How to overcome your Instagram addiction.

Before you start reading this blog, let’s do an extreme experiment.

Ready, Set, Go.

Poke your nose - If you have ever posted a picture of your fun weekend on Instagram, but didn’t actually have that much fun on that weekend.

Poke your nose - If you have ever posted a happy picture of yourself on Instagram, with a meaningful quote, after having a mental breakdown.

(And for the last time, I swear)

Poke your nose - If you have ever spent so many hours in a day on social media, that you started to feel depleted, without actually having done any real work.

Good job! Now it’s “Results time”. 

If you have poked your nose for any of these scenarios, than……..I am sorry to be one saying it, but you have an addiction.

Yupp…You have fallen prey to a trap.

What kind of trap? (you may be wondering)

Well, the trap of “leading a delusional and fake virtual life.” 

Now before you roll your eyes and proceed your finger to click the back/close button, WAIT. You aren’t the only one who has succumbed to this addiction. And I can actually help you curb it, cause I have successfully been able to help myself.

For us Millennials, fighting a Social Media addiction can be very hard. Especially when you have an army of programmers, behaviour scientists as well as data analysts working against you. 

For most of us, the Instagram Algorithm knows us more than we know ourselves. Embarrassing isn’t it!

That’s why it’s so easy for these app developers to hack our minds and behaviours, with us sitting pretty behind the screens and having no damn clue about it.

And being a recovering Instagram addict myself I am well aware that Instagram is a procrastinators haven. More pictures and videos, less words and an endless cycle of content being produced in multiple genres. “Oh hell, YES”

( My favourite genre is animal videos and trekking pictures of travellers.)

I was in denial of my Instagram addiction for a loooong time. 

I used to think that - Meeeee! Oh no, I’m under control. (Caution - Rising levels of Ego in the following lines) I am such a woke person. How can I be an Instagram addict.”

But my addiction turned out to be as real as Donald Trump and Stormy Daniels sex scandal.

When I was drowning in the deep waters of my Instagram addiction, I felt:

• Depressingly dull
• Disconnected with myself
• My memory, sharpness and alertness had gone as low as the Kardashians IQ. 
• My anxiety and restlessness levels had plummeted as high as space itself.
• And last but not least, My Attention span, well it lasted less than a male Pigeon during Sex.

That was when it dawned upon, that I needed to get off that high horse of mine and accept that I indeed have an Instagram addiction.

Here are the 4 ways in which I brought down the time I spent on Instagram from 45 minutes a day to less than 15 minutes. 

(I don’t have proof to show for it right now, so you will have to take my word for it.)

1. Get data - 

You need to know how much time you actually spend on social media. 

Most Android phones have that information in the “Battery usage option of Settings Tab”. 

Having this information actually kicks you out of any delusions you must be having about your self. You now have the evidence to back up your actions.

2. Have the talk - 

 We have all at some point or another in our lives, committed to something, that was important to us but have not followed through. You cannot make a change if you don’t commit to it. You gotta realise how serious and necessary what you are doing is.

So have that difficult talk with yourself. 

Don’t just make empty promises. 

Ask difficult questions, Why are you deciding to do this. How much do you want it? 

If you don’t make this change right now, how is it gonna impact your life and well being?

You have to put efforts.

3. Have a strategy and implement it -

Now that you have gathered the data and have had that talk, it’s time to formulate a plan of action. You might feel trapped and confused at times in this process of making a change.Thats why you need an action plan.

Some good strategies to overcome “Social media addiction” are :

• Delete the damn app altogether.
• Be more conscious and aware of your actions and set a “Mental Alarm” every time you go on social media.
• Set an “Actual Timer” before you hover your finger on that app. And as soon as the timer goes off. Tear your focus and attention out of the app. Just shut it. 

    It will become quick and less painful every single time you do it.

• Set a limit for yourself like - “Today I am only gonna check my Instagram feed for 15 minutes and not check any other social media app at all. And before going to sleep at night, be sure to follow through and check in with your app usage details.

Try different strategies, put the damn effort.

4. Live your real life -

And now that you have done all of the above things. You are all set to go live your life. 

It’s your life and you actually have one. It doesn’t matter if you flaunt your holidays on social media or not. What matters is that “YOU LIVE, that you actually enjoy them”.

So, you better hack you mind and habits before a gosh darn algorithm hacks you. 

Good luck for your detox.