For a lot of people social media is a big part of their day-to-day routine. Out of habit we check our feeds first thing in the morning, throughout the day and often before heading off to sleep. We watch how other people, whether they be influencers or those we know, live their lives.
There are many positive things about social media, we find communities that we click with, we get some seriously good life hacks we never would have thought of ourselves. With how much time we dedicate to social media is also really important that we’re aware of how it affects how we view ourselves.
Being mindful of the people and accounts that we follow and look at on our media and social media platforms can make a big difference to our overall mental health and thought life.
With so many “perfect” accounts, it can be easy to get caught up in a mindset that tells us we’re not enough or don’t measure up to those that we follow.
Being mindful of the people and accounts that we follow and look at on our media and social media platforms can make a big difference to our overall mental health and thought life. This is especially important when we remember that filters are used, that we only see the highlights of people’s lives and not the moment-to-moment experiences. It can be really hard to remember this and so it may be worth thinking about a social media detox and/or revamp to help make social media a healthier space to be in for you personally.
Here are some ideas for a creating a healthier online space:
- Unfollowing any accounts or people that don’t offer information that is helpful/necessary to you right now and instead;
- Watching or following media/social media accounts that promote healthy self-image, a balanced life view that resonates with you and also adds to your sense of physical and emotional safety.
- Creating a limit for the time you spend engaging with media and social media. Eg. Only checking your Instagram, Snapchat or TikTok at a set time each day for a set amount of time, 4.30pm for an hour, for example (even setting an alarm to start/finish so you don’t get stuck on there).
- Creating a new habit of not checking any of your social media until at least an hour after waking up so that what you see online does not set the tone for your day.
Information sources
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/blog/how-does-social-media-affect-your-body-image
https://online.king.edu/news/social-media-and-body-image
YFC Care 