Why you might want to consider quitting social media

Social media is riddled with contradictions. It can be fun but also infuriating. It can make you feel less alone, but also trigger feelings of isolation and inadequacy. And can we talk about the trolls? If you’re spending a lot of time on social media, or on your phone in general, it can be hard to imagine life without it. However, there are plenty of reasons to consider taking a break from endless scrolling. If you’re ready to take the plunge, here are some things to expect when you take a break from social media.
You’ll get more work done, and you’ll do it faster

When you don’t have to worry about your devices buzzing left and right, you could find your productivity levels shooting through the roof. “The thing about social media is that it constantly interrupts us,” says Joanne Cantor, PhD and author of the book Conquer CyberOverload. “When we stop ourselves to check social media, again and again, it really becomes another form of multitasking, and multitasking makes whatever you do take longer, and you do it in an inferior way.” In fact, the American Psychological Association estimates that trying to juggle multiple tasks at once – such as clicking back and forth between Facebook and an important project – may reduce your productive time by as much as 40 percent. That’s a high price to pay for a few likes and comments.
You’ll get your creative juices flowing

If you find yourself stuck in a creative block, it might have something to do with your social media habits. Cantor says the key to an imaginative mind is taking breaks every now and then while you work with something other than social media. “Having that social media in the background and calling to you and asking you things interferes with your creativity,” Cantor says. By giving up social media entirely, you rid yourself of these nagging notifications and allow your creativity to flourish.