Do you ever feel like you are constantly scrolling social media and don’t want to? That you just do it out of a habit instead of for an actual purpose?

If you ask people why they have social media, they’re responses are usually “to keep up with old friends” or “to stay up to date on events”. I agree, social media is certainly good for this. Let’s be honest with ourselves though, is that actually what we do most of the time on social media? Or do we spend it doom scrolling, comparing ourselves to others, or wasting time?

If you don’t struggle with the pull to be on social media then this article probably isn’t for you. But, if you feel like you want to finally take back control of your life and be more intentional about your social media use, then keep reading.

What is Digital Minimalism?

I think we all know that social media can be a huge time suck. But do you really know what it is costing you? Probably not. I will be honest, I think technology is neutral, but social media is not neutral. Social media is curated to be addictive and to have you spend more time using the platform. Now, that is not to say there are not positives to social media. What I am saying is it is important to understand this concept so you can truly utilize social media to your advantage, rather than be a mindless user.

Now before I dive into the tips for limiting social media, I want you to know that eliminating your social media is an option. I deleted my social media for over 5 years, and honestly, I absolutely loved it. No more thinking “ohh this would be cute for instagram” or posting to make sure I looked like I was having fun. However, after I started my business, I thought it was important for my business to be on social media.

To be honest with you, being back on social media has really been a struggle for me. I want my business be on social, but also I don’t want to be on social. You see this is a problem as solopreneur. Which is why I have made it my mission to learn to utilize social media for intentional use without getting caught up in all the distractions. How can I use social media purposefully without getting distracted by all the other content that comes with it?

If you think deleting your social media is an option for your lifestyle, go do it. I promise you won’t regret it. If you are thinking, yes, I want to cut back, but elimination isn’t what I want. That’s okay too. I want to introduce a concept to you known as Digital Minimalism (coined from the incredible book Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport, an absolutely must read if you want to dive into this idea).

The concept is about being incredibly intentional with your social media. It’s about choosing which social media platforms you really want to use and bring you value to your life. Then eliminating the rest. It is also about setting up systems within your social media use to get what you intended and not be a mindless scroller.

So, if you do decide to stay with your socials, just know, it’s not all or nothing. It’s not I have social media or I don’t - it’s about intentionally setting up your social media for your lifestyle.

Screen Time Management

I think it’s important to take a step back and think what does social media do for YOUR life. Are you using it a way that supports you?

Social media came about so quickly and we never really had a chance to decide if and how it is a tool we want to use. Likely, you haven’t had the chance to truly think about social media and how it will impact your overall life. It’s important to be intentional about your social media use an use it in a way that benefits your life.

Tips for Limiting Social Media

Turn Off Notifications: Probably the easiest barrier for entry in limiting social media use is to turn off notifications. Do you really need to know when people like your post? Or that John just posted to Instagram? I think not. And if you don’t want to turn them all off, at least turn off the types of notifications you don’t care about. For instance, notifications about missed activity? Seriously, who cares. You can see it when you log back on. It is important to be aware that notifications are intended for you to increase your social media use. Turn them off (or limit them) and problem solved! Not to mention they are a huge distraction when it comes to time management and productivity (you can read more about this in Top 5 Time Management Techniques for Productivity)
Time Limits: Adding time limits to apps is a simple way to reduce overall social media use. On your phone, you go into settings and select the amount of time you want to use a specific app (for for a category of apps). It’s about being intentional on how much time you want to spend on social media.
Create No Screen Times: Set specific times of the day when you don’t go on social media. Perhaps, this could be in the early morning or at bedtime. I personally do not use any social media before 8AM and after 9PM. Having even a small amount of time being disconnected is life changing. I would highly, highly recommend not checking it first thing in the morning. When you first wake up, your brain is incredibly susceptible. Inundating it with social media can overwhelm you with unnecessary information and distractions, setting a chaotic tone for the day. Another easy to implement option is no phones during dinner.
Logout or Remove Apps on Phone: If you really want to up the ante, delete social media apps off your phone. I promise you social media becomes a lot less interesting when you can only access from a desktop. Plus, you remove the urge from clicking on the app by habit and scrolling when you don’t intend to. If you feel you aren’t quite ready for that, try logging out of the app and making it a little more inconvenient for yourself. This allows you to be more intentional with logging on, then just logging on due to habit or boredom.
Schedule Screen Time: Another way is to schedule when you use your screen time. Once you know how much time you spend on social media (or want to spend), schedule it into your day. Perhaps an hour in the afternoon or evening is all you want. This method helps decrease the amount of times you go on social media and allows you to enjoy it in a “guilt-free manner”.

Ready to be more intentional with your social media?

To start, check your screen time usage. You probably spend more time than you realize. Knowing your current usage is important for making a change.

Digital Mindfulness Challenge

Looking to challenge your skills? Join the 5 Day Digital Mindfulness Challenge to enhance focus and productivity, reduce social media use, and be intentional with your technology.

Stephanie Bidle

Stephanie is the founder of the The Simplicity Secret, a life coaching and leadership consulting business. Passionate about personal development, organization, and life optimization, she thrives on helping individuals unlock their potential and achieve their dreams. During her downtime, she can often be found on the porch, enjoying a cup of tea and reading a book.

Digital Mindfulness: 5 Tips for Mastering Intentional Social Media Use