There’s so surprise that social media may be drastically impacting our mental health. I recently watched a documentary on Netflix called The Social Dilemma that called social media a simultaneous Utopia and Distopia and I couldn’t think of a more accurate description. Friends. Social media anxiety is REAL. Yes I am a Blogger/Creative and I love sharing my work and engaging with you all, but sometimes the algorithms and expectations of perfection can be exhausting.
For some of us, going off the grid forever isn’t an option because technology is how we sustain our income, market our businesses, and connect with our audiences. Is there a healthy way to engage on social media? Yes! Does it take a lot of work and a lot of will power? Yes! But– the time that you get back to devote to your family, your business, and your art– that’s the win. If you struggle with screen time and need to draw your attention away from Social media apps– if even for a smaller portion of your day– read on for the ways that I have learned to navigate social media with less anxiety.
Perform social media audits, regularly.
When I first joined Instagram, I used to follow every beautiful person that I came across. When I tell you the insecurities were SCREAMING at me! I (consciously and subconsciously) started comparing myself to others. I didn’t feel pretty enough, I’m not skinny enough, my a** isn’t fat enough, my hair isn’t long enough, I’m not doing enough, I don’t have enough, I don’t make enough. Whooo. All this coming from an adult, otherwise secure woman so imagine how these kids feel when they are being exposed to the same content?
I had to remind myself of a few things. Social media is a highlight reel. Often times, you’re seeing the reward of hard work (and not what it took to get there), you’re seeing a production that took team effort, or you’re seeing something FAKE. My biggest take away though, is that the world is full of beautiful people. Just because someone is beautiful doesn’t mean that you need a front row seat into their life– especially if they aren’t bringing any value into yours. If you see a beautiful people in the grocery store, you don’t follow them around the store, do you? In both my personal and business social networking goals, I want a community of people that I am learning from. People that bring value to my life and inspire me. I promise it isn’t as self serving as it sounds.
Just as I surround myself with those that I can learn from in real life, I’ve started to treat my Instagram the same way and the type of content that I’ve been exposed to has changed drastically. Try doing an audit to your social media accounts by “muting” or “unfollowing” accounts that seem inauthentic, superficial, or those that you are not gaining value from. Then, see if the “energy” of your timeline is different. If it is, then you’ve made a great decision! Rinse and repeat as often as you feel necessary.
Set a timer to limit your time on social media.
Did you know that you can set a timer to limit the amount of time you spend on each app? This tip is for the strong willed. If you are the “hit snooze a few times until I finally stumble out of bed” type, setting a timer is going to be harder for you because you are holding yourself accountable for getting off when you say you will.
If you’re up for the challenge, follow these steps on your iphone to set a limit for each app: Settings >> Screen Time>> App Limits>> Add Limit >> Social Networking >>Select an App (or several) >> Customize Accordingly >> Add.
Turn Off Push Notifications for apps.
Since turning off push notifications about a year ago, I’ve had such a better relationship with social media apps. Turning off notifications allows you to go to the app when YOU are ready, instead of being “called” to it because a like, comment, or tag is forcing your attention. Taking that power back and only engaging with the app when you are ready may reduce your anxiety, and as long as you set a stopping point that works best for your schedule, it may also help you get more consistent with the days/times and intervals that work best for YOU to be present there.
Schedule Content with Third Party Programs
Scheduling content with third party sites was a game changer for me! As a content creator, scheduling your content is critical because it helps you stay consistent with posting, create a theme/aesthetic, and helps you stay organized. Even if you aren’t a Creator, Blogger or Influencer, I recommend scheduling posts when you can because again… it cuts the amount of time that you will spend on social media apps.
It felt robotic at first, but I’ve gotten into the habit of scheduling my content the night before, and then logging on the next day to engage for about an hour or so before and after the post goes live. This helps with the “IG algorithm” where you are still active and engaging, and it also fulfills that time that you will spend responding to comments, commenting on posts, etc. I now use this time to engage and connect with my audience instead of staring at the app thinking of a caption, just “posting to post” or aimlessly scrolling.
Remember, IG is a social network that rewards those that spend their time… socializing… but this does not mean that you have to spend all day doing so. Trust me –schedule your content and get your time back, Boo.
Delete social media apps from your phone and only use them on an actual computer.
Removing social media apps from your phone is obviously the most extreme option here, but keep in mind that most apps don’t even require a phone for use. If you don’t want the temptation of scrolling or having these apps at your fingertips, why not just keep it to desktop or laptop usage? When I deactivated my Facebook account for a few years, it was the most freeing experience I’ve ever had! I’m considering removing a few apps to only have access to them on a computer for that same reason– freedom and control over how and when I connect.
As great as social media can be to connect us and help us grow our businesses, remember that there is a downside to that as well. Social media burnout, social media overexposure, and social media anxiety. These apps are all fighting for our attention from the things that matter the most– our children, our families and friends, and our purpose. Yes, it’s definitely possible to have a healthy balance– as long as you remember that YOU are in control.
Which tips do you see yourself applying to the way you engage on social media? Let’s chat in the comments!