Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter are just a few social media channels that grab our time and attention throughout the day. These sites offer many benefits, but it’s easy to spend too much time scrolling through photos or posts. Maybe you’ve logged into Pinterest for a few minutes and been distracted by all the recipes, only to realize later that you spent two hours drooling over dinners you now have no time to make. Perhaps you’ve logged into Facebook to check a message, only to get distracted by the constantly updating news feed for an hour. Social media is awesome, but freelancers must use it carefully to avoid wasting their time.
A Few Statistics on How We Use It
How much time do we really spend on social platforms? Today, social media is the top activity on the internet. In fact, it takes up more of our time than email does. Across every age group, adult users spend an average of 42.1 minutes on Facebook each day, with younger people spending even more time on this social media site. Average users spend 34.2 minutes on Tumblr, 21.2 minutes on Instagram, and 20.8 minutes on Pinterest. If you’re spending time on multiple social media sites, you could be spending a couple hours each day on social media.
Taking a Break vs Wasting Time
Many freelancers head to social media sites to enjoy a well-deserved break, and there’s nothing wrong with taking a break from your writing on a busy day. In fact, breaks are important—they boost creativity and give your brain a chance to reboot. However, it’s important to understand the difference between taking a break and wasting your time.
Many freelancers are so busy with work that they crave some time to decompress. Prioritizing breaks is important, especially since restorative downtime is essential for your physical and mental health. Healthy breaks include taking the time to relax while doing something you enjoy. Downtime should help rejuvenate you so you’re able to return to your work refreshed. If you’re spending time on things that aren’t really enjoyable or meaningful to you, you’re wasting time.
Apply this concept to your time on social media. Are you engaging in activities that refresh you so you can get back to work, or are you simply wasting time? Remember, wasting time can keep you from enjoying the downtime you really need.
Tips for Making Social Media Refreshing
While social media often gets a bad rap, it’s possible to enjoy social media responsibly without wasting time if you keep a few tips in mind:
1. Spend Time On Meaningful Activities
Time spent on social media should be fulfilling and purposeful. Connecting with friends and family or viewing photos of a new family member will be enjoyable and refreshing. Spending time engaging with creative posts, such as DIY projects, will boost creativity
2. Look at Posts that Really Matter
It’s easy to waste time mindlessly scrolling through all the latest posts. Instead, focus on posts that really matter to you. Use social media tools to get notifications about posts that really interest you and spend your time on them.
3. Set Time Limits
If you have a tendency to waste an hour on Facebook before you know it, set a time limit. If you have to, set an actual timer so you know when it’s time to get back to work.
4. Avoid Negativity
New studies have shown that emotions have the potential to spread online, and if you constantly expose yourself to negativity on social media sites, it may begin to affect you. Avoid negative posts and people who regularly post negative things. You’ll enjoy your time on social media more when you skip all the negativity.
Use these tips, take a break, and enjoy yourself on social media. You’ll have a great time and you’ll find that you’re using your time on social media more wisely.
This article was written by one of our writers. The author’s views are entirely their own and may not reflect the views of WritersDomain.
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