7 Steps to Beating Your Facebook Addiction

Do you have a Facebook addiction? Social media is a wonderful thing, but people can sometimes take their love of staying connected way too far.

What can you do when you find yourself attached to your smartphone, checking Facebook every few minutes? You can check your Facebook addiction level on Outmeal’s Quizz.

People love their gadgets; there’s no doubt about that. And thanks to smartphones and tablets, we can stay connected with people all over the world with the click of a button – or rather, with the updating of a Facebook status. However, many believe people take it too far, and some feel we’ve become too attached to our phones and other technological toys. They may be right.

Being too dependent on Facebook and other social media sites can often have a negative impact on your “real world” life. Friends may feel shunned when you prefer talking to people in cyberspace rather than those sitting next to you at happy hour. Your relationship might suffer if you find yourself reading Facebook instead of snuggling with your partner. Your job could also suffer if you’re caught glancing at your phone instead of doing your work a little too often. So if you find yourself in this situation, what do you do?

Well, you cut back on social media for one. But for those who find it difficult to do that, here are a few tips that can help you to break your Facebook addiction:

#1 Acknowledge Your Problem

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Do you find yourself looking at Facebook at inopportune times? Perhaps while on the toilet – where your phone might end up going for a swim? Or maybe you even put yourself and others in danger because you can’t imagine sitting for two minutes at a stoplight without some sort of social media engagement? You might even have a “Facebook addiction Disorder.”

If your use of social media has gone this far, realize you have a problem and resolve to fix it. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Trust me: You’re not alone in this. Not in the slightest.

Then, take steps to stop your Facebook addiction. How do you do that?

#2 Examine the Reasons for Your Facebook Addiction

Is your job so boring that you constantly have to check Facebook just to get through the day? Sure, checking in now and then is fine – especially when you take a break from the work. But if you’re checking it even when you have a pile of work to do, well then, maybe you should think about why you don’t enjoy your job. Maybe it’s not challenging enough for you? Or maybe you don’t feel appreciated there and seek reassurance from your friends throughout the day? Either way, identify the reasons you look at Facebook as much as you do, and try to fix the underlying issue causing it.

If you find that you’re sharing things in order to make people feel jealous, or you’re looking for reassurance, step away from Facebook and look at fixing your own life. Stop and think before sharing anything. Am I sharing this because I want to share it with others for the right reasons? Or am I sharing it to feel better about myself?

If it’s the latter, you may want to consider stepping away for a bit.

#3 Set Limits for Facebook

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The first thing you need to do is try to avoid Facebook except at pre-designated times. Maybe you set a limit for yourself that you can only read Facebook while you’re on your lunch break, or perhaps right before bed as your partner brushes his teeth. Just make sure that you stick to these limits – and no cheating.

#4 Put Away the Phone

If that doesn’t work because you catch yourself glancing at Facebook when you don’t mean to be, then perhaps you need to put your phone away completely. Have a few hours every night where you don’t check your e-mail, read Facebook, or worry about leveling up on Candy Crush. Step away from all technology for a bit.

#5 Get Some Digital Assistance

If it’s not possible to get away from your computer, download a program that restricts access to Facebook during certain times. Sure, you’re still in control, but it’s a gentle reminder that “Hey, you’re not supposed to be on here!”

One program you can check out is simply called Cold Turkey. It’ll help to limit your access to social media sites for a designated amount of time.

#6 Ask for Help

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Ask your friends and family members to gently remind you when you’re checking Facebook too often. It’s likely you don’t even realize you’re doing it – it’s just so ingrained into your daily routine. Perhaps a reminder every now and then will help hold you accountable.

#7 Go Cold Turkey

If worse comes to worst, delete the app from your phone or deactivate your account entirely. You can always get the app back and reactivate after you’ve had a breather from Facebook. These aren’t permanent fixes, but they could show you everything you’re missing out on by being glued to the Book of Face.

It all boils down to quality of life. Are you really getting the most out of your life by spending it online? Instead of focusing on what others are doing, or what others think of your life, step back and learn to enjoy your life. After all, you only have one of them and you may just find that the more distance you put between yourself and Facebook, the easier it is to stay away.

About the author

Kristen Duvall

Kristen is a writer of tales both real and make-believe. A Midwestern girl at heart, she currently resides in Southern California with her boyfriend, a Great Dane, and two rescued kitties, one of which is known simply as the KiKi Monster.

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