How To Practice Self-Care in the Era of Social Media
Simple tools to help cope with social media addiction
Social media has made life easier in many aspects. We have far more options and tools in almost every area of life, including shopping, socializing, working, dating, etc. But those tools are also at the heart of many recent problems and conflicts. They may even aggravate our relationships with ourselves and others in certain circumstances.
One of the most critical issues that have arisen because of social media is the question of personal space. Social media creates a false sense of readiness and availability that frequently makes us mistake people for robots and expect them to respond instantly to requests or messages we send them.
As everything may be nested within our high-tech devices, many become so overwhelmed with work and activities that they have no time for themselves.
Because the social-media platforms seem spontaneous, others may contact them at any time and expect an immediate response. Their superior may request them to perform urgent work tasks while they are sleeping, or people may ask them to provide other services when they are least available. They might also feel propelled to respond even if they are uncomfortable because failing to do so will result in social exclusion or have them labeled rigid.
Although external distractions are the first thing that comes to mind when we think about how our personal space is invaded, the distractions we voluntarily allow to govern our lives may be the most toxic. These are the unhealthy behaviors we engage in to feel connected, happy, and included.
For example, some people may spend the entire day scrolling through social media even though they have many things to do to care for their bodies or mind. Others may skip workouts, forget to eat, or sleep too late because of their time spent on social media. Those moments of aimless scrolling through social media can’t be replaced. We misuse them and only have ourselves to blame.
What Should I Do To Mitigate the Effects of Social Media?
Nowadays, it is hard to find someone who is free of all forms of addiction to social media or a category of high-tech devices.
These addictions separate us from the people we meet regularly and our inner selves. We struggle to understand who we are because we are continuously bombarded with external stimuli.
Noise can be useful in some situations. However, if we listen to too much of it and too often, we cannot hear the quiet sounds and feelings that tell us when we must take care of certain parts of ourselves.
Most social media platforms are full of sounds of many kinds. However, our bodies generally communicate very subtly.
If we want to understand who we are and what we feel, we should spend more time with ourselves, thus reducing our exposure to social media.
That is why we must understand how to balance social media use and self-care. If you are having trouble striking this balance, here you will find some tools:
1. Limit the amount of social media stimulation you receive
Although some of us believe we are mature and self-sufficient, it is challenging to overcome social media addiction. According to my observations, even when people realize they have an unhealthy relationship with some platforms or devices, they still use them. Because by the time they realized it, they had already become emotionally dependent on those platforms or devices.
Under those circumstances, it is preferable to avoid any signs or sounds that may prompt inappropriate use by implementing the following strategies: a.Remove some unnecessary notifications b. Turn off your devices or set them to silent mode during critical moments (for example, while sleeping, working, eating, etc.) c. Uninstall and avoid the installation of less important apps d. Uninstall addictive apps that are no longer required e. Use an online time-tracking app f. Make your devices inaccessible when not in use
2. Establish a healthy habit system
All the strategies mentioned above are feasible if only you create a healthy habit system by either planning your days or implementing a long-term routine. By clarifying your daily goals, you will come to avoid blank spaces and stress.
When you do not know what to do, you are inclined to spend lots of time on your cell phone. However, if you know you have an important task ahead of you, you are less likely to waste time on social media.
A healthy habit system will frequently include, among other things, bedtime, exercise, mealtime, hygiene, and work time. However, you may include other activities related to your goals, lifestyle, personal needs, and responsibilities.
3. It is acceptable to be unavailable from time to time
Addiction to social media is about more than just bad behavior; it is also about influence. Many people are adept at managing their behaviors, but most of us are incapable of dealing with social pressure. There is a legitimate reason for this: we rely on one another.
There are at least four social pressure tendencies on social media: a. We tend to shame others for their lack of social media presence. b. Some people put others under pressure to respond to their messages instantaneously. c. People who are not very active on social media feel guilty because they believe they are abandoning others. d. Some people who do not use social media feel left out because they miss out on so much information.
Here are some ways to deal with those kinds of social pressure: a. If someone shames you for being unaware of social media trends, explain that you have other priorities. If they continue to persist, it is time to set a boundary. Reduce your contact with them until you feel they are no longer shaming you for your decision. b. If someone constantly presses you to respond to messages instantly, ignore their comments if they are not that important to you, or politely explain that you have other activities and needs. A responsible and healthy person would understand you. c. If you feel guilty or rejected because you choose not to be present on social media permanently or partially, remember why you took that decision. Is that reason more important than the benefits you would have received from social media? If so, stay on that path. If not, kindly get back to your past habits.
4. Be in the moment
If you choose not to overuse social media, you should spend quality time with others as often as possible. Otherwise, you will be portrayed as a narcissist or antisocial individual. You should spend time with yourself to be happy and fulfilled. However, it is critical to keep people in your life.
You may need to narrow your circle as your habits change but try to strengthen the relationships you still have. Get even closer to those who understand and respect your way of life.
But do not try to prove that you are better at adopting healthier habits. Not everyone wants a friend, partner, or coworker to mother them. Besides, you are not perfect. You may fall at any time. Humbling yourself will allow you to see the good in people and grow.
5. Be flexible though
Do not let your device limitations stress you out or hinder your success. Everything in life requires a certain level of balance. And to evolve and coexist with others, we must be adaptable when necessary.
If your job requires you to use your smartphone at night or during mealtime, then do so. You cannot keep taking care of yourself unless you have a decent income. If you have no other viable source of income, do whatever it takes to keep your job.
You can also spend more time than expected chatting with someone if the conversation brings you joy or may assist you with something, or you can even watch a video while eating if it does not interfere with your appetite.
Keep It Simple!
For everything in life, it is crucial to consider this simple equation: the amount of energy (E) and time (T) you put into something plus its drawbacks (D) must be inferior or equal to the rewards (R) you receive: (E+T) + D ≤ R.
To sum up our reflection, there is no use eradicating social media if it doesn’t drive us to destress or complete addiction. That’s not our purpose at all.
We believe social media can be convenient. However, we should monitor the time and energy dedicated to social media and high-tech devices. Because by doing so, we can have more control over our bodies, thoughts, feelings, and relationships.
Therefore, if the negative consequences and the time and energy spent on social media far outweigh the benefits, you may need to reduce your consumption. If you do not consider this, you will feel depressed or burnt out in the long run, adding to all the other possible health issues intrinsic to social media addiction.
Have you ever been addicted to social media? Tell us how you got there and what you did to overcome it. Do you know any other negative behaviors that can impact our self-care? I found numerous others. Let us stay in touch. So, you do not miss out on anything.
Thanks for reading 😊 😊 😊