Social media, in its best form, is an amazing way for humans to connect. We can join groups for people with shared hobbies, check out hashtags about our favorite books or movies, and share little thoughts with the world.
Sometimes, though, it can get ugly out there.
We compare ourselves to that person we knew in high school that seems to totally have their life together, or even worse, the celebrity whose full-time job is their online image.
We get into stressful, emotional fights that take over comment threads and way too much space in our minds.
We get so excited about every post, like, and reply that we start to get sucked in for longer and longer periods of time, losing track of the life that is right in front of us.
There are many times and places that social media is an incredible tool, but it’s important to put some habits in place to keep it from negatively impacting our mental and emotional health. Here are some ways you can keep your social media use fun and healthy!
Start setting limits
While there are some great guidelines to follow, like getting off screens an hour before bed, start by setting limits that are realistic for you. If an hour feels too hard at first, start with 15 minutes and work your way up.
In addition to limits before bed, try setting rules for yourself like:
- Limiting the amount of time per day on specific apps. Chances are, you already have a good idea of which social media apps you’re most likely to get lost in. Use your phone’s settings or an app like Offtime to remind you to get off apps or block the use of those apps at certain times.
- Don’t get online first thing in the morning. Use your phone as an alarm clock if you must, but after that, no looking at the screen until you’ve done some other things first. Try taking your time making a great cup of coffee, reading a chapter of a book, or giving your pet some extra attention instead!
- Leave your phone in the other room for part of your day. This could be while you’re working out, making dinner, or talking to the people you live with. Whatever time works best for you is fine, but leave the phone elsewhere and focus on what’s in front of you.
Ruthlessly edit who you follow
It’s easy for our feeds to get clogged with larger-than-life influencers, depressing news stories, and other pieces of information that make us feel worse about our lives or the world around us. Take some time this weekend to ruthlessly edit who you’re following! If taking on every platform at once feels like too much, try starting with the platform where you spend the most time.
If you need some more positive content to fill your feed, follow us at @contentcucumber! We love sharing fun quotes, our favorite pet pics, and lifehacks.
Use social media intentionally
Instead of mindlessly scrolling through, go onto social media with a purpose! Do you want to see how that one friend is doing? Send your mom a message? Check out the latest updates in that Facebook group about your favorite dog breed? Really think about what you’re looking for when you open up a social media app and focus on doing that one thing.
If you find yourself getting on social media as a default, try finding some other ways to spend time in those little moments. Here are some ideas for things you can try instead:
- Get a meditation app and start practicing
- Get an ebook app like Hoopla or Kindle and read a page
- Text a friend you haven’t talked to in a while
- Take a picture of something beautiful around you
- Start learning a new skill, like a foreign language
It’s okay to not feel okay
If you’re struggling with your mental health, it’s okay to need help! Consider checking out this blog for some helpful online resources or reaching out to your mental health professional or primary care physician to get professional support. You are not alone.
Social media is an amazing tool, and when used well, it can be a fun way to connect, get ideas for new projects or hobbies, and learn new things. Just remember to use these strategies to help keep your experience online fun, uplifting, and focused on connection.