Have you ever found yourself checking your Instagram notifications before you even roll out of bed? Trying desperately to get the perfect family photo while on vacation rather than actually enjoying it? Feeling less worthy because you’re stuck comparing yourself to others on social media? I’ll be the first to admit, I have. And you know what, that’s ok! Because it’s exactly what I needed to prompt me to take a social media detox.
There’s no doubt that social media has become a huge part of modern life. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok can help us stay connected with friends, discover new destinations, learn a new skill, or draw inspiration. However, it can also create a false sense of reality and leave you feeling anxious or dissatisfied. And with it being accessible at our fingertips 24/7, it can make it hard to disconnect.
In fact, according to a research study in 2018, ‘68% of US adults obtained their news from social media’. [1] Crazy, right? And although it has a large influence on our lives, it’s important to recognize it’s merely a small, curated sample of the whole picture.