It’s so important to make your social media more positive, especially since social media has become such a huge part of our lives, especially in today’s world with decreasing face-to-face contact due to COVID-19.
Although social media has many benefits, it also has plenty of downfalls. One of the main issues is the impact on self-esteem and mental health. Many images we see online include airbrushed faces and edited body figures which present false ideas of what we “should” look like.
These ideas have been shown to be the root of many eating disorders and mental health concerns. How do we empower ourselves to enjoy the positives of social media without breaking ourselves down?
Here are 10 easy ways to make your social media more positive:
1. Clean out who you are following
If you have ever watched Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, then you understand that you should only keep things in your life which bring joy. If something does not bring you joy, THROW IT OUT. This concept also applies to the pages you follow on social media. Take a few minutes each day to weed through the pages you are following and unfollow those that do not serve you in a positive way.
2. Follow positive and inspiring pages
While you unfollow pages that don’t serve you, begin to follow pages that do serve you in a positive way. Find accounts that interest you, empower you, and inspire you without bringing you down.
3. Be a beacon of light for others
Make sure that your posts reflect positivity! Whether you run a personal or professional account, remember that what you post influences and impacts others.
4. Show support for pages that you love
If you find that a page has gives you some form of positive outlook and happiness, don’t be afraid to show some love! Supporting your favorite pages spreads the love and provides reinforcement that their message is making a difference.
5. Know when to put the phone down
If social media is causing negative feelings or you don’t feel any benefit from what you see, just put the phone down. Go for a walk, talk to a friend, read a book, or watch your favorite show!
6. Don’t allow negativity on your page
Although we like to think that everyone is there to uplift us, there will always be someone trying to tear us down. When it comes to those people who post negative comments that add dark energy to your page, delete, delete, delete. Don’t allow that negativity to manifest itself on your page!
7. When in doubt, block them out
If negative people are persistent or enter your private messages, block them out. There is no need to have negative energy in your space.
8. Turn off like counts
A wonderful new feature on Instagram allows you to turn off the number of likes on your post, so the post is just about the content, not how popular it is. This takes the pressure off of posting and allows posting on social media to be more fun!
9. Be intentional with your usage
Listening to your body when it comes to social media usage is very important. If you feel that using social media is causing you to feel moody, sad, angry or causing frequent headaches or you are experiencing sleep problems, then you may need a break from social media and phone usage. Social media is fun in moderation, and just like most things it is all about balance.
10. Be your authentic self
Lastly, it is important that you allow yourself to be your authentic self on your social media. Don’t allow society to pressure you to change in any way. People follow your account because they enjoy and appreciate YOU!
Blog contribution by Kayla Abella, Dietetic Intern.
Review and Edited by Marissa Kai Miluk, MS, RDN, LD and Kaitlyn Allen MS, MEd, MS, RD.
Did you know that season 2 of Behind the Binge podcast came out on 9/10? Click here to listen!
