When was the last time you put your phone or tablet down and didn't check social media for a whole day? Other than pre-internet days, has there ever been a time when you went more than a day without checking at least one social media account?

If you're always viewing, liking, and sharing content on social media, here's why you might be overdue for a break.

You're not enjoying your time online

Do you ever feel like social media is somewhat of a wasteland? Like it's full of accounts, but nobody's really saying anything important? The Dead Internet Theory aside, social media is like a wasteland. Sometimes, you can find an oasis with a handful of people who have something interesting to share, but most of the time, it's just people posting random thoughts on Twitter, photos of their meals on Facebook, and way-too-perfect sandwiches on Instagram that mislead you into thinking that your kids will appreciate your creations.

If you've noticed you aren't enjoying your time on social media, that's a good sign that it's time for a break.

Too much screen time can disrupt healthy sleep

Devices like laptops, smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers all utilize blue light in the displays. Blue light disrupts healthy sleep patterns by preventing the release of melatonin. Melatonin is the hormone that triggers your body to start feeling sleepy so you can get a good night's sleep. When melatonin secretion is suppressed, you won't start to feel tired at a normal time, and it can lead to insomnia, sleep deprivation, and overall poor sleep.

If your circadian rhythm remains chronically misaligned, you can experience metabolic disorders and even depression. If you're used to scrolling through your social media feeds at the end of the night or while in bed, and you're finding it hard to fall asleep, stay asleep, or you're waking up exhausted, try eliminating the use of your device at least two hours before bedtime. Better yet, if you take an official break from social media, you'll probably end up sleeping better than you have in years.

Your time could be spent pursuing important things

If you're like most people, you probably check your feeds and messages many times throughout the day. It doesn't seem like much, but when you add up all the time you spend on social media, it can equal years of your life over a certain period of time. That's time you'll never get back.

Even if you only have a handful of accounts, like Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, Discord, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, you're spending a lot of your time scrolling and consuming content that probably isn't making a significant contribution to your life.

Although they're expensive, your smartphone can be an important tool for work and personal hobbies. As long as you keep it protected with a durable case, it's a solid investment. However, try not to use it just for social media.

Entertainment isn't bad, but when you're glued to the screen during every spare moment, you're missing out on other things, like pursuing your hobbies, starting a business, spending time with your kids, going out with friends, or connecting with your spouse.

Social media can be a toxic place

Frequent use of social media is connected to negative mental health, like anxiety and depression. Despite containing the word “social,” social media can be an extremely antisocial place. More often than not, platforms are filled with people who just want to argue and make others wrong, or worse, be insulting toward other users. These dynamics are unavoidable in large groups, whether it's on or offline.

Despite the toxic nature, many people consider social media platforms to be a part of real life, but they aren't a substitute for developing deep connections in person. It's nice to find people you share interests with, and you might even meet up with some of them and become friends in real life. However, being addicted to a virtual online world can do more harm than good.

A social media break can be incremental

If you're finally thinking about taking a break from social media, but you're not sure how long you'll last, start small. Begin with a one-day fast. If you have to, check your messages in the morning when you wake up, and then don't check anything until the next morning. If you can do that, try going a full 24 hours or even 48 hours without it. If you're feeling brave, go for a week and then delete the apps you don't miss.

You don't have to cut everything off at once, but at least try to make it through a day without any online interactions. After a while, you might discover that you enjoy real life more than the curated, virtual world called social media.