In the digital age that we live in now, it’s hard to escape the looming presence of social media. As the giants of Facebook and Twitter burn to the ground thanks to their respective CEOs, the constant wave of toxicity radiating from almost all social media platforms can be too much for some people. However, it’s hard to stay away from it, especially when there is no incentive to do so.
If you’ve been looking for some alternatives to just reloading the same old news feed every twenty minutes, then we’ve got you covered. Here are a few things you can do instead of using social media.
Touch Grass
It may sound demeaning or has been recommended too much, but going out helps. Touching grass is just a phrase that means you should leave your room or your house. Simply interacting with the real world instead of viewing it through your phone is already a great change of pace. Simply going out to a park, mall, or even an amusement park is a great way to make new memories. Take it a step further by going somewhere new that you’ve longed to go to; this can be a new store or a new country – the choice is yours.
Of course, if you are really uncomfortable with leaving your safe space, baby steps would do just fine. Stepping outside for a few minutes to clear your thoughts before going back in is great. Don’t force yourself.
In Person Meet Up
If you’re already chatting with your friends over social media, why not host an in-person one? Chatting on the phone or laptop is convenient, but it cannot replace real human interaction. Try to avoid movies, as you want to interact with them as best you can, or else you just replace one screen for an even bigger one. On that train of thought, this doesn’t necessarily have to be in the outside world.
These little get-togethers can be hosted in your friends’ homes; you can play board games, gossip, or just have a few drinks with them. You can start making core memories just like that. Do take note that conflicts in your schedule are bound to arise; some simply can’t go, or emergencies will just pop up when you least expect them. It can’t be helped, really. Just always make room for next time; you can even schedule these meetings and turn them into monthly or weekly things so you may enjoy the company of your friends consistently.
Fiddling With Something Else
Be honest: you’ve experienced times when you’re just mindlessly scrolling through your feed and hoping that something might just catch your eye, right? If that’s the case, then try doing something else with those hands (however you interpret that is on you, not us; just saying). Sometimes, you just have to take your mind off things, and the best way to do this is to focus on something else.
Try activities that will take up your full attention and concentration, like puzzles or painting. Whatever can help your brain forget social media and whatnot would be great. This also brings us to our next point:
Form A New Hobby
The key aspect of a routine is consistency. The more you do something, the more you unknowingly train your brain to repeat that action, like checking your phone the moment you open your eyes. A hobby can also be defined as something you do on a regular basis, such as every day or every week. Practising baking, doing woodwork or metalwork, reading, or even gardening are also valid alternatives. These can be as niche as they can be broad; don’t limit yourself and strike out on what interests you the most.
Exercise
It’s a drag to work out and become sticky and stuff, but exercise is a great way to release those negative thoughts and emotions. It helps reduce anxiety, depression, and negative moods by improving self-esteem and cognitive function. So when you think about it, exercise is a mental workout just as much as it is a physical one.
Sources: Needpix, PublicDomainPictures, Pexels [1], [2], [3], Wikipedia Commons
