It’s hard sometimes to even imagine what life would be like without social media. The benefits it offers are so amazing. It keeps us in contact with so many people, keeps us updated on their lives and gives us access to information that we would simply not get from traditional media sources.
Truth is that social media has become almost fully integrated into many of our lives. It’s like constant streaming highlight reels from people’s lives, but let’s face it, it’s also a kind of like a resume’ that’s maybe a little on the sunny side of the truth sometimes.
When we try to compare our lives to the lives of others, this can get a bit difficult at times when our own lives just don’t quite seem to add up. This can be really difficult for kids and adolescents who are still developing their identities or people with already existing anxiety or depression.
We can also suffer from a Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). Do you or your loved ones sometimes stay of late into the night consuming social media? Is it sometimes hard to walk away? Social media is a potent kick of the neurotransmitter, Dopamine, and it can leave us wanting another hit…just one more post or video…The struggle is reel.
How are we to find balance with social media?
The following are some helpful tips:
- Focus on Real Life Connections: Prioritize spending time with people in-person or join a local group that interests you.
- Focus on Positive Content: Be sure to curate a feed by following only people who share positive life messages, and delete, unfollow or mute people who trigger negative emotions.
- Develop Healthy Habits: Focus on hobbies like exercise or other creative habits outside of social media that allow you to redirect your attention.
Social media is a lot like a double-edged sword. It helps us stay connected while at the same time creating a challenge for mental health. As a therapist, I rarely encourage people to just go cold-turkey from social media, but I do encourage people to regularly assess their relationship with it. When we do this, we can sometimes regain better control of our digital habits for better mental health.