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thewayofthewiseowl

Exploring Happiness Outside of Social Media as a Means of Self-Development: 12 Reasons

Updated: May 17, 2023



Because we now live in a digital age, using social media has turned into an essential component of each of our daily lives. It enables us to keep in touch with loved ones, share in their experiences, and learn about the latest news. On the other hand, have you ever given any thought to the influence that it has on the way you grow as an individual? In this article, we will discuss the reasons why giving up the use of social media may result in a better life that is overflowing with personal growth, as well as how making this choice can open up a world of options for one. Therefore, let's plunge in and find the joys that life has to offer outside of social media.


The ever-more-connected society we live in today has made social media an indispensable component of our everyday lives. It presents us with an infinite number choices to connect with people, maintain our awareness, and enjoy ourselves. Nevertheless, in spite of all of its positives, it unquestionably has certain drawbacks as well, which might stymie both our individual development and our general well-being. In this article, we will examine ten strong reasons why disconnecting from social media can considerably benefit the process of personal development that you are undertaking.

There are fourteen compelling reasons why giving up social media is beneficial to one's personal development.


Unlock the Real You Through Self-Discovery:

1. When we disconnect from the digital world, we make room for the kind of authentic self-discovery that leads to growth. We are free to concentrate on discovering our own hobbies, interests, and values because social media does not subject us to the persistent pressure and competition that is so widespread today. Recognizing the value of alone time and reflecting on one's experiences might help one flourish.


2. Social networking can be a big distraction, taking time and energy away from more important activities and objectives. By removing its influence on our lives, we are able to restore our focus and unlock the full potential of our productivity. We are able to redirect our energy into meaningful activities and make considerable progress in both our professional and private interests when we are not constantly compelled to check our messages or scroll through an unending stream of feeds.


3. Focus on Building Meaningful Relationships Despite the fact that social media platforms claim to bring people together, they frequently encourage insignificant interactions and fleeting ties. Taking a break from our digital lives allows us to concentrate on strengthening our offline connections with actual people. Conversations had in person and true relationships made with other people have a significant bearing on a person's growth and development by providing emotional support, camaraderie, and a feeling of belonging.


4. Improve your mental health by limiting your time spent perusing social media highlight reels, which can cause emotions of inferiority, jealously, and low self-esteem if you do it frequently. By ridding ourselves of this basis for comparison and validation from the outside world, we open the door for increased opportunities to cultivate our mental well-being. As we learn to embrace ourselves more fully, practice appreciation, and cultivate a sense of serenity, we become less vulnerable to the harmful impacts of social media.


5. Take back your time: It's easy to lose track of time while idly scrolling through social media, so it's important to find ways to get that time back and use it for something more meaningful. By rescuing ourselves from this technological snare, we are able to reclaim priceless time that we may invest in activities like as self-care, the pursuit of hobbies and interests, education, and spending meaningful time with those we care about. This deliberate use of time encourages personal development and results in the formation of memories that actually contribute to the enrichment of our lives.


6. Hone Your Critical Thinking Skills The platforms of social media are frequently saturated with disinformation and content that is biased, both of which may influence our opinions and our points of view. By gaining distance, we may train our brains to think critically and train our minds to challenge authority. Because of this, we are able to think for ourselves and come to judgments based on accurate information, both of which contribute to the development of both our logical and cognitive abilities.


7. Get out of the trap of Social Standards: Remove yourself from social media to avoid the comparison trap and the resulting feelings of inferiority and self-doubt. When we get rid of its existence, we free ourselves from the constant pressure of living up to standards that are impossible to achieve. Instead, we put our attention on the individual paths we've taken and the progress we've made on those paths, enjoying the fact that we're all unique and relishing the freedom to chart our own courses toward growth.


8. Discover the Joy of JOMO: In a world that is obsessed with FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), avoiding social media gives us the opportunity to enjoy JOMO (Joy of Missing Out). When we focus our attention on the here and now, we release ourselves from the compulsion to always be up to date, and we open ourselves up to the serenity and fulfillment that accompany this state of being. When we focus on what we want, we learn more about ourselves and develop stronger relationships with those wants and needs.


9. Reduced Mental Load: Social Media is a major contributor to information overload and constant distraction. Our time and energy might be seriously depleted by the constant need to check our feeds, make comparisons to others, and stay abreast of the current trends. By giving up social media, we can finally stop being distracted by the constant stream of new messages and concentrate on what really important in life: our own development and evolution.


10. Authentic Connections: Despite the fact that social media platforms claim to bring people together, the relationships that result from their use are frequently shallow. Instead of building real relationships, we find ourselves indulging in mindless activities such as accumulating "likes," replying to messages, and scrolling through posts endlessly. We are able to refocus our efforts on cultivating real-world relationships if we disconnect from social media and give that time and attention instead. As a result, you'll have the chance to make friends with people you really click with and have meaningful talks with.


11. Unleashing Your Creative Side Social networking platforms have the potential to unintentionally limit our creative potential. Our capacity for independent thought and the genuine expression of who we are can be hindered when we constantly compare our lives to the carefully groomed lives of other people and feel pressured to conform to particular norms. If we delete our social media accounts, we will make room for our minds to wander and our creativity to flourish. We don't have to worry about other people's opinions or seek validation from them in order to try out new interests, pursue artistic activities, or let our imaginations run wild.


11. Mindfulness in daily life: The allure of social media can lead to mindless scrolling, which can cause us to overlook the wonders of the here and now. If we give up social media, we'll have more time to focus on the here and now. We can choose to do things that are good for our bodies, minds, and spirits instead of grabbing for our phones when we're bored or feeling uneasy. The practice of mindfulness, the reading of motivational publications, the participation in physically challenging activities, or even the simple act of appreciating the world that surrounds us are all examples of this.


12. We can devote our attention and resources to developing ourselves without the continual interruptions of social media. These resources can be redirected to be used for individual development and self-improvement instead. Eliminating our use of social media frees up time for us to spend in ourselves, whether that means acquiring new knowledge, continuing our education, or concentrating on achieving our professional ambitions. Instead,We stop letting the Internet dictate our lives and instead take an active role in crafting our futures.


As we have examined how removing social media from one's life affects one's ability to grow as an individual, it has been clear that there is a wealth of opportunity waiting for one outside of the realm of these platforms. We make room for personal growth, true relationships, and self-discovery by breaking free from incessant contrast, mindless scrolling, and shallow connections. Therefore, muster up the courage to set foot on this life-altering adventure, and do it right away. Embrace the joys that life has to offer beyond the realm of social media, and you'll unleash the true possibilities for your own personal growth.


I invite you to join my Life Coaching program if you're ready to start making positive changes in your life. We'll talk about things like forgiveness, happiness, empowerment, and more, all of which may play a role in helping you reframe your life and find your true calling. Don't be shy; Way of the Wise Owl is a non-profit organization, and your consultation with us will cost you nothing. Let's cross our fingers and hope for a speedy response.

If you liked this article, please consider forwarding it to a friend or posting a link to it on Facebook or Instagram. Many thanks!

— The Way of the Wise Owl by Dagmarie Daniels

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