Checking into your social media accounts could be a daily occurrence for you, or perhaps it is something you do morning, noon and night, or even every hour. Everybody uses social media in different ways, but how do you know if you're using it too much? When is enough simply enough? If any of the below signs apply to you, then you should seriously consider stepping back from social media and reevaluating how much time you spend immersed in your digital life.
Finding Out Too Much About Your Social Network Friends
Keeping up to date on what your friends are doing and finding out about upcoming weddings and so on can be a useful advantage of social media, if done in moderation. If you find yourself trawling through your friends, friends of friends, work colleagues and vague acquaintances profiles prolifically then take a step back. You do not need to know so much about a person's life, and it will distract you from concentrating on your own life.
Caring More About Your Friends Lives Than Your Own
If you are overwhelmed by feelings of jealousy and envy when you look through your news feed then you should definitely log off for a while. Seeing an old friend is engaged can subconsciously affect you and make you unhappy with your own relationship status. The problem here is that you should be putting all the effort into creating what you want from life, not getting upset with what other people have.
Compulsively Uploading Updates of Daily Habits and Chores
Are you one of those people that has to check in everywhere they go, to the chemist, supermarket, dentist, doctor, cafe and so on? Then you need to delete those social media apps from your phone. Same goes if you find yourself spending too much extra time preparing a meal or decorating cake just so you can snap it and share on social media. You should not make decisions about your life, where you go and what you do because it "looks good" on social media.
Feeling Anxious When You're Without Your Smartphone
If you're constantly wrapped up in what is happening on the screen of your phone and can't stand to be without it then there is a problem. You'll begin missing out on what is happening around you, real-life conversations and connections. Learn to live without your phone before it is too late.
Kevin Deegan is CTO of ON.com, a people discovery engine.