Social Media Self-Care

Social media has become a significant part of our daily lives, as we check apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok on a daily basis. While there are many positive aspects of social media, there are drawbacks to these platforms as well. Social media can affect our mental health; when we compare ourselves to others and see how much happier other people appear to be, it can make us feel depressed or anxious, among other feelings. That’s where self-care comes in to combat the negative effects of social media. If the content on your news feeds is negatively impacting your mental health, here are a few tips to practice social media self-care: 

1. Unfollow/Unfriend accounts that make you unhappy:
If you find yourself drawing comparisons or engaging in negative self-talk after seeing a post, unfollow the account that posted it. It’s not worthwhile to keep viewing content that brings you down. If you are triggered by an account, if the content is toxic, or if it reminds you of hurtful memories, it may be best to unfollow or mute the account. Honor yourself and remove content that induces anxiety or makes you feel badly about yourself. 

2. Follow accounts that bring you positivity:
It’s great to be connected with content that makes you laugh, so fill your feed with accounts that inspire you. You can tailor your social media feed to you and what makes you happy rather than scrolling through content that isn’t beneficial for your mental health. Follow accounts that are consistent with your interests, whether that is animals, art, or travel. No matter the topic or theme, surround yourself with content that brings a smile to your face. 

3. Take a break!:
Turn off notifications from your social media accounts, that way you’re not constantly being pestered to open the app. Try to spend a full day away from your phone or half of the day. You can also start by setting app limits, so your phone notifies you when you go over your allotted time for the day. Give yourself and your brain a break from social media and see how you feel.

4. Check in with yourself:
If you’re not sure of how you’re responding to content, ask yourself questions while you’re scrolling to increase your awareness of how you interact with social media. Ask yourself, “Does this make me happy?”, “Am I comparing myself, my body or my life to others?”, and “Is this negatively impacting my mental health?” By keeping tabs on your thoughts and feelings while going through social media, you can actively make changes when your mental health is negatively impacted. 

It’s important to remember that social media is not reality and what you see is not always true. People have more going on in their lives than what they share online. Honor yourself and your mental health by using these tips and practicing self-care while on social media!  A little bit of self-care can go a long way!