It’s OK to step away from social media to avoid negativity
Social media right now is a very strange thing. It can be one of the only ways to stay connected with family and friends, but it can also be a place where you are scrolling aimlessly for hours and consuming things that are harming your peace of mind. It’s a place where people are sharing positive videos and funny pictures to try and help others but is also the forefront of false news and negativity.
Social media is the most dangerous double-edged sword there is right now. It’s easy to fall into the black hole of the stories being put out there. Right now, spending too much time on social media can really affect your mental health and your ability to function during this time. If there’s one thing I can recommend right now, it’s to limit social media time and try to keep honest positivity on social media.
As I said before, it is too easy to just scroll through social media right now and fall down a rabbit hole. You don’t realize all the different things you are consuming, and it is important to keep an eye on yourself. Make sure you recognize if you start getting a bad feeling or are getting more anxious when you are on social media. Put your phone aside and take time away from it. There is no harm in not being on your phone all day even though it’s more convenient than ever. It’s also okay to unfollow/unfriend people if they are sharing things that are not helping your situation. We are in a very delicate time where you really have to be looking out for your mental health and yourself in general. Don’t feel guilty if you don’t do certain things just because you have done it up till now. Please take time to register how you’re feeling and if you have to make a change don’t be afraid to do so.
If you are using social media and you don’t seem to be too anxious make sure you are doing your part and being civil. People don’t need negativity and more bad things shoved in front of them. One thing I have been seeing a lot of people do on social media is to share three things they are grateful for every day. Sometimes people include pictures, other times they just share a little snippet about what is making them smile that day. You could always post pictures of your pets or share a photo or recipe of something you learned how to make. Be a positive light for people. If you’re creative and have a positive, fun, interactive way people can share things go for it!
Be kind and thoughtful about what you’re putting out into the world. We are all struggling. We are all going through this. Not only is every single person adjusting, there is more than just this new world we live in that people are having to deal with. Be kind to yourself and others.