5 Reasons Why Christmas Is the Perfect Time for a Social Media Detox

It’s time for a social media detox, and Christmas is a perfect time. Social media is a part of all our lives, whether we want it to be or not. Somehow it’s everywhere we go and a part of everything we do. We can’t seem to put it down.

The social media addiction

With everything now at our fingertips, digital communication has given our brains an information overload. According to Uswitch, we spend more than an average of 1,300 hours on social media. And Gen-Z spends up to 9 hours in front of a screen.

Now I really can’t talk. I, too, have found myself spending hours on Tiktok instead of doing what needs to be done. And while it’s nice to take those breaks, I’ve found myself turning to my platforms more often throughout the day than working.

Some of it is due to me being an inspiring social media manager and a blogger, but I know that my time should be limited. And I’m sure you’ve thought about it as well. Let’s face it. Social media is entertaining yet addictive.

We’re always trying to keep up with the latest trends, viral videos, and toxic news going on around the world. And it’s all so that we don’t get left behind on what’s going on. It can be a lot to take in and is. We have become addicted to social media.

But aside from our addiction, too much can also lead to crippling mental health issues. From depression over body image and lavish lifestyles to parasocial relationships gone too far, our need for social media attention can form negative and unhealthy thoughts about ourselves and our relationships.

With Christmas looming, the added connections can only contribute

5 Reasons for a social media detox for Christmas

As weird as it may sound, Christmas is the right time to give yourself a social media detox. Why? Because there’s no other time during the year where the focus becomes spending time with family and getting together. And the following can help.

It’s a break from your daily routine of social media

Christmas is a stressful time. Your focus now expands to shopping, planning, and figuring out whose house to visit on Christmas day first. With your daily routine of who posted what at what time and you find yourself in an overload.

Sure, visiting Tiktok can be a stress reliever, depending on the videos you watch, but it can also consume time. Try spending the time you’ve taken away from social media towards reading your favorite book, watching a movie, or working on a project.

And before the actual stress comes along, practicing self-care can prove vital. Some may see social media as a form of self-care. However, why not turn those hours into real self-care moments

Reduce mental strain you may be experiencing

Christmas brings along anxiety and mental strain, that can add to your extended periods of connection to your platforms. When we’re struggling with things in life, seeing others’ positive experiences may sometimes harm us.

Holidays are difficult for me, and recently, I found myself having a mental overload of seeing all those I follow enjoying spending time with one another and decorating for Christmas. The more I saw, the more depressed I was starting to become, and I knew at that moment I needed to log off.

If you’re starting to feel a sense of depressive moments, then stepping away is a good way to reduce those down feelings you have developed. By not having the things that may have you feeling low in front of you, it allows you to focus on what you do have as well as get your mental state of mind back to a place where you’re the center of attention.

Allows you to reconnect with those around you

I’m sure you may have heard, “with all the time you spend on your phone; it’s a wonder you have any real friends.” Or something along those lines. The holidays are all about getting together in person, and it’s a time to see familiar faces that you may not have seen all year long.

Logging out of your platforms gives you back the sense of reconnecting with communicating face to face. You know, that thing we used to do before cell phones were invented. And honestly, why not enjoy the moments. You’re now redirecting the dedication you’ve formed, posting every moment and watching videos for hours towards those who are actually in front of you.

Stops you from obsessing over what others are posting

Social media has brought into our living spaces the feeling of knowing what everyone is saying or showing off. On Instagram, you may find yourself going through tons of reels, stories, and photos of friends and family members to see what they did and how their day went.

This can cause an unhealthy obsession with wanting to know everything, and it can also cause competition. You can cut that obsession off before it starts by stepping away from your platforms. Let the Christmas spirit in and allow yourself to focus on things in real-time rather than that video clip Jennifer Lopez posted on her luxury Christmas give she received from Ben Affleck.

Free you up to enjoy other things and live in the moment

Christmas is filled with wonderful winter moments, which would make for a great post on social media. Signing out of your platforms allows you to live in the moment. Go out and enjoy the drive to the winter wonderland display two towns over.

Or reminisce about Christmas past as you and your family decorate. Or even catch up on some assignments or goals that need your attention. Detox from social media gives you those hours back to focus on actually enjoying the holiday and all that comes with it. You’d be surprised what setting up a timeframe of a month and sticking to it can do for some of the things you may have put off for a later date.

Conclusion

While it may seem challenging to do, giving yourself a social media detox during Christmas can benefit you and those around you. They get to see you finally join in on the real-life fun. So set a date, time, log off your platforms and finally see the world once again.

Share some of the ways you detox from social media during the holidays in the comments down below. And don’t forget to follow me on Instagram, @thesilenttorch, for daily affirmations, weekly challenges & check-ins, updates, and positive words.

Until next time this is Tammy saying keep strong, keep positive. And Happy Holidays!!!