Is social media taking up too much of your time?

Do you find that all the scrolling, clicking, and liking leaves you feeling empty?

If so, you are not alone. I just read that the average American spends 37 minutes per day on Facebook. 37 minutes doesn’t seem like a lot but honestly it adds up quickly. Based on my calculator (cuz I am not naturally gifted in math )...37 mins per day x 7 days a week = 4.3 hours Per Week, which equals 17.2 hours per month = which turns into 207 hours per year. 207 hours which equals 5.17 in turn 5 FULL days or if you think in the sense of a 9-5= 25 FULL 8HR WORKDAYS PER YEAR.

That's almost an entire MONTH of work per year that could be dedicated to your goals NOT to mindlessly scrolling. What could you do with 25 extra 8 hour workdays per year? How much closer would you be as it relates to your goals?

If you want to get your social media habit under control, try these tips for decluttering your feeds:

Start with a Digital Detox

If you are used to checking your social media frequently, cutting back can be a major challenge. Instead or trying to go cold turkey try taking a break for a day at a time. If it feels tempting like you will want to check the app consider deleting it all together for the time being. After a few days away from social media, you may realize you don’t need it in your life after all. You may even noticed how productive and focused you feel in your life.

Pay Attention to How Posts Make You Feel

There are some amazing benefits to using social media like connecting with family and friends or growing a business. The problem is there is also research that says being on social media can increase depression, anxiety and stress. One thing I often do is make sure I follow people that feed my growth. It is imperative to connect with people who do not make you feel worse about yourself. You want to instead follow and connect with people who inspire you, who make you think, and who give you a moment of joy, humour, or thoughtfulness.

If a certain profile stirs up negative feelings – whether it’s the beautiful influencer, someone else famous or even a family member or friend consider deleting and muting the account.

Limit Your Social Media Time

As well as unfollowing profiles and people that cause you stress, review and reflect the time you spend on social media. A lot of smart phones will give you a weekly overview of the hours you spent online.If you look at that and it makes you disappointed you should consider deciding on a time  that you’re allowed to spend on social media – ten to fifteen minutes once or twice a day is reasonable – and stick to it. The problem is you have to be strong enough to pull yourself off when the time comes because it can become a black hole for sure. What you will see as social media starts to take up less of your time you will be able to make real connections and even consider new hobbies instead.

While we know what we should do as it relates to social media it can be extremely challenging to actually do it. Be patient with yourself as you begin to incorporate some of these strategies into your life. You will be grateful you did.