by Lauren Hodges, Sunshima blog writer
Social media… probably one of the most addicting technological creations to come out of the 21st century. We see all of these influencers with these “dream lives” and “dream bodies” and “sky-high confidence”, and it’s mesmerizing! I get it, but what if I told you that we are simultaneously making ourselves mentally sick by comparing our lives to theirs; comparing our bodies to theirs, which only leads to a decline in our mental health. I used to do exactly that. I was making myself sick and knew it was time to get my mental health in check and I want to share with you how I did it!
Take Frequent Breaks
Taking breaks is by far the most important on the list! When I say take breaks, I don’t mean you have to swear off social media for 30 days or even a whole week. I simply mean, take a day off once a week or take a few hours off at the end of each day. Do something to detach yourself from the highlight reels of other people’s lives. Take that time to focus on you!
Be Grateful
Being grateful is often overlooked but makes a massive difference in the way you view other people’s lives and your own. Remember to literally stop and smell the roses once in a while. You have no idea what the wider circumstances were behind the photos, videos and snapshots you see on social media, you only know what you are told. So, when you’re telling yourself “man I wish my life were that amazing”, remember that “amazing” is subjective and it’s circumstantial. Remember to remind yourself of good things that happened that day; of good things that are coming. It will keep you grounded in the present moment instead of having you go down the rabbit hole of comparisons!
Rephrase Your Thoughts
I am a firm believer in “you are what you think” so by constantly telling yourself your life isn’t as great, as interesting, as unique as so-and-so’s, you are keeping yourself stuck in an unhealthy, self-deprecating state of mind. Try rephrasing those thoughts by saying, “That woman is so pretty” or “Wow maybe I can get my hair coloured like hers”. You could even go so far as to say, “That man’s life is my ideal life, how can I get there?”. Don’t self-deprecate… self-encourage!
Stop Following People Who Trigger You
One of the hardest lessons for me to learn was that sometimes my favourite creators are the most toxic ones to my mental health. I had to learn who they were, why I was so obsessed with them, and if the reasoning was toxic, unfollow them! My mental health improved and because I had removed those triggers from my everyday presence. I stopped obsessing. I moved on with my life and I highly recommend you do the same!
Social media will always be in our lives unless you actively choose to avoid it. In my opinion though, social media can be one of the most encouraging places. It serves as a chance for you to follow people who inspire you and who make you want to be a better person, or to simply look at cute dog photos which is equally rewarding! As long as you are taking care of your mental health along the way, social media is a beautiful platform!