Live, Laugh, Like: 4 Ways to Increase Mindfulness on Social Media
Social media truly is the place to be. It opens a world of possibilities for communication, information, and even sharing ideas, recipes, or funny videos. According to Statista.com, over 3.6 billion people in the world were using social media in 2020 and this number is only projected to increase over the next few years – up to 4.4 billion by 2025. But with everyone as a part of the social media sphere, why do so many of us feel hurt, neglected, and lonely because of it?
For as much good as social media can do, there is equally if not more damage that is being done to people’s mental health. Social media can be divisive, negative, misinformed, and lead to serious mental health issues. A 2018 study published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology confirms these feelings proving that there is a causal link between social media usage and increased depression and loneliness.
It can be extremely difficult to navigate this cyber landscape, but by following these 4 tips can help reduce stress, increase mindfulness, and improve your overall wellbeing one small step at a time.
Nix the Negativity
Social media should be a place where you can escape the harsh realities of the world we live in if you choose to – not be constantly bombarded by negativity and division. Try to take a look at your list of followers and people you follow; do they fill your feed with positivity and good information? If not, it might be wise to consider muting or unfollowing certain friends and family, as difficult as it may be. Remember that your own mental health is valuable and your closest friends and family should respect that.
Do Not Disturb
It is clear that we are addicted to our phones - 80% of Americans say they check their phones within the first 10 minutes of waking up – and our phones are the easiest way for most people to access their social media accounts. Even if you can’t fully unplug from your social accounts on your phone, turning off notifications can be a step in the right direction. You won’t feel as tempted to check every like, comment, or follow as frequently throughout the day.
Fight the FOMO
When you open up Instagram, it seems like everyone is always having fun and living their best lives. While this is surely the case for some people, most times our friends only post the best parts of themselves and don’t their struggles and misfortunes. It can be easy to feel like you are missing out on fun! To mitigate feelings of FOMO (fear of missing out) and isolation, remind yourself that often times people are portraying a specific version of themselves on social media. Things might not always be as they seem; that is why in-person interactions with friends are so important!
Be a Positive Poster
Social media has a lot of potential for good, positive influence in people’s lives. Some of the major benefits of social media come from keeping us in touch with family and friends, sharing current events, and building community. However, if your account is contributing to other peoples’ stress, you may want to rethink your strategy. Perpetuating negativity is destructive for everyone involved. Try to share uplifting posts, comment support to your friends, or participate in silly yet uplifting social media trends. Be the positive poster that you would want to see online!
