus, since you will be busy with this new hobby, you will stop craving validation from social media.
Now that you have the tools to stop obsessively scrolling on social media by being strategic with your time, you will begin to love (and possibly obsess) over other areas in your life. Start small and make gradual changes that fit into your digital lifestyle.
Virtual Business Manager, Amy Edge helps overwhelmed entrepreneurs tackle their to-do lists with techie support, strategy and implementation. Amy creates efficient systems that allows business owners to spend more time on their passion while building a business they love. She is also a coffee fanatic, veggie junkie and random dance parties in the living room! Follow her on Instagram and Facebook.