Social media is great. It allows us to express ourselves through words, images, and videos. It provides an easy way to keep in touch with friends, and it can enlighten us with great articles and information. However, too much social media can become problematic. If we spend too much time typing away on our phones, debating on the perfection captions, the best lighting, and the exact time to post, we become overinvolved and distracted in virtual reality rather than focusing on what is happening in the actual world around us. Taking a break from social media for a few days can be somewhat refreshing for a few reasons:

1. Taking a social media break has the same cleansing effect as a vacation.

Who doesn’t love time away? By taking a few days off from Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, we are able to clear our minds. We can focus on ourselves, rather than the others we follow. There is no stress, no FOMO, and no responsibility to religiously check any updates.

2. A break allows us to garner a greater appreciation for social media.

When we don’t have something that is usually a part of our everyday lives, we notice its absence. When we eventually return to that something, we are able to appreciate it a little more because we now know what it is like not to have it. When we cleanse ourselves of social media, then return, we can read more carefully, pay attention to image details, and appreciate the free flow of information much better.

3. A break will give you more free time.

Those ten minutes you use to check your phone when you wake up will now be replaced by ample time to think, breathe, meditate, or maybe even pray. By taking away social media for a few days, we can allow ourselves to involve our minds in other activities. It is good to have variety, and maybe with this time we can learn a little bit more about our thoughts and inner selves.

Social media is a wonderful tool; however, too much of it can leave us out of touch with reality. By taking a few days or even weeks to remove ourselves from the pages and postings, we can become more in touch with ourselves, our surroundings, and inner thoughts. Social media cleanses are refreshing and these are just of a few of the reasons as to why you should consider trying one.