Healthy Social Media Habits: Protect Your Mind While Staying Connected

Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives as it allows us to connect in real-time with our loved ones. However, extreme exposure to the internet also poses challenges, especially to our mental well-being.

Every May, we dedicate a month to raise awareness for mental health. Several studies have shown that too much social media can have negative effects on one's well-being due to the pressure of wanting to present a perfect life online.

Now is the time to reconsider how we use our social media accounts and try to find ways to protect our inner peace without breaking the connection. Here are some healthy social media habits that you can adopt:

Set Boundaries

The first step to take control of your well-being is by setting boundaries. You can try apps or built-in phone features that will limit your social media use. Gradually decreasing exposure can help you appreciate other activities outside social media.

If you need social media for work and personal matters, make it a habit to set scheduled breaks. Have a specific time of the day to check social media instead of constantly scrolling.

Learn Feed Curation

Social media is all about algorithms and knowing how to control your own feed is vital to prevent seeing any harmful content. You can start by following accounts that inspire and uplift your mood easily so that they will appear on your feed more often.

If you come across a negative video make sure to hit that unfollow or mute button on the content. Usually, companies will try to prevent you from showing you the same content after reporting it. Remember that you still have the power to control what you see and what you don't see online, even if they might take more effort.

Create Real-Life Interactions

Nothing beats real-life interactions with friends and family. Discover new hobbies or meet up with your friends outside. Make sure to initiate activities that do not involve any screen time.

You don't have to ultimately sacrifice your social media presence to achieve this. Instead, make sure that you will not depend on online interactions and create a balance in between.

Be Mindful to Others

Mental health awareness is not only for ourselves but also for other people. Always be the change that you want to see and experience. Social media is full of content that encourages people to argue online, so make sure to be mindful of your reaction.

You can also practice techniques like deep breathing or mindfulness to manage your emotional responses. In this way, you can prevent yourself from arguing or being affected by someone you see online.

Be Authentic

While social media is all about curation and showing one's best self, you don't have to be pressured to give the same energy. Start working on your confidence by presenting your true self on social media and maybe you can also inspire other people with your move.