Social media has become a big part of our daily lives, but with its many benefits comes a range of problems. As I always say convenience comes with consequences. Here are just a few benefits and problems that I find relatable.

BENEFITS:

– Connecting with others in a positive beneficial way.

– Education.

– Sharing your world in a way others can benefit from.

– Building Communities.

– Bringing awareness.

PROBLEMS:

– Isolation. Which affects the relationships around you.

– Addiction.

– Mental health.

– Affecting daily productiveness.

– Negatively rewiring the brain.

To create a healthy balance, to ensure you don’t lose who you are. I think it is extremely important to prioritise discipline with ourselves when it comes to social media.

So how do we find balance and use social media in a healthy way? Here are some of my tips:

1. Set boundaries: It’s important to set boundaries for yourself when it comes to social media. For example, try limiting your social media use to certain times of the day or setting a time limit for how long you can spend scrolling. There are many apps out there to help with this. But if you are an Android user, I recommend an app called Lock me out.

2. Practice mindfulness: Before opening a social media app, take a moment to check in with yourself and ask if you need to use it at that moment. This can help you be more mindful of your social media use and reduce mindless scrolling.

3. Prioritise offline activities: Make sure to prioritize activities that don’t involve social media, such as spending time with your partner, family and friends, reading a book, doing a puzzle or finding hobbies that interest you, and getting out into nature. You can even try grounding/earthing I love doing this. It gives you this instant feeling of calm because contact with the Earth’s natural electric charge stabilizes the physiology at the deepest levels, reduces inflammation, pain, and stress, improves blood flow, energy, and sleep, and generates greater well-being.

4. Unfollow or mute accounts that don’t serve you: If you find that certain accounts are making you feel negative emotions or triggering unhealthy thoughts, consider unfollowing or muting them.

5. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by social media, take a break. Maybe once a week you could have a social media-free day.

 Everyone is created differently, it’s up to each individual to find what works best for them when it comes to using social media in a healthy way. By setting boundaries, practising mindfulness, and prioritising offline activities, you can use social media in a way that enhances your life rather than detracts from it.