Why I Prefer A Daily Social Media Detox

Ah, the social media detox. A time where you feel that a step away from social media is the solution when your mental health doesn't feel right. 


As a blogger, I'm pretty much on social media for a huge part of the day. For example, in the morning when I wake up, I grab my phone and scroll through Twitter and Instagram like I'm reading a newspaper, check my emails and delete the crappy ones and maybe post an Instagram story welcoming the day. If I have the time to, I'll promote my latest blog post and promote it all over my social media channels. That's the first 20 minutes of my morning most days. Then I'm rushing around like a tit in a trance trying to get ready for work and getting my meds done. It's a sight to see, believe me. 



Then at night, I scroll through social media before going to bed just to make sure I've caught up with everything before I allow my head to hit the pillow. Reading these last two paragraphs back, it doesn't sound healthy at all. I wouldn't say I have a major problem, but maybe it's a problem that is starting to ripple under the surface. 


Social media detoxes, for me, should be taken, however long or short. 


When it comes to taking a social media detox, we all have different preferences and feelings on how long we as individual's feel is the right amount of time to spend away from our social media accounts.


From my personal perspective, I like to take a little break from social media on a more frequent basis - every day. 



Usually, I find the mornings are when I am at my most active online. Whether it be updating statuses, tweeting something or posting a new photo, that's when I kind of get my social media fix. After that, I find that my interest in scrolling through my phone in the afternoons into the evenings kind of wanes. This is where I take the advantage of leaving my phone alone and focusing on other things. It's amazing how effective the method of 'leaving your phone the other side of the room' is. Literally, if my phone is somewhere other than beside me, I'm more than likely to not want to invest time scrolling. 


My biggest chunk of my social media detox in a 24 hour day is the evening when my phone is charging. I aim to not charge my phone until about 8pm and I charge my phone, again on the other side of the room and I just don't touch it until I know it's fully charged. That's my break from the social media world. I barely use social media on my laptop in the evening either. I use the time to blog and catch up on emails. I watch TV, I read, I talk to people face to face rather than face to phone.



It doesn't take much effort to give yourself a break from social media. It is well needed by all sometimes. Put your phone away when you've got company, put your phone away before going to bed (something I am trying to do more often now), put your phone away while working, don't grab your phone at any little chance you get, use the time to do something different and something you know that needs to be done eg housework etc.


I prefer taking social media detoxes this way rather than take a long term one. I think taking daily detoxes works better for me and my wellbeing. This method has always worked in my favour, until it doesn't I'll continue to take my social media detoxes this way. 



What are your thoughts on social media detoxes?



*The notebook featured in these photos was a previous PR sample from Old English Company. 
53 comments
  1. I think we all need social media detox! It is very addicting.

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    1. Absolutely, we do need a social media detox every now and then!

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  2. I'm the same as you, the first thing I do in the morning is check my social media accounts. Of an evening I have been putting my phone in 'Do Not Disturb' mode so notifications don't pop up and distract me!

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    1. That's a good idea to put your phone on 'Do Not Disturb' , that's a great way to take a break from your phone x

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  3. I am now at a point where I don’t use social media for anything other than blogging but I feel like it’s taking over my life!

    I’m away this week but I am still spending the first hour of the day promoting and then catching up at night for an hour.

    When I’m at work I don’t use it though so I suppose that’s my break 😂

    You’re right though, we all need to switch off, it’s really important x

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    1. It's so hard to get out the habit of not checking your phone in the morning and at night Claire, I've been there! That's a good way to take a break from it, I do the same when I'm in work too, it's so good to switch off from it all x

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  4. Interesting read Lucy! I have social media detoxes once a week. I'm on my phone far too much these days, I spend around 3 hours on Instagram a day according to my iphone stats. x

    Zoey | www.zoeyolivia.com

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    1. It's amazing how much time we spend on our phones Zoey, sometimes when you think you haven't spent much time scrolling, you have! x

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  5. I think it's so important to take regular breaks from social media. It's can be such an sddictive thing! 💜

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    1. It really can, it's amazing how addictive it can be!

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  6. This was so interesting, I've never really classed that time as a social media detox before but I actually think you're right. I have a rough time every night that I try to be less active from and take breaks to read my book/ watch tv etc. I always see people talking about weeks/ weekends away and I'm not sure if I could do that (tragic really) but a few hours a day offline is definitely a good thing x

    Sophie
    www.glowsteady.co.uk

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    1. I'm the same Sophie, I don't think I could take such a long period away from social media, that's why I prefer to take small breaks daily as I think, for me personally, it's better in the long run in terms of mental health and wellbeing. But everyone is different in how they treat their time on social media, some prefer to take a longer, extended period away from social media x

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  7. I try and have a social media detox at the weekend (doesn't always work!) mainly because I want to focus on my family and my home and not be endlessly scrolling :) Good points here, Lucy, thank you x

    Lisa | www.lisasnotebook.com

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    1. That's good that you stay away from social media to spend time with your family! x

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  8. Before I started blogging, I used to take a week off social media every year and it was soooo good. You forget that you don't actually need to be glued to your phone. Obviously, it's a little more difficult for us as now it's a job to be on social media, but I love your idea of taking a few hours a day, even just when your phone is charging and have it at the other side of the room (or even in another room!). I think I'm going to be starting this too. Thanks for the reminder that a social media detox is a must x

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    1. I can imagine it did you the world of good taking a week off social media a year Ellie! Yeah it definitely works to have your phone across the room, it's such an easy and effective way to take a break from social media! x

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  9. I took a break from social media for a few days right at the beginning of lockdown and came back absolutely refreshed! It's amazing how effective a little time off can be. Now I usually take a break around once a week, normally on a Saturday, and it manages to recharge me for the rest of the week haha!

    https://www.femaleoriginal.com

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    1. It can have such a positive impact on your wellbeing when you take a break from social media Faye! That's good that you give yourself a break every Saturday to allow yourself to recharge x

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  10. This is really such a difficult thing to do for me! Considering the fact it takes me almost an hour to post a single photo on instagram. haha I want to do it but I just can't get away from it. I envy people who can put down their phone and read a book. ^^

    https://girlwithanearring.blogspot.com

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    1. I think it can be a struggle for some people to put their phone down lovely, especially if your job centres around social media and if you're a blogger too!

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  11. I definitely feel like when it comes to blogging it makes more sense to take a break daily rather than for a couple of days at a time, it feels like so much happens in a day that it should be checked at least daily! It's also important to do what works best for you, but I agree with the daily detox! x

    Emily | emiliamarlowe.co.uk

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    1. Yeah it is most definitely up to the person as to how long they want to take a break for, a daily detox is one that works for me x

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  12. I stay off my phone for around a day every now and again but I think having the afternoons off of it would be really good for me. I will just aimlessly scroll which is just pointless lol

    Sophie -
    www.thatpalerose.blogspot.com

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    1. That's good that you take a break from your phone every now and then lovely, I'm an aimless scroller too! x

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  13. I completely understand where you are coming from. I try to have a digital detox at least once a week. It can be hard not to reach for my phone at times though.

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    1. It can be hard not reaching for you phone at times Kelly!

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  14. I totally agree. Social media detoxes are so important but different things work for different people, depending on your circumstances! My social media goes off at 9pm. So I'm never on after that. But I try and have a day a week where I'm completely off of social media. However that doesn't look like it's going to happen this week as I'm so busy!

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    1. You're right Jenny, different things work for different people! That's good that you take a day off social media once a week!

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  15. Thanks for sharing, I sometimes take a detox when I feel that the acutall platform that I was using is not been helpful or people are just being plain rude to me which is good for for me to step away from those people :)

    Nic | Nic's Adventures & Bakes

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    1. I'm glad to hear that you know when to take a break from social media and that you have boundaries with that Nic.

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  16. Social media detoxes are so important. I don't tend to schedule mine it just depends on what I am doing and what I have planned, but I try and take a few hours away from my phone and social media. I would like to increase this to a full day. I am sure I will get their eventually but it is so hard!

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    1. Taking a break for a few hours from your phone is a great idea when you know you need to complete tasks done Sarah! I don't think I could do a whole day either!

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  17. It is so important to take time away from social media every now and again!

    Danielle xx

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  18. I give myself weekend detoxes and completely switch off from anything digital and it's so good! Gives the biggest blogging boost and it's always nice to come back refreshed. Love that notebook!

    Anika | chaptersofmay.com

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    1. That's amazing to hear Anika! I love that it allows to re-boot and come back refreshed, the notebook is adorable isn't it?!

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  19. I always tell my secondary school students to take a social media detox, so I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't too. I totally agree that it's really important to have a break and spend some time in the real world x

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    1. I love how you tell your students to take a social media detox, what a great thing to do as a teacher! x

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  20. Yes! It's so important to try to take a break daily, that way you don't get too burnt out from everything!

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    1. Absolutely Charity! It's important to get not too burnt out!

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  21. Oh a detox feels wonderful doesn't it? As a blogger, I guess you feel the pressure a bit more to be online all the time, promoting posts, interacting with other. But, sometimes it can feel like a chore can't it? When it gets like that I try to step away for a bit and not post/interact as regular (like the past two weeks) It feels good to have some of the pressure off. Also I get increasingly annoyed with all the Covid talk (or those who feel it is all a hoax etc) so I have to come off before I say something I would regret haha!

    Great post Lucy!
    Aimsy xoxo
    https://www.aimsysantics.co.uk

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    1. Yeah I totally agree Aimsy, it can feel like a chore some days, especially when you're not in a great mood! It does feel good to take the pressure off sometimes, it's well needed from time to time. The people who think it's all a hoax need to bugger off and start taking Covid seriously! x

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  22. I’ve never really taken a full on social media detox before unless I’ve had wifi problems haha. I feel like I should definitely try it though. Thanks for the advice :) x

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    1. Wifi problems are the perfect way to take a social media detox! x

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  23. I think a social media detox is so so important for the mind!

    www.littlebeautyblogxo.com

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    1. It really is lovely, it can really help refresh and refocus your mind!

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  24. Social media detoxes are essential for me - I have always had a bit of a love hate relationship with them and I find taking a break from social media really helps me feel refreshed.

    Esterella | esterella.co.uk

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    1. They really can help you to feel refreshed!

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  25. I loved this post! I need to take more social media detoxes as I'm way to addicted to my phone xx

    http://www.dellalovesnutella.co.uk/

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    1. Thank you Della! Taking detoxes once in a while is so important xx

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  26. I take a day off every 2 or 3 weeks! I feel like I just need it! But I totally agree that breaks don't need to be big long chunks of time!

    Katie | katieemmabeauty.com

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    1. That's a good plan Katie, I'm glad you take that day off when needed lovely x

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  27. I loved reading this. My relationship with social media has really changed over the last year or so. I had to physically step away from being on my phone so much because it felt really unhealthy and I felt like I was spiralling into a negative space. Now, I have a block on my phone for a few hours each day. I also don't use my phone for social media at weekends and it's already helping my brain!

    Rosie

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