Social media and looking after your wellbeing

Social Media is a huge part of our world

Social media is a huge part of our world and something that is part of our daily lives. With a scroll, we can connect to the rest of the world! We can see images and videos from so many different social media platforms like Tik-Tok, Instagram and Snapchat. There are so many great benefits to social media. We can keep in touch with friends and family, get involved in global conversations, and simply just watch funny videos or keep up with new fashion trends or music. Social media can be a happy, useful and fun tool in our lives.

However, social media can also affect us in more negative ways. Sometimes, we don’t even realise the effect it can be having on us until we start to notice the effects on our wellbeing. With this round the clock 24/7 access to social media, we are constantly exposed to the lives of others. This can lead to feelings of comparison, low self-esteem, anxiety, poor sleep and even depression.

Have you ever looked at social media and had thoughts of comparison, anxiety or jealousy?

‘I wish I looked like that’

‘I’m so jealous that they get to travel to those places, their life must be amazing’

‘Will this picture of me get enough likes?’

Social media is a highlight reel

It is so important to remember that social media is a highlight reel where people show the best parts of their life and don’t show the normal day to day, or the not-so-great parts of life. Pictures can also be heavily filtered or photoshopped to look different. It is not a reflection of real life.

It is so important that we protect our mental health and wellbeing and making sure we have a healthy relationship with social media is a huge part of this. Here are some tips for how to navigate a healthy relationship with social media and protect your own wellbeing and mental health.

Top Tips 

• Meet up with your friends and family instead of just catching up on social media.
• Get out in the beauty and fun of the real world! Whether it’s for a walk, a shopping trip or a fun activity to do with friends- the real world is out there!
• Try and limit your social media use to certain points in the day.
• Don’t go on your phone at least half an hour before bed. Sleep is so important, and you don’t want a Tik-Tok sound going round and round in your head when you need to be getting your beauty sleep!
• Anything that doesn’t make you feel good about yourself: unfollow, unfriend or unsubscribe.
• Instead of spending so much time on social media, take up a hobby or wellbeing activity that you enjoy.
• And most importantly, when you are using social media, remind yourself that it is a highlight reel and not a reflection of real life.

Your real-world life, thoughts and feelings are so much more important than the online world. Also, you do not need to compare yourself to anybody because you are perfect the way you are!

Your wellbeing is more important than anything so look after it!