This December, Wholee Healthy is going to be doing a Social Media Blackout Challenge. The challenge? No social media (or other technology options- see adaptations) for the month of December! The goal? To do a social media/technology cleanse and put our focus on our friends, family, and the true meaning of the holiday season. (And hopefully improve technology habits for the future too!)

Got the social media bug? Do you find yourself aimlessly scrolling through social media or automatically going to social media when you pick up your phone and forgetting why you initially picked it up in the first place? Maybe you aren’t that bad, but still make it a part of your daily or weekly routine and feel the need to consistently check your social media outlets. No matter your social media habits, consider joining the Wholee Healthy community for a social media cleanse! Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr… pick your poison. It’s out for the month of December!

Social media can be a great way to connect to those who are long distance, stay in touch with family and friends, and share fun and important events in your life. But, did you know it can actually cause your mental health to decline? The reason is because, as human beings naturally are inclined to do, we compare ourselves to others. And what we see on social media is other peoples’ highlights. If we compare our whole life to everyone else’s highlight reel, then it’s easy to get caught feeling that our life is not as exciting or important as theirs. Social media can also be addicting! The scrolling and posting can give us a social high, and we start to crave more and more. So, this month’s challenge is focusing on improving our Mental Health.

Adaptations: Don’t use social media much or at all? Can’t give it up because it’s part of your business? How about your phone, computer, or tablet? Instead of staying off of social media, make it your challenge to stay off of your phone/computer/tablet. Maybe check it 1-3 times a day at purposeful times. Leave the ringer of your phone on for emergencies (maybe mute the other notification noises to prevent distractions), but make a point to spend less time texting, reading the news, playing games, or other technology usage. Still not an issue? Then give up TV (also a future challenge, but there’s no time like the present)!

Hopefully, a month off of social media (or limiting your technology usage) will help us to use technology in moderation in the future and focus more on our face to face relationships with family and friends. Do you have someone close to you that is long distance? Skype, call, or visit them! There is no time like the holidays to connect in a more intimate way. Get creative, be purposeful with your phone usage, and put your focus on the people and things that matter most this holiday season!