Why You Shouldn't Do a Social Media Cleanse

I’m sure you’ve heard a million times that deleting social media for a period is healthy and a good way to cleanse your life. As someone who is basing her future career around social media, I fully disagree with these recommendations.

While I do believe it’s beneficial to pick up a book every once in a while and spend some time in the sun every day, social media is not what’s holding you back from doing these things.

I am an avid media user, whether that be through socials, news, or television. My goal is to work in Sports Marketing and push the brands of individual teams (hopefully in the WNBA, but we’ll see). So, it’s kind of ingrained in me to see the benefits of social media. I could scroll TikTok all day; I love the look of a clean Instagram feed full of aesthetic archives, and I even keep up with my friends through the long-lost Snapchat. It’s clear that the world today thrives off media; the largest news stories stem from social media, sports information is relayed through Instagram and Twitter (X) more than sports networks, and even politics are more in-depth on TikTok than they are during live debates. If you think about it, the idea of a social media cleanse literally came from social media itself.

Hearing my steady use of social media may steer you to assume I’m lazy, unmotivated, or don’t spend my days productively. This couldn’t be further from the truth. I start my days early and spend them completing task after task until the last one is checked off. And yet, I still find time to scroll endlessly. My point in bringing this up is to say that if your reason for cleansing yourself of social media is to become more productive, it’s just not necessary.

Productivity is a mindset. If you aren’t motivated to do the things you need to get done, it doesn’t really matter if you have a couple of extra apps on your phone or not. Here are a few things that have nothing to do with social media that I think could improve your productivity.

The Power of a Morning Routine

I have found that waking up any time before 8 A.M. greatly increases my productivity. On days when I sleep later, I feel like most of my day is wasted. Breakfast is a recent addition to my morning routine. I used to never eat breakfast, but I’ve recently found that it really improves my mood throughout the day and makes me more motivated to do tasks. This isn’t a must, but I find it motivating to get up and get moving. Getting in some physical activity after waking up boosts my energy and puts me in a good mindset. This isn’t for everyone, so just focusing on getting up and having that time to yourself in the morning can really improve your productivity.

Sleep!

While waking up early works for me, getting the right amount of sleep is even more important. I’ve found that getting 6-8 hours is my sweet spot. Some people need more, some people can function on less. If your schedule ends later in the night, get those 8 hours even if it has you waking up later the next day. A good night’s rest is the best way to wake up and feel productive.

Positivity is Key

It’s easy, especially as college students, to fall into a negative headspace. Surrounding yourself with people and activities that make you happy is a great way to stay motivated. I try to see my friends every day, or at least whenever I can, to keep myself engaged with the world around me and give myself that daily dose of social interaction. I also take daily walks and recently started getting back into running because I find it keeps me positive. Doing something, even if it’s small, every day to keep your positivity up can keep you motivated and improve your productivity.

Creative Benefits

Social media can be a creative outlet for anyone who knows how to use it right. TikTok is a platform that I think gets a lot of hate but is so much more than how it’s being used. In my experience, TikTok encourages creativity through video, editing, photography, and even influence. I love making ‘day in the life’ videos as well as watching them and think they are one of the many creative ways to interact with the world and your friends/followers. I also learn a lot from TikTok, anything from helpful lifestyle tips to life-changing news stories. Instagram is another amazing resource for creativity. Once upon a time, I had a photography “passion” and Instagram was a great way to get inspiration and learn more about the art of a picture. I personally use Instagram as a creative outlet through the organization and visual aesthetic of my feed. Being able to create a flow of pictures from my life that all go together like a collage is something I really enjoy.

 Not only does social media promote creativity and spread information faster than wildfire, but it’s also a great way to influence and advocate. Influencers get a bad rap, and while it’s not something I could ever pursue, it’s actually an important position that impacts a lot of our day-to-day lives. Sometimes, those with large platforms use it to spread negative things, but those who are truly passionate about their job often use their platform to advocate for important things happening worldwide. And we can learn a lot from their mistakes without having to go through our own possible public humiliation. 

I could go on and on about the benefits of social media, but the most important thing I can tell you is that social media is not what’s holding you back. It was created to help us progress and learn, so that’s exactly what we should use it for. I use social media every single day and couldn’t imagine a life where I didn’t have access to such a universal tool. If you find yourself tied down by social media, perhaps you just need to change your mindset surrounding it. Instead of seeing social media as a problem, start seeing it as an opportunity to learn, create, and connect.

Be Well, Auburn.