Тридцать дней без соцсетей

Last month I tried something new: I took all the social media apps off my phone. For thirty days I only used it for calls, messages and maps.

Why? One evening I looked at the screen time on my phone. It showed five hours a day. Five hours! That's thirty-five hours a week, almost a second job.

The first week was the hardest. I picked up my phone all the time, and every time there was nothing new to see. And I always had the same thought: “I'm missing something important.” What were my friends doing? What was happening in the news?

In the second week, something changed. I started to notice things around me: the people on the bus, the trees and the dogs in the park. I read two books, the first books I had finished in a year. I also slept better. Before, I always went to bed with my phone. That month I went to bed with a book, and after ten minutes I was sleeping like a baby.

It was not all easy. I missed a birthday party because my friends planned it online. And my boss was not happy: I didn't answer at the weekend.

So what did I learn? I don't think social media is bad. It's a great way to stay in touch with people who live far away. But I want to use it, and not let it use me.

Now the apps are back on my phone, but I have new rules: no phone in bed, no phone at dinner and only thirty minutes of social media a day. I have to say, I'm happier.

Have you ever tried a month without social media? Write in the comments!