Breaking the Bonds of Social Media Obsession

Social media is a vital part of many of our lives. It’s easy to find yourself overwhelmed with all of the options and websites. Updating statuses, commenting, checking tweets and responding to messages takes up more time in our lives than it needs to. Cut down on all the social media clutter with a little organization and planning.

Determine which form of social media fits the different areas of your life. For example, if family and friends post to Facebook, use that as you personal account. If you need a professional Facebook account, create a separate one only for business associates. You should only create separate accounts if you need to. This is the same for Twitter and other sites. Make a definite separation in accounts and do not mix audiences.

Once you separate accounts, it’s time to increase the privacy on personal accounts. By blocking unauthorized users from seeing posts, pictures and videos, you can decrease the amount of unwanted content from leaking. The best thing to do is not to post anything you don’t want others knowing online, but that’s not always in your hands. For example, your mother may post a video of you dancing crazily at Christmas on Facebook. We can ask others not to post things, but it doesn’t mean it won’t happen on occasion. If you’re in a group picture, for example, the photographer may post it. Even if you don’t think a boss or supervisor will see the page, you should still increase the privacy settings. That includes location. Telling people your exact location is a safety hazard.

After you have your privacy settings in place, create personal goals for logging in. Unless your job requires you use social media constantly, log on one to three times a day. Checking every 10 minutes will drive you crazy. If something is that important, a person can call you. Relying on others to check Facebook messages isn’t a practical when immediate response is necessary.

Cut back or quit playing the games. These games have no end. This way, you will keep playing. Rather than waste your time, find something else to do. While games aren’t a bad way to spend the time, letting them take over your life isn’t healthy. Wasting hundreds of dollars a month on virtual items or arranging your schedule around harvest times on Farmville is a little obsessive.

Another way to stop letting social media control your life is to wait before you post. Just because something happens does not mean it needs posted on Twitter. Wait 10 minutes before you post. You may change your mind. Discuss it in person or over the phone instead. In addition, not every photo or video taken needs posted online. Two-hundred baby shower photos aren’t necessary. Few people will look at all 200. Instead, pick a small group to post.

Social media is a great tool to spread news, gain exposure and stay in touch with friends, but letting it control your life will turn this rich tool into an annoying pain in the side.