how to create a balance between social media and the actual time spent with others physically
How many of you have counted the number of hours you spend on social media? Probably not many. Each one of us spends an average of 2 hours and 30 minutes on social media every day. Since we spend about 6 to 8 hours at school daily in classes, sports, and clubs, we don’t have that much time away from school to interact face-to-face. This is a problem that every teen has to deal with today. The time spent on social media could be used to hang out together without relying on the internet to connect. This is crucial—none of us should end up like my old school mate who had to spend several weeks in rehabilitation because social media had taken over his life. We must learn how to create a balance between social media and the actual time spent with others physically.
To avoid addiction to social media, we must organize our free time better. Every activity needs to be timetabled and done at the set time. Try to come up with a set period in the day when you use social media, but limit the time and respect that limit. I’m not suggesting that you set an actual timer, but that you use common sense when it comes to your online presence. Make an effort to spend those precious free hours doing things with friends and family. Pull out a game of Scrabble or Monopoly and enjoy each other’s company for a change.
Of course, self-discipline is crucial, as we have been dependent on devices since we were toddlers. To develop self-discipline in the way we use our phones, we have to understand that they are only tools. Tools are used to solve specific problems, and so when a device is used only when needed, and for its true purpose, then it cannot be abused. We should develop the discipline to use social media wisely. When discipline is combined with setting time, it will be easier to avoid excess phone usage.
Therefore, making friends, family, and other activities a priority can help prevent excessive use of social media or devices. For instance, it is common today to see people going out for dinner yet spending most of that time on their phones. If friends and family are a priority, then put your phone away and give them your total attention. Similarly, if it is study time or bedtime, focus on the studies or your sleep—don’t let social media interfere with that.
Creating a balance between the time we spend on social media and time spent on other things is crucial. To do so, we should limit the social media time, control how we use our social media, and prioritize what is most important. The only way to create a balance between our use of social media and our engagement in real life is by taking these three steps and recognizing just how important it is to talk to each other.