Social media has become an integral part of modern-day life. Through the various platforms available such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter and its likes, we create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content. For some of us, it is our workspace.

Although, there can be a lot of positives and upsides to it. It helps us to stay connected especially with those we don’t see often.

Here are signs you might need to take a break or limit your social media visit

1. If social media is the first thing you reach out to once you are awake in the morning and the last thing you check at night, you probably should rethink your relationship with it.

A study found that 80% of smartphone users checked their phones within 15 minutes of waking up. This habit has been linked to increased stress and anxiety, not to mention it hijacks your time and attention (and probably makes you late).

Looking at your phone before bed has also been shown to stimulate your brain, making it more difficult to fall asleep.

2. When you solely depend on social media for validation or self-worth, you need a break. 

You can’t enjoy whatever you’re doing without notifying your followers or posting about it first.

You went to a hotel, wedding, dinner, your first post about it even before sitting down with #hoteldates, #weddingthings, #dinner dates. Then when you sit, the next thing to do is to check people’s reactions to your post, their likes and comments. Take a break!

3. You scroll, click mindlessly and you can’t stop doing it, you need a break.

You end up on social media without even realizing it, it could be an indicator that you’re becoming too absorbed. 

4. You believe that people on social media have the best life and are faring far better than you are. When the feeling of inadequacy, low self-esteem, dissatisfied steps in, and you begin to compare your life to that of others, you need to retrace your steps.

You see, people hardly post the dark sides of their lives, like failures, divorces, hardships, unsuccessful applications, etc, they only post the bright side as though that’s all it is to live. Dear, life has its own challenges too and everyone has a portion of it.

Funnily enough, the post might even come when you are having a difficult time. Remember nobody has it perfect.

5. You can’t make the shortest trip without your phone, you start to get separation anxiety. You can’t imagine not having your phone within arm’s length, that a worrying sign, do something about it. 

Has this helped you in any way, we would be glad to hear from you.