As 2020 continues to progress and your studies become more demanding of you, it is important to be mindful that you may need a break from social media. Social media serves as a great way to stay connected to friends and family, and a resource for quickly finding and accessing information.

According to Life Span, social media itself isn't inherently bad, but how people use social media can potentially cause negative effects. The over-consumption and over-usage of social media can lead to several potential outcomes, including self-esteem issues, social anxiety, and depression –not to mention, cyberbullying.

Living in this day and age where we all know the impact of being connected, it may be hard to completely avoid being online. You can certainly try to limit your social media use over the weekend to give your mind and body and break. Here are five reasons of why you should consider taking a social media detox.

1. You Can Boost Your Mood. Through several studies, it has been proven that social media can play a significant role in one's mental health and self-esteem. Spending more time on social media can make you more likely to develop higher stress levels, depression, and anxiety. Turn off your notifications, especially while you sleep, and allow yourself to disconnect. With that little break, you'll notice an improvement in your mood.

2. Reconnect with Reality. With social distancing measures still in practice, it may seem impossible to unplug from social media with the fear of not being connected with others. Don't let it stop you from living in the moment. Unplug from the screen and go out into the real world. Whether it be taking a walk in the park, doing a crossword puzzle, or having a conversation with a loved one, the new boundaries you are setting with social media will improve your living quality.

3. Control Your Privacy. Social media platforms offer an abundance of options to share posts, pictures, and other content with users online. Be vigilant and mindful of what you post online, including any personal information. Remember to evaluate your privacy settings regularly, and you may notice that a lot of stress diminishes once you do this.

4. Gain Valuable Time & Increase Productivity. By limiting and restricting your time spent on social media, you will find yourself more time for yourself and the activities you love by increased productivity. Let's say you spend about two hours on social media a day – by taking a break from social media, you will acquire more time in your schedule to improve your life.

5. Defeat Your Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). Fear of Missing Out, or FOMO, is a feeling of anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may occur elsewhere, that you are not a part of. This can often be triggered by posts on social media. Constant social media use can become addictive, especially with notifications repeatedly appearing on your phone. However, there are ways to reduce this feeling by scheduling a period of time once a day, where you check your favourite social media platforms.

So now, instead of endlessly scrolling through Instagram and spending hours on Facebook, remember to take care of yourself this semester. Read a book, listen to some music, visit your local park and just starting living life away from a social media screen.