5 tips to balance social media and mental health
Now that we finally have exciting things to Instagram, here's how to enjoy social media without compromising your mental health.
If you love scrolling through Instagram, checking your Facebook newsfeed or seeing what's trending on Tik-Tok, this article is for you!
Social media can be brilliant - it's a convenient way to stay in touch with friends, it can be inspiring if you follow the right people, and it's a great marketing tool for small businesses.
Along with video conferencing software, it's also fulfilled our needs for connection during lockdown. But can too much be detrimental to our wellbeing?
“After food and shelter, social connection is our greatest need from birth to death,” says Emma Seppala, PhD, co-director of the Yale College Emotional Intelligence Project at Yale University and author of The Happiness Track.
Out of necessity, much of our socialising has been virtual rather than in-person lately. But even before the pandemic, social media encouraged us to connect virtually with others - and it turns out, too much can be damaging, particularly when we substitute it for in-person connection. In fact, research published in 2018 suggests that limiting time spent on social media could actually significantly reduce feelings of loneliness and depression.
With that in mind, here’s how to manage your feeds with consideration for your own mental health, and the mental wellbeing of others.
1. Limit your posts
Even if you accomplish 100 amazing things today, you probably shouldn’t post 100 times. People use social media to check in on all their friends, not just you - so instead of flooding their feeds with all your great accomplishments, spread the news out over the course of a few days and weeks.
2. Be compassionate
Helping others has the potential to make us feel happier, Seppala says. “Follow pages that foster compassion or people who post uplifting messages,” she suggests. “Then make it a point to send friends nice comments.” Whether you send an encouraging emoji or write them a heartfelt message, showing compassion can help make social media a positive place to be.
3. Take a break
It’s tough to argue that we’ve become somewhat dependent on our phones, so here’s a challenge: how about going a day without posting or checking social media? Use the time you get back to do something productive, like working out, trying something new or seeing friends.
“When Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram becomes a substitute for in-person relationships, and the bulk of your social interactions move to the virtual world, that’s when people may become lonely or depressed,” says Andrew Lepp, PhD, associate professor and new media behavioural researcher at Kent State University.
4. Be proud but don’t “smoast”
Smoast = boast on social media. Having accomplishments and achieving goals is incredible, and whenever you do hit a personal milestone, you should always be proud. But when you post an accomplishment on social media, try not to “smoast”. Instead, why not aim to inspire others with your achievements?
5. Follow inspirational people
Follow people who make you feel good about yourself, and accounts that inspire you to adopt healthy behaviours, such as trying new activities and moving more. Being part of a network of physically active people might reinforce the idea that exercise is a rewarding, positive behaviour, and that, in turn, may encourage you to work out more, says Lepp.