HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH SOCIAL MEDIA
1. CREATE A CURATED EXPERIENCE
Your relationship with social media can be one of the best teachers if you let it be.
I used to get SO MUCH anxiety every time I checked my phone and opened up instagram or facebook etc.
I used to go online and turn into Judge Judy looking at photos/videos of people I half-heartedly followed. It wasn't until I took the initiative to ACTIVELY follow and unfollow people that this changed.
How many people are you following who when you see their posts, you're filled with negative thoughts/feelings? How often do you feel less-than while scrolling through instagram?
Social media is kind of like a mirror. Everything you look at, everyone you follow was/is a choice. Nobody's forcing you to follow or look at anything. So, you're in control. You get to decide what you take in and what isn't good for you.
Some people LOVE looking at cute little families on instagram while others don't because they have trouble conceiving.
Some people LOVE fitness influencers because they inspire them to workout while others are triggered and feel like crap.
Some people LOVE travel pages while others roll their eyes and judge.
Everyone's feelings and perspectives are valid.
We're able to create our own curated experience online and we're always changing so it's normal for our experience online to change too.
Just follow what makes you happy and unfollow what doesn't.
I used to get SO MUCH anxiety every time I checked my phone and opened up instagram or facebook etc.
I used to go online and turn into Judge Judy looking at photos/videos of people I half-heartedly followed. It wasn't until I took the initiative to ACTIVELY follow and unfollow people that this changed.
How many people are you following who when you see their posts, you're filled with negative thoughts/feelings? How often do you feel less-than while scrolling through instagram?
Social media is kind of like a mirror. Everything you look at, everyone you follow was/is a choice. Nobody's forcing you to follow or look at anything. So, you're in control. You get to decide what you take in and what isn't good for you.
Some people LOVE looking at cute little families on instagram while others don't because they have trouble conceiving.
Some people LOVE fitness influencers because they inspire them to workout while others are triggered and feel like crap.
Some people LOVE travel pages while others roll their eyes and judge.
Everyone's feelings and perspectives are valid.
We're able to create our own curated experience online and we're always changing so it's normal for our experience online to change too.
Just follow what makes you happy and unfollow what doesn't.
2. LISTEN TO YOUR GUT
Okay, this ties in with that first point.
You KNOW when you see something online that doesn't make you feel good and THAT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL THING.
The fact that you know when certain posts spark joy in you and when certain posts make you feel awful is the absolute best thing you can be tapped into because it means you're self-aware. You're already able to recognize what inspires you and what triggers you.
It's so important to lean into what makes you feel good but I also think it's equally (if not more) important to lean into exploring WHY certain things trigger you or make you feel less-than and explore whatever negative feelings come out with certain content. This has been HUGE in my own journey not only with social media but it's been a major teacher for me to be able to explore my own traumas and triggers.
Remember that our triggers are our teachers.
You KNOW when you see something online that doesn't make you feel good and THAT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL THING.
The fact that you know when certain posts spark joy in you and when certain posts make you feel awful is the absolute best thing you can be tapped into because it means you're self-aware. You're already able to recognize what inspires you and what triggers you.
It's so important to lean into what makes you feel good but I also think it's equally (if not more) important to lean into exploring WHY certain things trigger you or make you feel less-than and explore whatever negative feelings come out with certain content. This has been HUGE in my own journey not only with social media but it's been a major teacher for me to be able to explore my own traumas and triggers.
Remember that our triggers are our teachers.
3. TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEADSPACE
THIS IS SO IMPORTANT.
I use that app Headspace and recommend it to literally everyone I talk to
(If you wanna get into meditation it's such an amazing app here's a link to a discount!
https://www.headspace.com/sharing-is-caring/Oby2tlSlQ1GUc_pyL-K3qQ )
But taking care of your mental health should be your top priority, especially through this insane year. It's taken it's tole on everyone a little differently but we're all in this.
Taking care of your head is the single most important thing you can do for yourself. Meditation, reading and nature time are what work best for me to stay in a good mindset but everyone is different and you deserve to take care of your head.
I use that app Headspace and recommend it to literally everyone I talk to
(If you wanna get into meditation it's such an amazing app here's a link to a discount!
https://www.headspace.com/sharing-is-caring/Oby2tlSlQ1GUc_pyL-K3qQ )
But taking care of your mental health should be your top priority, especially through this insane year. It's taken it's tole on everyone a little differently but we're all in this.
Taking care of your head is the single most important thing you can do for yourself. Meditation, reading and nature time are what work best for me to stay in a good mindset but everyone is different and you deserve to take care of your head.
4. MAKE IT FUN
If it's not fun, you're doing it wrong.
There's no need to waste your time and mental/emotional energy on something that doesn't bring you JOY. So, if you don't like how you feel scrolling through social media, you can change that. You can start sharing more of what you love or following more of what you love. It can be a good time if you want it to be.
There's no need to waste your time and mental/emotional energy on something that doesn't bring you JOY. So, if you don't like how you feel scrolling through social media, you can change that. You can start sharing more of what you love or following more of what you love. It can be a good time if you want it to be.
5. TAKE BREAKS
Could be an hour, could be a day, could be a month, could be a year.
You know yourself best so that's all up to you.
You know yourself best so that's all up to you.
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