Social media addiction is one thing a large percentage of people are battling with, you can’t deny the fact that people stare at their phone screens excessively. A lot of us are now addicted to social media, I’m guilty too. The excitement you get when people likes your pictures when they comment and retweets is actually rewiring your brain to crave Facebook, Twitter and Instagram more.

Recently, there is this Netflix documentary “The Social Dilemma” that has been making rounds on social media. Through interviews with tech experts. Their message is clear, usage of Social media ( Facebook, Instagram, twitter etc) is having an increasingly detrimental effect on humankind. If you’re feeling more and more addicted to social media, that documentary is a healthy reminder of why you should step back a bit from frequent scrolling.

Probably you need a short break or a long one to  combat your social media addiction, here are few ways you can start to disconnect.

1: Turn Off Your Notifications
When your notifications are off you find it easier to concentrate on your daily tasks and not get distracted so easily. Notifications are a constant reminder that something is happening in the online world and you feel like you’re missing out on it.

2: Don’t have your phone by your side while you’re asleep
Place your phone on the other side of the room. If the phone is out of reach, we will be less tempted to check it. It is often an automatic reaction to reach for your phone and scroll through social media in bed.
It is not difficult to see how our phone disrupt our sleep schedules. 45% of people choose to scroll through social media instead of sleep.

3: Leave your phone when you eat.
It’s extremely unpolite to be on phone while you’re out on a date with someone. If you’re eating alone, focus on chewing. Fight with yourself, try to not take phone or look at the desktop. Nobody said it’s easy but It’ll be worth it.

4: Hangout with friends offline.
Try to catch up with friends, go to the cinema. Balling,volunteer or visit your family. If you don’t have friends offline then that is a good time to make new ones.

5: Find other alternatives
Fall back in love with your hobbies, or discover new ones. Set yourself time away from work and your phone to explore and enjoy non-screen based activities, such as arts and crafts, reading or exercising.