Social media has become an almost indispensable part of life for many people. It can be a great platform for connecting with friends and family and getting updated on a lot of useful or educational content. However, it can also have adverse effects on one’s mental or physical health if its use is not properly regulated.
It has become easy to get isolated from the real world around us, with the amount of time spent online scrolling unproductively. This constant presence on digital platforms programmed to keep you hooked can be detrimental to your well-being over time.
Taking all of this into consideration, it might be time to re-evaluate your social media use. Here are a few healthy options you can replace social media with, or use to decrease the time you spend on them.
Build new connections through Penpal networks
For many people, social media has become a medium of socialization and networking. This in itself isn’t harmful, however, the technology behind it is designed to have users engrossed, and detached from the real world which can have damaging effects.
But what if there was a better way to connect with others through a more personal medium? Pen pal networks can be useful with regards to meeting like-minded people and striking new relationships in ways that would be difficult to accomplish on social media.
The idea of pen pals is nothing new; people have been writing letters as a means of communication for centuries. But as the world evolves, so do the ways we communicate. Pen pal sites only refine the art of letter writing by digitizing the process, making it simpler and more fun, and eliminating the extra work that comes with writing and sending physical letters.
Fostering real-world connections becomes much easier with pen pal platforms. You can find international friends and networks through sites like Interpals, Slowly and ConnectPals. A good pen pal network that breaks down barriers and introduces you to new cultures, ideas, and perspectives can serve as a great substitute for social media.
Start and grow a blog
Growing a blog can be an excellent way to build an online presence without having to deal with the toxicity that comes with social media. For business people, it can also be a great way to promote a brand, increase traffic and gain new clients. Social media is undoubtedly an amazing place for finding new business opportunities and building a brand. But all that comes with an overwhelming amount of noise that you should step away from occasionally.
A blog is an online journal where you share your thoughts and ideas. Your blog can be anything you want it to be — it doesn't have to be about a specific area of interest or have a real structure to it unless it’s designed to be professional. It can just be a place to express your creativity, vent out frustrations or journal the mundane details of everyday life.
Unlike the social media environment that often breeds unhealthy comparisons; the blog format can be therapeutic and help with self-improvement. Starting a blog is easy and free on a lot of platforms. Some popular free blogging platforms you can check out include WordPress, Blogger, Medium, Substack and Ghost.
Pick up a digital skill or hobby
Mastering a digital skill or picking up a hobby can be an outlet for creative expression and a confidence boost. It can also be an effective way of cutting down on protracted social media use while helping you stay active and involved in life.
Instead of logging onto Instagram, Twitter or TikTok whenever you have some free time, you could engage in a hobby that’s a lot more productive or useful in the long run. Learning digital skills or hobbies can sometimes be too complex or boring for beginners. The key is to find hobbies that are challenging yet fun. Some good examples of hobbies you can invest your time into as an alternative to social media are web design, digital art, photography, creative writing, and game development.
It's important to remember that there is always something new to learn and explore. And the beauty of digital skills is that they can be learned from the comfort of your own home and on any gadget thanks to the abundance of free educational resources available online.
Join an online book club
Reading is an essential life skill and one that can serve as a nourishing escape from reality in place of social media. But reading alone can get tedious after some time without the motivation to spur you on. A virtual book club offers that motivation along with a wonderful community of fellow readers, while also providing an opportunity to have insightful discussions about the books you read and more.
You can find plenty of online groups where you can participate in discussions about books, and share recommendations. The internet has made it easier than ever to find like-minded people who share your interests. If you're interested in a virtual book club, these sites make it easy to find one wherever you are:
Goodreads is the largest online book club in the world, with over 50 million members. It's also full of great book recommendations and reviews. The site offers a wide range of genres and covers every aspect of reading and writing, including author interviews and writing tips. The community on Goodreads is friendly and welcoming, so it's a good place to go if you're looking to make friends while reading books.
Meetup has over 30 million members in over 160 countries around the world, so finding an online book club shouldn't be difficult at all. You can search by location or browse by interest to find local groups meeting up in person or on virtual platforms.
Play mentally stimulating online games
It can be tough to decide what to do instead of social media at home or work when you have a lot of free time on your hand. It becomes very easy to fall into the habit of using social media for extended periods when you’re idle. Going out for a walk or a brief exercise would be a healthier use of that time.
But what if you’re in a situation where physical exercise is not possible? In that case, playing online games that involve some mental exercise would be a good option to try out. There are many benefits to playing all kinds of online games. They can boost your mood and help you stay focused. However, playing excessively can be just as bad as spending too much time on social media.
Mentally stimulating games like puzzles, Sudoku, Chess, brain teasers, and a variety of word games available online can help with cognitive training and mental fitness. These games also improve your critical thinking skills and playing them can be a stress reliever at times. But with anything else, finding the right balance and not overplaying is very important.
