This Is What Happens When You Experience Social Media Burnout

Social media burnout is a real thing. If you have been checking Facebook while driving, at restaurants, or every time you wake up at night, then maybe it’s time to put the phone down. We’ve all been a little tired of social media at times. Other times the temptation to live in a cabin in the woods with no WiFi is real. And maybe you’ve wanted to go back to simpler times, when there were fewer choices, but more in-person experiences.

It’s Addictive

You can’t really blame yourself too much. We all have that fear of missing out. And all the social media platforms are fun in their own right. Whether we’re sharing pretty pictures on Instagram, or pinning recipes for chocolate cake on Pinterest, it’s easy to let a few hours go by without a second thought. And then you look up and think, “where did the afternoon go?” or worse, “where did my day go?”

The Downside

There’s always a downside, isn’t there? Here’s what Mark D. Griffiths’ writes in his article Addicted to Social Media?

“Because social media is most frequently accessed via smartphones, their usage is intimately intertwined and their mobile nature contributes to excessive checking habits, which often derives from what is commonly labelled as the ‘fear of missing out’ (FOMO).”

He goes on to say that the good news is that it’s not really an addiction (for most people), but a habit. And habits can be broken more easily than addictions.

Time Management

Limiting how much time you spend on social media is a goal many have, but few actually achieve. Because of its addictive nature, social media is like New York City, the city that never sleeps. But there is hope. First, have your mantra ready. At the moment, mine is “post and get out.” And yes, it’s possible to spend an hour or less per day on social media interacting and posting.  Perhaps you might like this post: How to Face and Overcome “One More Thingitis” Six Ways.

Don’t Quit Altogether

Before you delete all your social media accounts, there are other things you can do instead. On Facebook, you know how if you unfollow someone, Facebook asks if you’d rather just take a break? This is kinda like that. Because if you quit, later you may wish you hadn’t!

Switch Platforms

Often, when I say I’m tired of social media, it means that I’m tired of one platform and the stuff people are posting there. Right now, for me, it’s Facebook. So I simply spend less time there, and move to another platform. If you like Instagram or Twitter more than Pinterest or Facebook, go to your favorite place.

Get Back to Nature

Have a Change of Scenery and get outside. This works well for quite a few people. In fact, forest bathing has become all the rage. Here’s an excellent article you might like: Forest Bathing is Good for Your Health: Here’s How to Do it. The upside is that forest bathing is the bridge between us and the natural world.

How Do You Overcome Burnout?

Leave me a comment and thank you!