5 Reasons You Should Take Social Media Breaks

I was spending every day of the week on social media. Snapchatting, Instagramming, blogging, Tweeting, Pinning, Facebooking, texting, messaging, filming, shooting…something every single day. Doing something on each platform without taking a break. Disconnecting was hard. Even weird?

I assumed that this was part of the gig. What I signed up for. Clearly I wasn’t thinking this
through.

Look, there’s nothing wrong with chipping away every day but sometimes you just need a
break. A social media break.

In fact, I’ve found the days I take my social media break, I’m instantly re-inspired.

I read.

I rest.

I recharge.

To literally put my phone away & disconnect is liberating. It’s freeing. And it makes a
difference in my performance overall.

With that, my exact strategy:

1.) Pick a day & stick with it:

I’m a Sunday girl. For my social media breaks, I pick Sundays always.

There’s something special about Sundays.

It’s almost like everyone on the planet made this silent pact to keep to themselves on Sunday.

Ever notice that?

Like no one’s calling asking for this or that.

Texts are minimal.

So yes, Sunday is my day for my social media breaks typically.

2.) Make it an experience/set the scene:

GET COMFORTABLE. For me this means burning tangerine essential oils. Turning on some bossanova. Taking my dogs on a walk to a nearby coffee shop. Having a good book ready to go ( here I have “How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life” by Scott Adams ). Taking a yoga class in the AM & then coming home, getting in bed, & doing whatever I want.

Regardless, whenever I take a day off completely, I like to learn.

So I pick the books accordingly.

The more I read, the more I know. Reading is one of the most powerful habits you can practice. That’s right, I believe reading is a practice. Sometimes I pick my book days before my social media break day. There’s something exciting about knowing I’ll have a full day to myself to just read & chill.

As you can see, my dogs are always around. Without them my social media break isn’t a real break. I’m so obsessed with Pixy & Boone it’s kind of absurd. They’re my comfort blankets…if you’re wondering: they LOVE a day off from social media too.

As for clothing, keep it as comfortable as possible.

None of that wire bra shit. No lacy thong underwear ( UGH, THE WORST when you’re trying to relax ). And absolutely nothing that’s TOO tight. Yuck.

Comfort is key.

Recently Macy’s sent me some CUTE, CUTE, CUTE Calvin Klein wear. I’m specifically obsessed with this red two piece. Clearly having a huge red moment right now. It’s kind of retro, right? The red bra matches the red underwear & the logo kind of hangs out of the sweats, which is masculine in the best way possible.

Anyway, Calvin Klein is really just the ideal lounge wear because it’s so comfortable & always on trend without being disastrously trendy. Ya so happy shopping! Have fun stalking their lingerie…it’s SO good!

Lastly keep the day to yourself. To really enjoy the whole experience, meditate, be with yourself, & be still.

3.) Put your electronics in another room:

Sometimes I even let my phone just die. If you don’t want your phone to die, FOR SURE put it on ‘silent.’

Letting the phone die is rebellious & I like it. If I could I’d ban chargers in our house for the day.

Always though, wake up & put your phone in another room.
Grab a book & you’re golden.

4.) Plan your posts:

Ok so if you absolutely can’t take a day off ( hey, I’ve been there in my first 5 years ), plan your content ahead of time. There are SO many Apps for this. Edit & schedule your Instagram with Hootsuite. So easy to use. That way you don’t have to worry about posting.
You can use this for Facebook & Twitter as well.

For Snapchat: if you’re DYING to post Snaps on your social media break day…YOU CAN.
HERE’S HOW: simply Snap a bunch of extra Snaps the day before on AIRPLANE MODE. Then in
the morning when you wake up, take it off AIRPLANE MODE & post them live.

Pinterest scheduling can be done with Pingraphy.

Blog posts via WordPress are just the easiest thing in the world to schedule too.

So there, now you really have no excuse.

5.) Keep the momentum going:

PLEASE OH PLEASE don’t try this once & then never do it again.

This is something I’ve been doing for the last six-ish months & it’s changed the game. I swear  I’m more inspired creatively whenever I take a full day off.

Really try this: like take the WHOLE DAY OFF. Whenever I do this I try not to half ass it, I
really commit- you know?

No cheating, peeking, etc!

Here’s the plan guys:

● What day is your social media break day of the week?
● Grab a good book.
● Create an experience you like with music, candles, blankets, ambience.
● Journal, read, rest, sweat, hang out with the dogs, RECHARGE.
● Take the first tiny step by starting this week.
● Rinse & repeat.

As always would love to hear your feedback. Have you tried this? Do you plan on trying this?

Sometimes the littlest things make the biggest difference.

x lauryn

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+ this post is in collaboration with ShopStyle & Macy’s. As always, all opinions are my own.