Here's How to Do a Social Media Detox the Right Way

Now before you insist that you can't quit cold turkey, rest assured that this is a temporary measure. "Take social media off of your phone for 12 hours and remind yourself that you can easily reinstall it," says Price. "It's about experimenting. See what effects not being on social media has and what thoughts it provokes." Once the experiment is over, the idea of limiting yourself will feel so much more doable.

Whether your objective is to get fit, lose weight, or spend less time on social media, having someone to hold you accountable can make all the difference. Find a loved one who is interested in "detoxing" with you and then discuss how both of you plan on following through. "Let's say you intend on leaving your phone at home while you run errands one week. Once the week is over, check in with your buddy and let them know how you did," says Nancy Colier, a psychotherapist and author of The Power of Off. You're more likely to stick to your goals — or on the flip side, feel less discouraged when you fall short — when you have a friend to lean on.

Download an app like Moment (available on iOS and Android) that helps you break down how much time you're spending on your apps. If you're an iPhone user, you're likely already familiar with your device's built-in feature called Screen Time. Instead of looking at your daily average, which factors in email and other work-related phone usage, check out your list of "Most Used" apps and see how much time you're devoting to specific social media apps.

In some ways, the people closest to you know you better than you know yourself. Ask your loved ones what they've noticed about your relationship with your phone. You may discover you've unwittingly picked up some bad tendencies, like checking your phone mid-conversation or texting at the dinner table. "Many adults have told me that hearing what their kids have to say about their phone habits is a real eye-opening and motivational moment," says Price.

This simple trick can help you stop mindlessly picking up your device. “When you reach for your phone, there is now a physical obstacle that snaps you out of autopilot for a second and encourages you to reflect on what you’re doing,” says Price.

Price created a lock screen that prompts you to ask yourself three questions: What for? Why now? What else? The questions remind you to question whether or not you picked up your phone with purpose. "Sometimes it's a tick and sometimes you pick it up because you're feeling lonely or bored. The point of this exercise isn't to beat yourself up for checking your phone, but to understand your own habits," she says. (Create your own lock screen with similar questions or download one for free through Price's website.)

We're taught from a young age to be aware of how much cash we're spending, but we don't think twice about how much time we're spending on social media. "We need to get a lot better at being protective of our attention and be aware of the things that try to take it from us," says Price. "It's like how we are careful when it comes to our money, but the stakes are higher because our time and attention are irreplaceable."

Tell yourself that after a certain hour (like 9pm), your phone goes into its charging station and is out of commission until the next day. Smart tip: Move your charging station from your bedside table to an area out of arm's reach. The less access you have to it, the less likely you are to explore social media until the wee hours. Ultimately, your goal should be to get your phone out of your master bedroom entirely, says Price.

Both Price and Colier agree that you should stop using your phone as your alarm clock. "The start of the day should focus on intention (What do I want to accomplish today?) while the end of the day should be about reflection (How did today go? How can tomorrow be better?)," says Colier. When your phone is in your hands the second you wake up, you're more likely to skip that moment of zen and go straight to scrolling.

If your social media use is seriously hindering your productivity but you can't seem to resist, consider an app like Freedom (available on iOs and Android), suggests Price. You can set up blocks of time that you want Freedom to block social media apps and even enable a "Locked Mode" which won't allow you to cancel those time limits — no matter how much you beg.

You're more likely to click on those social media icons when they're front and center your home screen. Putting social media apps into a separate folder creates one extra step you have to take to access them, which can help you cut down on mindless clicking, says Colier.

In addition to helping you manage stress and sleep better, meditation can help you be more mindful when it comes to what you're doing, including how you're using social media, says Colier. If you need some guidance, watch a few relaxing meditation videos or download a popular app like Headspace (available on iOS and Android).