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With social media and streaming sites, most people will spend their evenings on the sofa. This is completely understandable. In today’s society, everyone is bulked down with work, commitments, family and more. The world is a chaotic place, so no wonder all anyone wants to do is sit down on the sofa and zone out for the evening.
While this might be a good short-term strategy, it isn’t a perfect long-term one. This might seem like rest to you, but in fact, it is the opposite. When you’re scrolling on social media, your brain is kept very busy trying to consume all of the information you are scanning through, not to mention the bad posture, the light on the phone screen, and more all impacting you. You may not feel it now, but it will affect your mental and physical health in the future. What tends to happen is you see everyone else’s highlight reels and you begin to compare your life to others and feel bad about yourself. It can also expose you to cyberbullying and lead to things like anxiety and depression. Social media disconnects you from your family and friends, and life can begin to get a little lonely when it is only perceived through the phone.
It may also be something that you turn out to regret. As you get older and you look back at your life, you may not be so pleased to know that you spent all of your spare time on your phone. There is so much more to life than social media.
This doesn’t mean you should not use your phone, social media or watch television at all. It just means that you may want to find a better balance in life. You may be tired and just want to do nothing, but then you get yourself stuck in a vicious cycle using social media, as it only disconnects you and makes you even more tired. Consider how you can use it more sparingly, and what other things you can do with your time instead. This might also help with the mindset most people have, of waiting for the weekend. This way you can begin to enjoy your evenings and your weekends, rather than waiting for your day off. To help you on your journey, here are some top things to help you better enjoy your evenings.
#1 Consider how much time you have
A good starting point to finding a better balance is to consider how much time you have in the evenings. When do you get home, what commitments do you have to incorporate (e.g. making dinner, picking up your children) and what time do you want to get to bed?
You can then add up the time in between and make yourself a little schedule. You may choose to spend 10 minutes on your phone, and then 50 minutes doing something else for yourself.
#2 Consider how you feel and what you need
How do you typically feel when you come home in the evenings? Do you feel drained, exhausted, hungry, or agitated? It can be really helpful to get specific on how you feel and what is at the root of the feelings. Most commonly, people have needs that are going unmet or don’t consider what they are truly feeling and how to help it. If you have been sitting down all day and feel tired, it might be that you need to exercise to boost your energy and help move your body. This will break the vicious cycle of tiredness and instead, create a new, positive one. It may also be the opposite, if you have been on your feet all day in a busy environment, you may need a hot bath with some calming music.
#3 Do something interactive
Doing something interactive is great for your brain and improves cognitive skills. It can help you switch off from the world as you crave, but do something productive with the time rather than watch other people’s lives on social media. In this case, you might play a board game, or look at online games. A great website to consider is Spinni Casino.
#4 Do something fun
Most people are missing out on fun. You may get home and feel tired, but actually, you need something that is going to make you smile, make you laugh or provide you with the connection you desire. Consider things you used to do in the past that brought you joy and consider how you can incorporate them into your evenings. Maybe you go out with a friend or sign up for a local dance class.
Don’t waste your evenings on your phone. Consider your time, and needs and incorporate something fun! This way, when you look back on your life, you have fewer regrets!
