Friday 30 June 2017

Social media and mental health

Today, many of us use social media in a range of different ways, whether it’s keeping in touch with friends and family around the world, staying up to date with the latest news, or even using it to help us find our next dream job. There is no denying that social media is a powerful resource with the potential to be incredible valuable. Increasingly though, there are calls for more awareness around the potential impact that social media can have on our mental well-being. So, how do we ensure that we are using social media in a way that is best looking after our mental health?

Here we’ve put together our 5 top tips on how to look after your mental health while using social media:

 

Take a technology break

Today our smart phones are rarely out of our sight and so the temptation to scroll through news feeds is ever present. Make a conscious effort to take time out from using your phone, computer or tablet. Use this time to do things that you enjoy offline; focus on being in the present. Whether it’s going for a walk, listening to music, trying out a new recipe, whatever you fancy really, enjoy a bit of you time offline.

 

Acknowledge the filters

Remind yourself that what you see on social media is rarely an accurate depiction of reality, so don’t try and compare yourself to it. People share content on social media that has been specifically selected, edited, and touched up, in order to present a specific version of themselves. When people begin to compare themselves to what they see online, they can often end up feeling that they don’t quite match up.

 


Don’t neglect your offline relationships

Social media is certainly a great tool for helping you stay in touch with people, but make an effort to develop and maintain relationships offline as well. Face-to-face interactions and socialising are so important, so be sure you don’t neglect these in favour of simply focusing on digital interactions alone.

 

 

Allocate set times for social media

Set aside a specific time slots in the day for using social media. By separating social media off as an activity in its own right (which has a time limit) you are more likely to think about what you want to get out of your time online and actively engage with those that you’re connected to. This can be useful in preventing excessive time being spent endlessly scrolling through news feeds throughout the day.

 

 

Maintain a balance

Like most things social media is something that, when used in moderation, can be a great tool.  By simply being mindful of how much time you are spending on social media and how social media can influence your mood, you are putting yourself in a much better position to maintain a healthy balance!

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