How often do you find yourself frantically worrying about how many likes you’re receiving on your latest Instagram post? Has checking social media become a crucial part of your daily routine?

It’s important to step back every once in a while and examine our toxic habits, especially given the fact that we now have unlimited access to a virtual world. Here a few tips that could help you curb your social media addiction.

#1 Buy A Polaroid Camera

I think most of us would admit feeling the pressure to capture the perfect photo – whether it be a super cute outfit or a picturesque sunset mountain climb. I get it, taking photos is awesome and it’s nice to have memory frozen in time. But social media and digital cameras have the potential to welcome unnecessary stress.

Last year I was gifted a beautiful polaroid camera and I cannot express how much I love it. There’s a sort of bliss that comes with having just one photo per event. Plus, you wont waste time asking your friend to take seventy photos of you doing the same pose.

#2 Have A Social Media Free Week

Try one week without social media, or even just three days, and see how much free time you gain. You may find it a little boring, but it’ll allow you to find some non-internet-stalking hobbies.

It’s like a reboot – you’ll come back with a new outlook and be able to manage your time on your phone much more effectively.

#3 Find Other Hobbies

Put some effort into finding some hobbies that you’ve been meaning to take up for a while, but have “never had enough time.” A recent study revealed that young adults typically spend five hours a day on their phones. It’s a bit scary when you think about it that way, right? So, perhaps you could put aside some extra time to try out painting, soccer, dancing or writing.

Chances are, you’ll find something else that you enjoy so much it won’t even feel like you’re missing out on the online world.

#4 Set Boundaries

Our phones are exceptional procrastination devices. I’ve been there – googling the age of the Queen, the typical day of a beaver and how to apply for Hogwarts – when I should actually be studying.

There are also many apps that help cure phone and social media addiction. My favourite is Forest which employs a goal orientated and fun strategy to help you stay off selected apps.

I found that social media was stopping me from spending my time the way I really wanted to. It’s easy to get home from university, plop yourself down on the couch and scroll endlessly – we don’t even contemplate what we actually would love to do with our time. Let’s set ourselves some boundaries and spend a little more time in the real world.

(Lead image: Keeping Up With The Kardashians/E!)