Feature Image by Georgia de Lotz
Social media can be fun, motivating, and inspiring — but it can also be stressful, discouraging, and divisive. There’s a lot happening on social media right now, and you might be tempted to log off or deactivate your account.
However, there are a number of ways you can have a positive relationship on social media! Here are some tips to help you reap the benefits without letting it mentally and emotionally exhaust you.
Don’t be afraid to hit that “unfollow” button
There will be people who will make you feel bad on social media, and if they’re consistently getting under your skin, it’s time to hit that “unfollow” button. “Don’t follow anyone you don’t like or you think brings bad energy to your life to keep your social media feeds positive,” says clinical psychologist Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD. “The same thing goes for anyone that is following you and comments negatively on your posts or is harassing you — block them immediately. Remove any toxic people from your social media pages.”
Balance online and offline interactions
“This may be more challenging right now with shelter-in-place restrictions, but in general it is helpful to make sure that you’re engaging with people in real life as opposed to just online,” says Dr. Nicole Beurkens, a clinical psychologist and brand ambassador to Qustodio. “This allows for the development of deeper relationships, and for discussion about things you and they aren’t likely to share publicly online.”
Avoid arguments
Social media is filled with people with strong opinions. Some of that can be beneficial and allow us to understand and hear different points of view. “Particularly because, in real life, we tend to spend time with people who are similar to us or share our opinions on issues,” says board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Margaret Seide. “However, be mindful about engaging in some of that heated discourse, as people can feel free to type things to another person from the safety of their sofa that they would never actually say to that person.”
Be authentic in what you share
“In the race to gain a following, people can lose touch with themselves when they present themselves to the world,” says Hafeez. “If you want to have a positive experience on social media, don’t try to be somebody else. Post things that make you happy and want to share with the world.”
Take intentional breaks
Too much social media can have a negative effect on your well-being, so it’s important to create a designated chunk of time to step away. “If you notice that you aren’t feeling good about things in general, or especially after spending time on social media, then it’s time to take a break,” says Beurkens. This can mean setting aside times during the day when you go social media or device-free, or having periods of detox each week where you go for longer time periods without your devices or social media engagement.”
Social media can be a great tool, but you’ll want to avoid burnout. Creating boundaries for yourself will allow for a more positive experience.
xx, The FabFitFun Team
