How to End Social Media Addiction and Why to Unplug for the Holidays

I am sure you hear all the time that it’s important to take time to “unplug” from your phone. We want to encourage you to do so by telling you why it’s so important! So, here are 5 reasons why our team encourages our clients (and each other) to unplug.

1. Unplugging helps you enjoy life around you. Being tied to your phone might feel like it’s helping you “stay connected,” but it actually distracts you from having true connection with your loved ones AND your environment. (This is why we are doing the Present is the Present Challenge in December of 2022. Click here to learn more about it!)

2. Unplugging boosts your creativity. Boredom is your friend! If you’re feeling stuck in your life, unplug long enough for you to get bored. You’ll notice you’re more creative (or even more productive) stepping away from your phone. 

3. Unplugging improves your sleep. When you turn your phone off once it gets dark, you can expect that you will sleep better that night. Why? Because you’re not messing with blue light production (check out our previous blog posts for more information on blue light!) 

4. Unplugging fights addiction. We as a society are addicted to social media and to our phones. Research in 2019 showed that adults in the US checked their phones 96 times a day on average. Do you think it went up post pandemic? Yep! A study done THIS year (2022) found that the average went up to 352 TIMES A DAY. That’s once every 3 minutes. We need to take back our own time! 

5. Unplugging decreases anxiety and depression. Studies show that there is a direct correlation between excessive smartphone use and mental disorders, like depression, anxiety, and even addiction to substances. A study done in 2021 by professors at Ariel University showed that depressive moods and even suicidal ideation were connected to social media usage to the “fear of missing out” (FOMO). 

Okay, so how do we combat it?

1. Start with 30 minutes. With just 30 minutes away from your phone, you will start to recognize that your body is returning to a “rest and digest” state. When you’re on your phone, your body is constantly in fight or flight mode because you’re waiting for the next hit of dopamine. Set a timer (not on your phone) for 30 minutes, and then once that timer is up, make note of how you felt away from your screen. Felt good? Try adding 15 minutes! Felt anxious? That is a sign you REALLY need those phone boundaries. 

2. Try a lockbox. We are using this lockbox in our Present is the Present challenge to really help participants have no choice but to step away from their devices. Put your phone in the lockbox, set the timer, and lock it. This can be for those 30 minutes we talked about above, or you can create a Sabbath day for yourself like our CEO does. From Friday night to Saturday night, that phone is locked in that box! 

3. Replace that time! Chances are, if this is something you are struggling with, it’s because you view your phone usage as “killing time”. So, kill time with something else. Have a hobby you want to start? Any time you go to reach for your phone, try replacing it with that. Maybe pick up a book instead. Maybe your phone usage has prevented you from cleaning out your closet or getting your movement in for the day. The reason we have habits is because our brains go from cue->routine->reward. Change the routine, and you’ll get a reward without wonky side effects! 

We are doing the Present is the Present challenge from December 10th-December 25th to help you get started with having an unplugged routine. This will allow you to start healing from your phone addiction, be present with loved ones, and ultimately just enjoy life again. We would love to have you join us! 

Stay Nourished!