As mental health has come to the forefront of many conversations in the last few years, it's no secret that we are in a mental health crisis in America and worldwide. What is to blame? Could it be too much social media? Well, research suggests so! We must know when it's time to step back and take a break from social media for our mental health's sake!

Here are 7 Signs that It's time to take a break from social media!

Listen, friends, I know telling people to take a break from social media can seem rude, and that's not how I want this article to come off at all. As you read, if something in this article makes you feel "attacked," just know, I'm here in the same boat with you!

One of the reasons I am writing this article is because I know firsthand this struggle! In my life, time management, being present with family, my mental health regarding confidence, and even my sleep patterns are all deeply impacted by social media.

These are the 7 Signs I've used in my own life to know when it's time to take a break from social media!

7 Signs you need a break from social media!

#1. You are more unproductive than usual.

We've all been there; when you look at your to-do list that's a mile long and realize you had 8 hours to get it done, and you completed maybe one! Feeling disillusioned, you look down, and there's a notification that your screen time is up this week by 12%! Sad, disappointed, frustrated, and rushed are just some of the emotions we feel when that happens.

If your to-do list keeps getting pushed off til next week, if you're running a little too close to deadlines, but you still find time to scroll social media to watch a guy you don't even know make chicken wings in an air fryer, maybe it's time to take a break from social media.

Being unproductive and putting off tasks will eventually compound and cause great damage to your mental health!

#2.You pick up your phone and start scrolling before you even roll out of bed in the mornings.

Ugh, this one is so hard for me. I have tried seemingly everything in my power to stop picking up my phone in the mornings, but it's so tempting. You check the time, see a notification, and think, "i'll just check this one," and before you know it, you're 45 minutes into everyone's back-to-school pics of their kids!

Maybe you intended to wake up and pray, to get ready for work early, to drink coffee alone without a toddler pulling on your leg to fix a toy, or maybe you wanted to work out. Whatever the case, you now have 45 minutes less time than you did when you opened your eyes.

The average time spent on social media daily is nearly two and a half hours! 

If you're anything like me, mornings are sacred. They are my most productive time of the day. If I find myself picking up my phone before dressing, drinking coffee, or praying, I use that as a cue to know that it's time to step back for a while.

#3. You mindlessly scroll when any moment of silence or downtime arises.

This is much like the last point but different in that there are tons of little moments each day where we can sit, ponder, brainstorm, dream, pray, whatever brings us peace, and we often choose social media instead.

When you find yourself after a few swipes of the finger thinking, "I really should be doing something else," or "I'm not sure why I'm on here," then you are probably in a place where a social media break would be good for you.

Mindless scrolling leads to mindless living and those days go by quickly, and we can't ever get them back.

#4. You are more critical of yourself than ever before.

I've said this quote probably a million times since I heard it years ago, but it bears mentioning here. "Stop comparing your whole life to someone else's highlight reel!" (I have no idea who said this, but they were brilliant!)

It's so true. We cannot help but compare ourselves to others as we constantly see their smiling faces, elaborate Pinterest parties, and completion of the marathon they've been training for, all while having three kids under 5!

We look at her, pull our phones down, and gaze at the pile of clothes on the sofa, toys on the floor, and the empty Dorito bag next to us. Suddenly, we feel less than.

What we don't know is how stressed she was getting her kids to smile for a photo, how much financial stress that Pinterest party really was, or if maybe she ate a bag of Doritos and had a couch full of laundry while training for that marathon.

If you're comparing yourself to others and being super critical of your life, that's a massive sign that you need to take a break from social media!

#5. Your sleep is being affected.

I won't harp on this one much. A study by The Sleep Foundation found that adults between 18-65 need around 7-9 hours per night of sleep for their health. 

If you find yourself staying up too late scrolling on your phone, that is a huge red flag that you need to take a break from social media, even if it's just for a few hours before bedtime!

#6. Your kids often try to get your attention, and you realize you have to put your phone down to talk to them. 

Don't get me wrong; I think every mom and dad deserves to unwind and enjoy some downtime when they get home from a busy day or have a day off on the weekends. I agree with anyone that might use that as an argument for being on the phone while their kids are present. However, there is a time when we all do a little too much scrolling and a lot less of being present with our kids.

The keyword here is "often." Asking yourself how frequently your kids are demanding your attention and you are getting annoyed by it is a sobering thing to do. If "often" is "too much," it might be time to break away from social media for a while.

We will NEVER regret putting our phones down for our kids' last few hours before bed! We will blink, and they will have grown up, and we will wish to hear them call out for "mommy" or "daddy" just one last time!

#7. You and your significant other spend all your alone time sitting next to each other on your phones. 

Many people may not remember what it was like to be married in the "dark ages" before social media was super popular, but I do. I've been married since 2007.

Although smartphones and Facebook existed, neither was much of a priority in my life. I remember sitting for hours, talking to my husband before bed, and then falling asleep. Now, with all the distractions of social media, what once came naturally to us has had to become more intentional than ever.

Anytime I turn my head from my phone to see my husband also on his phone for too many nights in a row, I'll consciously think to myself, "I think it's time for a break, I'm missing so much of our marriage in this moment."

Now more than ever, we need to unplug and reconnect with our loved ones. Anytime we start to place more value on things such as programs or apps than on the people God has placed in our lives to love, we miss the mark, and our mental health will suffer. We were not created for virtual relationships but for real ones.

These have been the 7 signs that you should take a break from social media!

I hope you enjoyed this article! Did you see yourself in any of the points? If so, which ones? Let me know in the comments below!

Don't forget to check out some of our other incredible articles on Goodbye Anxious before you leave!

Saying Goodbye to Anxious,

Kristina G.