You Spend 878 Hours a Year on Social Media—Here's What That’s Really Costing You

build your dream life dream come true goals habits social media statistics success time management wealthy habits Aug 04, 2025

According to a recent study by the University of Maine, the average person spends 2 hours and 24 minutes per day on social media. That might not seem wild at first glance. A few scrolls here. A reel there. A couple of TikToks while waiting in line. No big deal, right?

But let’s compound it...

The Time Breakdown: Where Your Hours Are Going

2 hours and 24 minutes per day is equal to:

= 16 hours and 48 minutes per week
= 72 hours and 32 minutes per month
= 878 hours and 56 minutes per year

Let that last one hits hard:
878+ hours per year. That’s the equivalent of more than 36.6 full 24-hour days or over 21 standard 40-hour work weeks. OUCH.

I work with people on bringing their dreams to life, and one of the number one excuses people have for not building their dreams, is how busy they are; that there's not enough time. But that's simply not true, we all have 24 hours a day, and we all have obligations to meet; work, family, chores, eating, drinking, taking care of our health and hygiene, etc. We're all busy. And, we all have choices to make. No one just "has the time," to build their dreams, they make the time, and that starts with being aware of where we're spending our time, and re-allocating where it makes sense.

Ask yourself this:

What would happen if even a portion of that time on social media went into building your dreams instead?

The statistics don't lie; if you're spending the equivalent of 40-hour work weeks 21 weeks a year (that's equivalent to 5-months full-time work) then imagine if you gave even half of that towards working on your dreams.

The Side Hustle You Already Have: Mindlessly Scrolling

Let’s break it down another way. If you spend 2 hours and 24 minutes a day on social media, that’s essentially:

➡️ A part-time job.
More specifically, it's almost 17 hours per week—double the typical “8-hour side hustle” model.

Except it pays in dopamine spikes, distractions, and comparison spirals instead of dollars, assets, and growth.

Imagine telling someone you’re working two part-time jobs:
One that builds your future… and one that erodes your focus.

Which one would you keep?

Reclaim Just a Portion—Change Your Entire Life

Let’s be clear. I’m not here to villainize social media. It’s a tool. It can connect, educate, and elevate.

But used without intention, it steals your most valuable asset:
Your time.

Here’s the kicker:
You don’t even need to reclaim all 2.5 hours a day to make a massive shift.

If you took back just 1 hour per day, you’d have:

7 hours a week
30 hours a month
365 hours a year

That’s 9 entire 40-hour work weeks a year—free—to launch your business, write your book, start a podcast, learn a skill, exercise, heal your body, meditate, journal, build content, or take daily aligned action on your dream life. That's enough time to create REAL change.

Use This Time to Form Habits that Actually Move the Needle

The key isn’t hustle. It’s habit.

Every life-changing result you’re craving is the result of consistent, repeatable action. And the number one excuse people make?
“I don’t have time.”

But if you’re scrolling 2+ hours per day, you do have time.
You’re just giving it away for free.

Reclaiming even one chunk of that time a day and using it to:

Read 10 pages
Write 500 words
Film a short-form video
Meditate for 15 minutes
Reach out to 3 potential leads
Take a 30-minute walk
Learn something new

… can completely change your mindset, your income, your health, and your direction.

The Opportunity Cost Is Real

Every hour you spend scrolling is an hour you’re not:

Launching your next offer
Building your legacy
Getting healthier
Connecting with your higher self
Serving your future clients
Building wealth
Living life on purpose

Time is non-refundable. It’s the most valuable currency we have.

So ask yourself:

Are you spending your hours… or are you investing them?

Your Dream Life Is Hiding in Your Time Blocks

You don’t need more hours.
You need to reclaim the ones you’re unconsciously handing away.

Start small.

Set a timer. Log out for a bit. Create before you consume. Replace scroll-time with soul-time.

Take back 30 minutes a day, then 60.
Use it to build momentum, habits, vision, belief.

And watch your entire life shift—not because you had more time,
…but because you chose to own it.

You have a full-time dream waiting on a part-time commitment.
The time is already in your hands. Now’s your moment to use it wisely.

Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you choose to make a purchase—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend programs and products I truly believe in and use myself.

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