Once limited to helping us connect with friends, family and classmates, social media has blossomed into a highly innovative and gorgeous nightmare. With a smart device in hand, we can instantly find ourselves scrolling through an assortment of nostalgic memories, reminders of excused racism and cruelty,  makeup trends, clutch life hacks, toxic masculinity, beams of motivation, attacks on our reproductive rights… the list goes on.

There’s always anxiety provoking and unpleasant information in our  faces, especially living in the days of 45. A couple of breaks in between might be nice, no? Our curiosity and love of entertainment can keep us scrolling for days, but  sometimes it can take a toll on us. The things we take in through our senses absolutely have an impact on us, whether we like it or not; whether we’re conscious of it or not

There’s no one right way to unplug, and, no, you don’t need to fast from social media for 3 months. What’s essential is being  purposeful about decreasing the amount of attention you give to your social media outlets and refocusing it on something that will allow you you to be fruitful with your time. Visit that  auntie you haven’t seen in months; curl up with a good book; volunteer with your community or hang out with your mentee. Think of all the other things you could get done when you’re not aimlessly scrolling down your news feed, and chose to do at least one during your social media hiatus.

Unplugging from social media can allow us to center our attention on matters we may have been neglecting or, at the very least, just time to rest and be with our own thoughts.  Sometimes silencing the noise we allow in our mind and spirit is the best form of self-care we can give ourselves. I encourage you to give it a try.

Seppreana Brown, LMSW is a mental health and social justice advocate, and provides clinical guidance in her community by providing consultation support in the realms of mental health, domestic violence and substance use.