We all know that our social media presence can sometimes

seem like our entire existence. Sayings like “It’s not official if it’s not Facebook” and the expectation to maintain some sort of social media profile have turned us into a generation that invests more time into posting about life instead of actually living life. 

Think about how irrationally angry we become in an otherwise beautiful area that doesn’t have cell service or Wi-Fi because this means that, for a certain period of time, we feel disconnected. Social media has evolved from a leisurely communication source into a tool that can give us a world of information on almost anyone right at our fingertips. 

But has that world of information compacted on a tiny screen kept us from interacting with the world around us? It’s time to have the “it’s not you, it’s me” talk with your social media profiles and although it may be difficult at first, the benefits will be worth it.     

1. Feel less lonely, envious, and jealous (or other negative emotions)

Think of a profile page as a storefront window display for a person. They fill it up with pictures of them at fun events and exotic locations because they’re trying to show themselves in their best light. You see this and start to think that their life is some how better than yours based on the events they decide to highlight. But they’re just that: highlights. Unplugging from the constant pictures and status updates can make you feel better because you’ll stop comparing your life to others and really cherish the moment.   

2. Less FOMO 

Ah, the dreaded fear of missing out. We’re flooded with a constant stream of notifications about what others are doing and think that we’re being left out. We’re constantly reminded about everything happening around us and feel like we’re supposed to be a part of every seemingly exciting thing. Breaking up with social media can help you to feel content with your present moment rather than feeling anxiety over trying to find the next big event.  

3. Connect more 

It may sound backwards to disconnect in order to connect more but hear me out. Social media fulfills our human need to connect with other people but, ironically, can take away from our ability to genuinely connect with other people. Instead of actually checking up on someone, we can easily go to their Facebook page and get a mini preview of what they’ve been up to without ever saying a word to them. Disconnecting can help you to have better and deeper conversations with others rather than merely skimming the surface.    

4. Less consumption, more creation 

Most of our time spent on social media is spent consuming. We play games, view videos, read articles, and share them but spend less time thinking, creating, engaging, and cultivating our passions. Social media can help the creative process but it’s important not to let it hinder the process all together. You have plenty of unique ideas and contributions that can be better accessed once you unplug.    

Life is happening right in front of us but we deprive ourselves of the beauty of it by being overly invested in maintaining a certain social media persona. Being aware of the problem is the first step towards fixing it. Don’t let your social media become an overly attached lover, in constant need of attention and over shadowing all of life’s beautiful moments. 

Have a happy New Year!