How To Protect Your Mental Health on Social Media
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New Phone, Who Dis?
When social media first came on the scene, we embraced it as an amazing way to stay connected with family and friends–especially when life takes you far away. Although being on social media has its perks, more often than not, it can become very damaging on your mental health if not used correctly. Let’s explore ways you can protect yourself from the negative side effects while browsing online.
Establish Healthy Habits Online
The link between real life and social media is very complicated. What we see online is a carefully, curated selection of pictures that highlight the greatest accomplishments of people’s lives. We don’t tend to show when we lose a job, the nasty break-up, or when we think we’re failing at life. Instead, we choose to feature the amazing new house, the gorgeous outfit snapped at the right angle, or the shiny, new haircut styled perfectly.
For this reason, browsing through our social media tends to increase anxiety and depression. When all we see are the success stories from our peers, we harshly judge our own success (or lack thereof). Many social media influencers are guilty of also feeling the pressure to conform to an unrealistic beauty standard. There are so many apps that people use to distort their bodies in their pictures that, surprisingly, look very realistic!
Comparing yourself to other people online (especially during pregnancy and the difficulty of motherhood) can help feed into mom guilt. Don’t compare someone else’s filtered or photoshopped picture to your real life body. Real skin is not blemish free, and it’s extremely common to have stretch marks, acne, scars, cellulite, and saggy skin!
Negative Side Effects of Social Media
Some side effects from social media use that can take a toll on your mental health are:
- Depression and anxiety
- Lack of sleep
- Headaches
- Stress
- Low mood
- High blood pressure
It’s a good idea to keep track of your thought patterns to know when social media can be taking a negative toll on your health.
Take a Break From Social Media and Detox
If you feel that being on social media is making matters worse, the best way to protect your mental health on social media is by taking a break! We can take action against any feelings of unhappiness that arouse from browsing online by detoxing from social media.
Things you can do to take a break:
- Delete the social media app(s) on your phone
- Don’t log in as often as you usually do by giving yourself a time limit
- Unplug from being online and do things you enjoy to recharge your battery
- Let friends and family know to call you or text you instead of reaching out via social media
- Practice self care and try to lower your stress
Unfollow People Who Don’t Make You Happy!
If no one has told you yet, then I’ll tell you know:
The people who are no longer in your life do not need to be taking up space in your head. Whether it’s an ex from a romantic relationship, an ex-friend, an ex-business partner, or whatever the case may be, it really is good to let it go!
You are allowed to block, unfollow, or delete people from your feed that cause you any type of anxiety or apprehension. The beauty of social media is that YOU get to control what YOU see. If there are posts that are upsetting to you, there is no need to have them on your news feed.
Focus Less on Social Media and More on Real Life
Focusing less on social media and more on real life is a lot easier said than done! The value of maintaining friendships offline is irreplaceable in comparison to scrolling through your feed and feeling inadequate about your appearance or where you are in life.
Studies have shown there is a link with heavy social media use and an increased risk for depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts. Your feelings of jealousy and dissatisfaction are valid. Over time, it’s very likely to have accumulated a large lists of people you follow. It might be a good idea to go through your list of people and organizations that you follow and give it a good scrub. Mute, block, or unfollow people who are no longer adding to your joy.
We can thank technology and smart phones for being able to use social media out of pure boredom. Another way to spend time when you feel lonely is to invite a friend out for coffee, pick up a new hobby, or indulge in some very well deserved self-care activities.
To sum it up, establishing healthy habits online might not come easy, but it’s vital to protect your mental health. Take a break and detox if need be, unfollow anyone that makes you unhappy, and try to be present in real life! Put your phone away and enjoy every moment you can.
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