We live in a time where social networks have become the source of all daily information, entertainment, and, unfortunately, our daily source of socialization. So how do you take a break from Facebook?
The best way to quit your Facebook usage and to take a break from it is to uninstall the app from your phone. The next step is to delete the Facebook bookmark from your browser favorites if you have one. The important thing here is that you delete these quick accesses to Facebook, and eventually, you are able to take a break from it.
We all sometimes feel the need for more spoken word and conversation with our loved ones, we yearn for the old, good form of thought exchange, which isn’t only based on comments beneath someone’s Facebook post.
If you’ve noticed that you spend most of your free time scrolling the endless feed on Facebook, then it’s time for a break from social networks and a little bit of real socialization.
Facebook shouldn’t cause addiction, or at least we shouldn’t allow ourselves to feel that way. It’s one kind of a habit, for which we need slow rehab.
Simply, promise yourself that you’ll spend one day without social networks and then turn that into a weekend. After a while, it can turn into a whole week, when you decide to spend your time with your friends, go on long walks or read a good book on marketing, when you come home from work.
We miss so much by scrolling down the Facebook home feed, but all we really need to do is delete the app and use our phones solely for communication purposes, which they were originally meant for.
One thing that could help you, so that Facebook doesn’t take away your focus so much, is to turn off notifications (if you are unable to delete the app altogether, I don’t have it on my phone currently). There will be a difference: you’ll open the app (or desktop version) less frequently, as long as you receive fewer notifications.
Remember the old, good SMS and try to set up your meeting via it, in order to dial down the usage of Facebook. It’s really important to meet people and create new contacts, but it’s also important that it happens in the real world rather than a virtual one (which generally isn’t the case).
That’s why it’s fundamental that you try and take a break from Facebook socialization and surround yourself with new people. In time, you’ll notice that, in a spontaneous way, you’ve made many new acquaintances, instead of watching aimlessly at your phone.
When you take a break from Facebook, you’ll realize how long it has been since you enjoyed the things you used to like. When was the last time that you, after a long day at work, sat in your chair, and drank a cup of warm coffee, went over your own thoughts, and made some new conclusions?
When was the last time you took the time to read that book, which was recommended by your friend (I recommend reading Seth Godin’s “This Is Marketing” -it’s so good!)? It’s been a while, right? Well, now it’s time to turn the bad habits into good ones.
When you yearn to be online again, remember the real reasons that make you enjoy Facebook and then limit your usage or, better yet, cut it altogether.
It’s also important to remember to focus on what you actually follow/read on Facebook and how much influence those posts have on your life.
In order for social networks to have a positive impact on your life, clean up your friends’ list and pages so that you’re left with posts you can actually enjoy, without any negative connotations.
Clean it up from negative influence, because negative influence from Facebook is being transferred unconsciously into our real lives. That’s usually the first “wake-up” call, which leads us to the desire to take a break from the virtual world.
When you take a break from the virtual world, turn around and study the changes that start to happen: question how you feel, do you feel good, and like a heavy weight has been lifted from your chest. If you start feeling better (and you notice that), focus on using Facebook more intelligently, so that you have more time to enjoy your day and your life.
Think about all the free time you’ll get. Always wanted to play that instrument or get better at your online business?
Use the internet smartly and discover all the books you always wanted to read that can help you on your road to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Invest in yourself and your time – it will pay out faster than you think.
Here’s a list on 7 concise and ultimate reasons for taking a break from Facebook:
Facebook makes you focus more on others, rather than yourself
One of the main problems with Facebook is the bombardment with too many requests and information. Whether they are prom photos or posts about someone’s new, shiny car, Facebook makes you compare yourself (and your achievements) to others.
Many studies have shown that an individual that spends a lot of his time on Facebook and social networking, after some time, starts to feel anxious, tired, or has a low self-esteem.
Besides that, many people with whom we’re connected on Facebook aren’t really that close to a “real friendship.” The point is: you shouldn’t spend so much time wondering what others are doing, especially if they’re not friends who are actively integrated into our daily lives. Instead, focus on the fulfillment of your own personal goals.
Facebook shows you the altered version of reality
Most of the things we see on Facebook aren’t really connected to positive thoughts or happy moments. We don’t see the real, full picture of other people, all the hard times and falls, but their beautified (and fake) lives.
As a result, many people who use Facebook can fall into their trap, trying to present their own lives as more glamorous and perfect than they really are. We’ve all seen those “lambo” and “private jet” photos.
But guess what! Those didn’t come from watching other people’s Facebook updates.
Facebook makes you feel like your happiness depends on others.
Usage of Facebook is very dangerous because you can become dependent on others’ validation – that is to say, a constant confirmation from others.
Your happiness should be mainly dependent on the fact that you’re enjoying yourself or not, in a certain situation and not how others feel. For example: if you go out and eat a fantastic meal, you should be happy because you tasted some great food and not because you have over 100 likes on the photo of the meal you’ve posted.
Unfortunately, many people who use social networks tend to receive this kind of attention, which can become a form of addiction.
Facebook doesn’t allow healthy interaction with friends
If you really care about your friends, then you should do more than writing “Happy birthday” on their timeline and liking their last Facebook post.
Social media can’t help you develop or keep true friendships. Facebook interaction is usually very shallow and doesn’t have a real impact on our thoughts of someone as a real friend.
I advise you to spend more time with them in real life or contact them in a more direct and personal way (even a video call can be a good beginning).
Facebook can distract you
Social media often prevents us from paying attention to what’s really going on around us. We’re sure that you’ve gone out for dinner, and your friend was constantly typing something on his phone.
As a result, an unpleasant atmosphere is created, which can lead to a bad night out. It’s really easy to develop this bad habit. It distracts you from taking part in much better and happier moments.
If you’re at a concert and constantly post on Facebook about it, aren’t you, in fact, disrupting the work of a great artist? Or, if you go hiking and keep stopping every once in a while to take a selfie, aren’t you, in fact, missing a chance to enjoy nature and all of its beauties? Think about that.
And I haven’t even mentioned what it does to your online business. Or do I even need to?
I guess you can read between the lines that if your time doesn’t go to your online business, it goes somewhere else, and that time will not grow your business. It’s that simple.
Facebook turns your life into a public one
We’re prone to forgetting almost everything we do on Facebook, but everything we post and like stays there for good.
This can be problematic at the moment when we want to make all of our content private and hidden (from parents or business partners) so that they wouldn’t see the certain aspects of our daily lives.
Even if you limit your posts on Facebook, a question pops up: is it the safest solution now when you’ve already uncovered so much information about your life?
Facebook can make it hard for you to move on with your life
Sometimes, social networks don’t allow us to go on with our lives and forget the bad, unwanted past. The ugly part of that past can be an Ex that you can’t forget easily if you constantly look at photos of him/her with someone else. In order to truly move on, you have to remove all the distractions that are around you.
A final note
In conclusion, here’s what you should remember:
- Facebook posts rarely depict the realness of the world
- The reality is much more chaotic, complex and beautiful
- You’re probably only what you want others to see
- Social networks show only the good side, not the bad or an ugly one
- Time away from your business is time away from growth
- Facebook can be a distraction and distraction is the opposite of focus
Remember that what others post isn’t proof of their happiness and that they live these perfect lives. Of course, some people can openly post about their mess, but it’s only a short term depiction of the events. Photos or videos of 15 seconds cannot encompass the complexity of life and business.
The chaotic emotions of being an entrepreneur and making the best of every day. You don’t see the tough decision on Facebook, and these are made daily, but that’s not for you to see.
Social networks are filtered and constructed versions of reality. So, don’t let your fear of missing out on something destroy your mental health and your free time.
Think about how much you can do – the possibilities are endless, but only when you focus on the right stuff.
