Social Media Procrastination

Zoning out

This is when my brain is dead. I am tired / exhausted and just want to not think for a while. I turn to social media to switch off for a bit.

Instead I have come up with some other activities that allow my subconscious to take over, that are more healthy for me:

• Play ukulele

• Go skate / Exercise

• Clean the house

When picking an activity, I am looking for something I am good, I can do largely subconsciously. Something I don't need to think and/or uses a different part of my brain. Something that is healthy for me that can be considered practice and/or self care.

Looking for Connection

While using social media for connection is not always bad, often it can provide so little that I invest more time into it than it is worth. Things including 'likes' and comments on photos is an example of small amounts of connection.

The first question I ask myself here is: why do I need connection?

For me, this is most likely it is because I have not gone outside and spoken to anyone today. Particularly in the world of social distancing.

So maybe organize lunch with someone, an activity after work or just give someone a call. I find hugs helpful in these moments.

Feeling "Productive"

Sometimes being on social media can feel productive. Like you are contributing to your online profile, networking or something else. This is not always the case.

I think the big question I need to ask myself in this case is Why are you not doing something actually productive?

Often I am facing a particularly difficult challenge that I don't have energy to face. In this case, move onto something else or treat this as a time to Zone out

Escapism

Sometimes it can be because I have something on my mind that is simply to draining to keep thinking about. Perhaps a tough problem I am working on, or something negative I don't have energy for. This is a really important one, as I think this is often what has the largest negative consequences.

For this I find the best thing to do is to get those things off my mind.

I do this by writing the draining thoughts down somewhere. Perhaps a Diary Entry, or a To-Do list.

Force of Habit

I most often end up on social media out of habit. It is just what I do when I am not actively thinking of what I should do.

What is triggering the habit?

Figure out what subconsciously triggers this habit, and try to recognise and stop it when it is happening. It is likely one of the others: Zoning Out, Escapism, Productive, Validation

I find it helpful to turn off all notifcations, kill my newsfeed and uninstall some apps