As Christmas approached, with a nagging sense of guilt about the amount of time I was spending on social media, I decided to embark on a total detox. The constant reminders in the media that excessive scrolling might be detrimental to my mental health made me decide to log out of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (I can’t get used to calling it X!) I was convinced that a break would dramatically improve my mindset.

Now, I’ll admit, my phone plays a significant part of my life. Besides managing my personal and business accounts I act as PA to my lovable Labrador (and social media sensation) Little Mo Rescue Pup. It may seem strange, but pretending to be a dog and chatting to other people pretending to be dogs is very entertaining! And it certainly takes up a lot of my time. So, stepping away from the screen was always going to be a challenge.

At first it was a bit of a relief. I felt like I had more time on my hands – not that I used it very productively! I was still on my phone a lot as I did Wordle every day, and as I was bored I also did Quordle. And Octurdle. And Quordle and Octurdle Sequence. It seems I got a bit addicted to word games instead – not sure if that’s better or worse!!

Before long I was missing the exchanges I would normally be having with other writers, nature lovers, allotment owners and all those interesting people who are busily crafting, travelling, sharing inspirational ideas or just being down-right entertaining! Surely none of that could be bad for my mental health?

So, after ten days I drifted back, deciding that it’s all about finding balance and recognising that when social media is used in moderation it can indeed be a force for good.

What I’d missed most was the interaction with my ‘friends’. And putting friends in quote marks is unfair – I’ve forged some really lovely, genuine friendships via social media. While sceptics may argue that online friendships lack the depth of face-to-face connections, the reality is that virtual buddies have evolved into invaluable support systems for many of us. Whether facing personal challenges or celebrating life’s triumphs, having a network of friends online provides a constant source of encouragement. Mo recently had an eye removed and the support we got was amazing – kind words for me when I was anxious and helpful advice from people whose pets had been through the same thing.

I do acknowledge that there are serious downsides to social media. Comparing your life with the perfectly presented glamour of a gorgeous influencer can be disheartening, and you are open to horrific online trolling, bullying and abuse. In those situations a permanent unplug may be the only solution.

But, used with caution, social media interactions can be a truly positive addition to our lives and give us a platform for friendship, inspiration, and professional growth.

So, I’m trying to navigate this digital world of ours mindfully. I try not to carry my phone from room to room and try not to glance at my phone during real-life conversations with family and friends. Perhaps these small steps towards a healthier relationship with technology will make a big difference. My aim is to spend less time scrolling, avoiding the black hole of memes, funny cat stories and reels, and more time building proper connections. Although I still firmly believe that anything that makes you smile is a good thing. As my granny used to say, “A little of what you fancy does you good!”