You can't begin to understand something until you've forced yourself to exist in the absence of that something. This is why we fast. We fast from sugar to understand sugar. We fast from alcohol to understand alcohol. We fast from social media to understand social media. It is in these periods of abstinence that we develop a deeper and truer understanding of that which we are choosing to abstain from. Once our fast has ended and this understanding has been reached, it is our choice on whether or not we choose to once again pick up the something we were fasting from. If we do, we will often notice a healthier, more mindful relationship with that something. Abstinence allows us to avoid mindless consumption.