DESPITE A SCIENTIFIC link between its consumption and depression, the average American spends almost two hours a day on social media, checking the phone upward of 52 times a day, according to a report by Statista. If you’re considering a detox, try these tips to help make it a success.

The habit:

Compulsive checking

The fix:

Start by turning off push and email notifications. And if that’s not enough, delete the apps from your phone altogether or block them from your computer with a browser plug-in like StayFocusd.

The habit:

Endless scrolling

The fix:

Monitor and curb your usage with an app that tracks your screen time, like Digital Wellbeing (Android) or Screen Time (iOS). If you want to impose tough love on yourself, set time limits and lock yourself out.

The habit:

Doin’ it for the ’Gram

The fix:

Instead of documenting your adventures on Instagram, make a digital photo book on Blurb or Shutterfly and have it printed as a keepsake. Or, rechannel your pithy tweets in a one-line-a-day journal.

The habit:

Tracking the news like it was your job

The fix:

Unfollow news sites. Then, download the Make America Kittens Again extension for Google Chrome, which replaces any photo of Donald Trump with one of a (non-partisan) kitten.

This Story is part of Milwaukee Magazine‘s 2020 Winter Playbook. 

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