Last Updated on February 20, 2024 by Christin
Social media has the potential to help us connect with friends and family, share important news and experiences, and even promote our businesses. However, social media can also have negative effects on our mental health, including increasing feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. In this blog post, we’ll explore some tips for using social media in a healthy way.
11 Ways To Use Social Media In A Healthy Way
1. Set Time Limits
If you find yourself scrolling through social media for hours on end, it’s time to set some limits.
One way to do this is to delete the apps from your phone or only allow yourself to use social media on your computer.
Another way to set limits is to schedule specific times for checking social media and stick to those times. For example, you might allow yourself to check social media for 30 minutes when you get home from work and then again for 30 minutes before bed. Once you’ve reached your limit, log off and do something else.
2. Be Selective About Who You Follow
One of the best ways to make sure you’re using social media in a healthy way is to be selective about who you follow. Only follow people who make you feel good about yourselfโpeople who make you laugh, inspire you, or add value to your life in some way.
Unfollow ANYONE who makes you feel bad about yourself or your life. When you only follow people who make you feel good, social media becomes a much more positive experience.
3. Limit Comparisons
Comparing ourselves to others is one of the quickest ways to make ourselves feel badโand social media is full of opportunities for comparison.
To avoid falling into this trap, limit the amount of time you spend looking at other people’s lives online. Instead of spending hours looking at other people’s vacation photos or comparing your life to someone else’s highlight reel, focus on enjoying your own life offline.
4. Don’t Get Caught Up In Meaningless Arguments With Factitious People
If you find yourself getting into arguments with people you don’t even know, it’s time to take a step back. These arguments are usually pointless and only serve to make you angry and upset.
The best way to deal with these situations is to simply walk away. Don’t engage with the person, don’t reply to their comments, and don’t get drawn into a back-and-forth argument. It’s not worth your time or energy.
5. Find Ways To Connect With People IRL
One of the best ways to use social media in a healthy way is to find ways to connect with people in real life (IRL). Social media can be a great way to connect with people who share your interests, but it’s no substitute for face-to-face interaction.
Make an effort to connect with people you meet on social media IRLโattend meetups, join clubs or organizations, or set up coffee dates with friends. These in-person interactions will do wonders for your mental health.
6. Post With Purpose
Before you hit the “post” button, ask yourself what purpose your post is serving.
If you’re just posting for the sake of posting, or if you’re only sharing negative experiences, it might be time to take a break from social media. But if you’re sharing something that brings joy to your life or that you think will add value to other people’s lives, then go ahead and hit “post.”
7. Don’t Compare Your Online Life To Your Offline Life
It’s important to remember that social media is not an accurate representation of real life. People usually only share the positive aspects of their lives online, so it’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing your life to someone else’s highlight reel.
To avoid this, focus on living your best life offline. Don’t compare your life to what you see on social mediaโcompare it to your own personal standards and goals.
8. Be Mindful Of The Language You Use
The language you use on social media can have a big impact on your mental health. Be mindful of the words you use to describe yourself and your lifeโif you’re constantly putting yourself down, it can lead to feelings of low self-esteem.
Instead, focus on using positive language. Use words that make you feel good about yourself, and avoid words that make you feel bad.
9. Take A Break From Social Media Often
If you’re finding that social media is having a negative impact on your mental health, it might be time to take a break. This doesn’t mean you have to delete your accountsโjust take a few days (or weeks) off from posting, reading, and commenting.
Use this time to focus on other aspects of your life, and see how you feel after a break from social media. You might find that you feel better without it.
If you feel addicted to social media, it can be really hard to log out and stop looking at your feeds. But, you can do it.
Here are a few tips:
1. Set a goal. Decide how long you want to be off social media, and make sure to stick to your goal.
2. Find a substitute activity. Instead of looking at your phone when you’re bored, find something else to do that you enjoy, such as reading, talking to friends, or going outside.
3. Tell your friends and family. Let the people you are close to know that you’re taking a break from social media so they can support you.
4. Delete the apps from your phone. This can help to prevent temptation and make it easier to stick to your goal.
5. Use affirmations: Affirm to yourself that you are capable of getting off social media for a while and that you want to get off social media. The more you affirm positive things about getting off social media to yourself, the more likely you are to do it.
If you are not sure what affirmations to use, Subliminal Guru has an affirmation album called Stop Social Network Addiction.
10. Use Social Media To Help You With Your Personal Goals
If you’re struggling to achieve your personal goals, social media can be a great tool. Use it to connect with people who have similar goals, or use it to find resources that can help you reach your goals.
For example, if you’re trying to lose weight, you can follow health and fitness accounts that share tips and motivation. Or if you’re trying to save money, you can follow financial bloggers who offer advice on saving and investing.
Following or interacting with social media accounts that help you move closer to your goals is a healthy way to use social media.
11. Seek Help If You’re Struggling
If you’re struggling with your mental health because of social media, don’t be afraid to seek help. Sometimes we get stuck into a habit of using something in a way that does more harm than good, and we need someone to teach us better ways. There are many resources available to help you, including hotlines, online support groups, and therapy.
By following these tips, you can make sure that social media is enhancing your life rather than harming it. If you find that social media is having a negative impact on your mental health, consider taking a break from it altogetherโeven if it’s just for a few days or weeks. Remember, there’s more to life than what happens online!
