Social Media Detox: All You Need To Know

Life is all about making the best out of it. But, only if you can witness the world with your naked eyes and not through your phone screens.

Social media detox is a process of conscious elimination of social media and its consumption. It is about putting a pause to the excessive use of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other apps.

Social media Detox tour is essential to save our precious time and deteriorating our health. Technology has served us enormously, and it has created platforms through which we are all able to connect better. But, at what cost?

The Need for Social Media Detox

Whether in-home or at the workplace, we see people stuck to their phones. Whether between family time or work, phones and laptops pop-ups are the greatest distractions.

Recent research shows that over half of the world's population is now on social media, increasing 9% over 2018. Furthermore, social media addiction has influenced and shaped brains in many negative ways.

People know about drug detox, but there is also something known as social media detox. Social media is the kingpin. Today even if you are talking to someone, your mind remains stuck on notifications from Instagram, Facebook, and the list goes on. People are getting more attached to the social media world than the real.

There's no denying the fact that social media has become a massive part of our life. It is hampering team's productivity, increasing absenteeism and lowering performances.

Hence, social media detox is the only way out. Creating a social media-free space in the office should be a top priority for every HR today.

Read: 78 Social Media Detox Quotes To Refuel Your Well-being At Work

5 Perks of Practicing Social Media Detox

"You only lose what you cling to."
– BUDDHA.

Apps like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp can be distracting and can make one lose focus on work. It influences us to overlook and lose touch with real-life connections. It is good to take a break from social media, for how long you do it.

Using social media at the workplace can cause a distraction by reducing the attention span of workers. Social Media tends to exhibit a bitter picture of reality, making people feel inferior when they can't measure up to it.

Here are some of the key reasons to avoid social media by employees while in a workplace;

1. Helps Build Better Relationships

Avoiding social media can amplify positive emotions and vibrational energy. It helps one to initiate more intellectual conversations at office. People love to work at a place where they can connect in a more meaningful way.

Therefore, instead of wasting time on social media, start improving your relationship with your surroundings for better personal and professional life.

2. Boosts Self-Confidence

Communication is the key. Working in a strict environment can be stressful. And, social media is one of the contributors to it.

Initiate, inspire and connect more with the real world. It boosts spiritual well-being and confidence to face critical problems.

3. Enhances Mindful Behaviours

Instead of using social media apps in your free-time, try mindfulness. It can make employees more aware and receptive and problems. Mindful behaviors are vital as boost happiness levels, and help reduces depression.

Also read - 105 Mindfulness Quotes For Employee Health And Wellness

4. Promotes A Well-Balanced Life

Finding more time for yourself even in the office is necessary. When you detach from social media platforms, the workplace becomes more inviting and inspiring. It allows employees to grow and connect more with the fellow peers.

Related: 81 Self-Motivation Quotes To Balance A Perfect Professional And Personal Life

5. Reduces Stress

When you start being emotionally present at work, you feel uplifted all day long. For mental wellbeing is crucial at the workplace. Social media causes distractions and signifanctly lead to cognitive well-being issues.

Also, there are many other disadvantages of using social media in the workplace. So, listen to music, laugh, try journalling, read books and you will see the difference in you within a short period of time.

Also Read: 21 Ideas For Positive Thinking At Work

6 Ways to implement Social Media Detox in Workplaces

"Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation. There are going to be priorities and dimensions of your life; how you integrate them is how you find true happiness."
– Denise Morrison (CEO, Campbell Soup)

Have you ever wondered how much time you spend scrolling your media screens? And, why, instead of initiating conversation with your co-workers, you prefer to lay back to your phone.Socialization is a skill that needs to be enhanced, especially for one's professional growth.

Better workplace culture can only be cultivated with employees sharing the same energy level. And for that, workplaces must emphasize implementing policies that keep employees engaged.

Here are some measures that can be taken up by the HR’s for their workplace to inspire;

1. Encourage Real-Time Conversation Over Online

Covid-19 is highly responsible for the major changes in the workplace culture. Skype and zoom calls have taken over the conference room meetings. But, it's time to bring back the culture of face-to-face brainstorming and meeting sessions.

This is how the dependence on laptops and phones will reduce. It will increase the commingling with co-workers, enhancing intellectual wellness.

Also, conducting games during the breaks will help employees keep their phones aside and enjoy the real-time engagement.

2. Motivate Workplace Yoga

Sitting all day long in front of computer screens can be unhealthy. It can cause back pain, neck strain, and shoulder stiffness, hindering productivity.

Workplace Yoga can reduce this problem. It will help employees to get relief from pain and other physical and mental health issues. Try breathwork, fluid movements, and stretches. It will lessen stress and make one relax by increasing energy levels and boosting productivity.

Related: 13 Mindfulness Meditation Exercises To Improve Your Employees Well-being

3. Conduct Workplace Games

"Let's play a game!" is a spirit that must be cultivated to avoid on-screen habits. Games are a fundamental way through which humans interact and learn.

It is essential to introduce indoor games at the workplace. Indoor Games like darts, pool, puzzle games, etc which will help employees escape digital mediums.

4. Make A Creative Corner

A corner with books, journals, and magazines will help keep up with the employees' interests and knowledge. Include whiteboards and pens or markers, encourage team members to put quotes, write thoughts, and create creative space.

21st-century skilled workforce likes to keep a well-balanced life. They love to enjoy life and work together like office outings, fun fridays, sports events, etc. So why not build a workplace that encourages both. Afterall, these are the things that enhance one's social skills and improve overall well-being.

Also Read: 12 Brilliant Benefits of Reading on Employee Wellness and Performance at work

5. Think About A Green Workspace

Nature has the power to soothe the mind, body, and soul, especially the eyes.
At the workplace, it is essential to distract the eyes from the computer screen once in a while. Constantly looking at the screens puts a lot of pressure on the eyes, contributing to visual problems, headaches, etc.

A green workspace can be a great gateway. A biophilic work environment is a contemporary solution to the employees' traditional health and well-being problems.

Also, try to take atleast 10 minutes of a mindfulness break during work hours to relax and settle down.

6. Encourage To Take '30 Days Challenge'

Studies have shown a positive impact on people by taking up 30-day challenges. The University of Copenhagen measured the wellbeing of people before and after a one-week break from Facebook.

It demonstrated that the gap is an effective measure with positive impacts on mental health. Similarly, the study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania revealed an increasing amount of loneliness and depression among participants who extensively used social media. It can help reduce workplace stress.

Also Read: 11 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Techniques For Employees At Work

Unplug to unwind

"Social media can be bad for you, and a break from it is not a bad idea"
– Vantage Fit.

Sometimes, steer competition and strict deadlines, and the race to surpass everyone else, these factors have made us less empathetic towards our surroundings. And, as a result we tend to shift to our phones and scroll our feeds. Shifting the mind towards the virtual world can be harmful.

One needs to disconnect from social media to stay more connected to the real world. It's time we put our phones down and look around.