Do: Say goodbye. A post informing friends that you're taking a break lets them know you're OK and that you're reachable in other ways.
Don't: Give up cold turkey. Social media is integrated into our lives, and there's no way around that, says the Mayo Clinic's Dr. Amit Sood. The key is to use it with discipline, the same way you'd regulate how much candy you'd give a child.
Do: Remove the app from your phone, even if you aren't planning on deleting your account. You won't get any more enticing alerts, and the extra step of having to sign in via a web browser takes away the immediacy of having your feed at your fingertips.
Don't: Just replace Facebook with another platform. It's just as easy to get sucked into Twitter, for example, when Facebook is not available. If you're serious about taking a social media break, get rid of all your apps, at least until you find a balance that works for you.
Do: If you need to keep your followers updated for work, use a third-party app that posts to multiple platforms, so you don't have to log in to Facebook. If you like Instagram, set it up to share to Facebook every time you post a pic. There are other apps where you can schedule posts to all your accounts, like Hootsuite.
Do: If you're not giving up the app or deleting your account, then schedule time to disconnect. Experts say even a half-hour break from all social media platforms can be beneficial.
Do: Fill your new free time with something meaningful. Learn a skill, get a hobby, keep a journal. "Pursue the things that matter to you," says "How to Be Bored" author Eva Hoffman.
Don't: Be afraid to get help. If disconnecting is too difficult, therapy can help you set boundaries, says Hazelden's Dr. Joseph Lee.
Sharyn Jackson
