Hi, loves!
The majority of us love social media and use it on a daily basis, but sometimes it can become quite daunting. There are times when I realise social media sites, such as Instagram, are actually making me feel worse. This is usually when I accept it may be time to take a social media break, or a break from my phone in general. How do you know when it may be time to take a step back? Here are some sure fire signs that your social media usage is becoming toxic:
1.) You feel pressured to post
This is something I find myself noticing a lot, particularly when it comes to Instagram. The constant need to increase followers, along with the added pressure of high engagement, we can often find ourselves feeling overwhelmed or even downright miserable. This where social media turns from a positive to a big negative, and you should maybe think about taking a break to recharge. How can you give the followers the best content when you’re not feeling your best?! You can’t, so look after yourself first. Always.
2.) You’re spending too much time on social media apps
This can be a tricky one, as how much time is ‘too much’? This varies from person to person, but if I feel I’m spending my whole day lay in bed on my phone then it’s usually a clear indicator I need to take a step back. Obviously this can be different for ‘influencers’ whose job is literally social media, but even then it’s important to remember to have hobbies that involve things outside of the social media world. Instead of updating Twitter that you want to go for a walk, actually go for the walk. Bad example, but you know what I mean.
3.) Your feed is lowering your self esteem
This seems to be a common one for the majority of people. Personally, as soon as social media makes me feel even the slightest bit negative about myself I take a huge step back. That’s not what social media is, or ever should be, about. The beauty about this bizarre place we call earth is that everyone’s different, so stop comparing yourself to Instagram models and learn to love yourself for who you are. Self love is irreplacable.
So, they’re my top 3 signs that a social media break may be necessary/helpful. Of course, the effects of social media are different for every individual and there’s no rule book on the ‘right’ ways to use it, but these are the aspects I look at when I’m wondering if my social media usage is benefiting me or actually making me feel worse. What signs tend to lead you to taking a break? Let me know down in the comments.
Lots of love,
Soph. xx
girl vs world 
This is so helpful! Especially because so much of my social media use is professional, I really struggle with getting myself to take a break from it–knowing the signs is a great first step!
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Facebook is the app I often feel I need to take a break from! Every now and then I delete the app and you find yourself wanting to go on it randomly throughout the day just to nosy/scroll. I think that’s when you need a break!
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100% agree! I don’t like Facebook really, I only properly use the messenger app to chat to my friends. Oh yeah I completely know what you mean – whenever I delete Instagram I realise how much I actually go to click the app!
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I gave my password to someone else and told him to change it so I didn’t feel the temptation to log in. Even with FB messenger, I knew the password, thus making it way too accessible for me to log in and check everything. Since giving my password away and getting it changed to something I don’t know, I haven’t had any temptations to use FB and haven’t used it since. It’s a very effective method if you need a hiatus and have a tendency to check things despite the willpower and good intentions!
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That’s a great idea but I don’t know if I have the guts t do it, haha!! Go you xx
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This is exactly the reason I have all social media notifications turned off, there’s no temptation to be logging in a checking things all the time, and for the most part I’ve stopped using some apps because of it especially Facebook. I can find it so detrimental to my self esteem when you judge your life against someone else’s x
Kayleigh Zara 🌿 http://www.kayleighzaraa.com
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I have all my social media app notifications muted to and, now you mention it, it has actually helped reduce my screen time a LOT! x
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I know I need a break when I just keep scrolling and seeing the same posts again and again – and that isn’t getting me anywhere! Lovely post.
Paige x | pagesummerx.wordpress.com
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That’s so true! That happens to me a lot on Instagram. Thank you for your kind comment x
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I quit FB in 2016 and don’t miss it at all. I don’t even use FB messenger even though it’s the only way to contact some people who only seem to use FB and nothing else. Do I miss these people? Yes. Were they lifting me up to become a better version of myself? No. Social media that wasn’t helping me in any shape or form had to take the cut, and I gave them my contact info when I left. Have they contacted me since? Not really. FB isn’t what it used to be back in the day.
The only social media app besides WP that I have on my phone is IG because I enjoy the IG stories way too much… it’s a guilty pleasure of mine. 🤭 I just have to be careful who I’m following on there because like Facebook, it can negatively impact a one’s self-esteem.
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You go girl! I honestly wish I had your willpower! My fave apps are wordpress and twitter, but I spend way too much time on instagram too xx
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It doesn’t feel like willpower because I’m so used to living without it. FB doesn’t really cross my mind anymore. Sometimes I will get the temptation to reinstall messenger by getting the gatekeeper to log me in, but then that feeling quickly fades.
Instagram is definitely a time suck for me as well, so I really need to be more mindful when using that app. It really comes down to this: Scroll Instagram or read a boring textbook? I think the answer is obvious 🤗✨
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That is why I only use social for blogging. It gets overwhelming when you use it for socializing only.
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Blogging is the best form of social media in my opinion 🙂 xx
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Great post! I’ve hardly ever on social media except Twitter because it’s too toxic. There’s all of these imaginary rules we feel we need to follow because it’s what is perceived as cool. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you lovely! Yeah, twitter is my favourite social media app – the blogger community on there is so supportive and kind. instagram is probably the most toxic one for me xx
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Yes, too much social media is bad for us.
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Agreed! Thank you for your comment 🙂
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I stay away from Instagram because it always ruin my confidence in my own business!
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I’m almost addicted to Instagram but it can be so toxic! I don’t blame you x
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Instagram never holds my interest very long, I prefer Facebook!
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In this day and age of constant social media checking, I love how this post makes one stop and think. I admit my feed used to make me feel depressed and not worth anything but I acknowledged that, which can be hard but is worthwhile, and made some changes. Now my feed inspires me! Social media connects me to people I am inspired by and that is what I need; what we should all be looking for.
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I definitely need to make more of a conscious effort to follow more positive and genuine people. It can be so easy to get lost in the ‘fake’ Instagram world, and that’s not a life I want to be living! Thank you for your insightful comment xx
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We do have to reach for the lives we want. A pleasure to share thoughts with you!
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I wrote a post like this last year! Social media would tarnish my self esteem and I would continue to return to it. Thank goodness I have learned now
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I’ll have to have a read of it! I’m slowly learning myself haha x
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I stopped using social media for a while. I have instagram and fb but I stopped using them. I stopped using my old twitter account when i realized how negative it was for me. I did get back into using twitter once started back on wordpress. I don’t use it as much as I used to though
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I’m so glad you made such a positive change!
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I agree with these points – people should never feel pressured to post. If it comes to that point, a break is probably needed. I took a break from social media a while back and found it super refreshing. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Nancy ♥ exquisitely.me
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I 100% agree! And it’s always so much more enjoyable when you come back to a fresh feed with a fresh mind after taking a well-needed break x
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I really enjoyed reading this. I know for sure that social media hurts my mental health more. I had to step back for a few days to rejuvenate. Thanks for writing this!
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I completely agree. Thank you for your comment! x
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These are such great points. Unfortunately from a business perspective I defintiely avoid taking breaks as much as possible but recently I’ve been posting less feed content (especially over the weekends) and feel much less pressure for it!
Soph – https://sophhearts.com x
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I’m the exact same, but we have to remember people in ‘regular’ jobs book time off and take breaks as well so it’s okay and it’s normal! It’s important to take a break if we’re feeling burnt out, as how can we create great content when we have no inspiration?! I’m glad you’re feeling better!! xx
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I think social media can be one of the hardest things about social media. It’s the easiest way to get your content out there and connect with other people but at the same time it can be the worst for your self esteem. But I think if you maybe set aside time for each day to go on it and then do other things it could help. I’m always feeling pressured to post though lol
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Definitely agree! I always set time for me to scroll, time for me to post content and time for me to have away from it, like you said, and it helps so much with keeping my head clear and fresh. It’s important to have hobbies outside of social media too! xx
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It’s so important to know when to take a break! I fall under that umbrella of someone who needs to be on social media for work, so it’s difficult. But I KNOW I need to find some non-social media / non-screen related hobbies. I just don’t know what! x
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100% agree! I definitely think it’s important to have non-social media related hobbies, even if it’s just going for a small walk throughout the day to take a break! x
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Really helpful post! Totally agree with the points you make here. Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you for your lovely comment!
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Taking breaks is so important – especially when you’re spending more time invested online than in real life or when your feed starts to feel toxic!
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I completely agree!
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