Ever get on TikTok “just to check one thing” and suddenly find yourself in a three-hour loop of dancing grannies, skincare routines, and motivational speeches that somehow made you feel bad about your life? Yeah, you’re not alone. Social media is like that one friend who always convinces you to stay out way past your bedtime—you know it’s not good for you, but it’s hard to say no.
Start by cutting the distractions: turn off notifications (seriously, does anyone need a buzz every time their cousin’s coworker likes their post?). Then, set limits or move apps off your home screen—out of sight, out of mind. If all else fails, go extreme: delete the apps altogether. And no, you won’t miss anything earth-shattering. If Beyoncé drops an album, trust me, you’ll hear about it
Next, be intentional. If your feed’s full of people who annoy you or make you feel like your life is a “before” picture, unfollow them. Replace those endless scrolls with something that doesn’t leave you feeling hollow—read a book, go outside, or, I don’t know, finally tackle that laundry pile. The rabbit hole’s pull is real, but with a little effort, you can reclaim your time—and maybe even remember what life was like before algorithms ran it.
Learn more at the links below:
California Learning Resource Network
