It is rather difficult to imagine a day without social media in today’s day and age. Technological advancements have made it possible for people to access social media wherever and wherever. You no longer have to wait to get home and log into your Facebook or MySpace account like you did just a couple of years back.
Instead, you carry your social media friend circle everywhere with you and you are always just one click away from chatting online. Although this is a great addition to human life, it can also be quite damaging. For instance, you might notice certain signs of burnout, especially when consuming too much social media. Here is how to recognise these signs and what to do to avoid getting there in the first place.
Social media burnout refers to the emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged social media overuse. This is also called being chronically online. How can you recognise social media burnout? Easily as it is usually followed by feelings of fatigue, anxiety, and avoidance.
It usually shows up once you start using social media as a chore. For instance, if you feel like you’re creating content or responding to people under a certain amount of pressure. While this may seem like an easy-to-fix problem, it can actually take its toll on your general well-being.
You might experience some trouble sleeping or start losing motivation, especially when it comes to decision-making. To avoid losing your focus and making sure you stay on the top of your game, here are 6 tips that can help you.
Know When to Take a Break
One of the most important things you can do to avoid social media burnout is knowing when to stop. Today, more than ever, it’s so easy to check your socials. Even though this is a rather normal thing to do, when you do it a bunch of times in just one hour, you may have a problem.
A simple way to check how important this is for you is by trying to stay away from social media for some time. For instance, try limiting yourself for a day. Set a goal not to check your social media more than once every two hours. If you find this difficult to achieve, it’s time you started some social media cleansing.
A simple step would be to delete the apps you are using constantly. If your finger goes to Instagram on its own when you unlock your phone, try deleting the app for some time. You don’t have to delete your account to manage your time better. Even this simple step might do wonders for your screen time and potential social media burnout.
If you feel like you are already consuming too much social media, try focusing on other things. For instance, take a day off social media completely. Spend it with your friends, go to pilates, or focus on your favourite hobby.
You may also use that day to do stuff that is good for you. Go to your favourite hairdresser or get your nails done. If you’ve been postponing your dental checkups, it’s time you visited your dentist in Emu Plains. Although these are simple things, they will be perfect for making you more present in the moment and staying away from the virtual world.
Try to Connect Carefully
If you don’t want to get rid of social media completely, but you just want to cut down on it, do not worry. There are ways to be online and be mindful. The content you are exposed to online will affect your mood and overall mental health.
That is why it’s imperative to be aware of your online connections. The Internet can be a lovely place where you can find your people, create communities, and learn new skills. However, you need to be the one to look for these connections and filter through everything you come across.
Curate Your Feed
Don’t just follow anyone online. A big part of your mental health is the type of information you receive daily. Your following list should be carefully curated. You should focus on profiles and pages that make you feel good and bring positive feelings in your life.
There are numerous ways to curate your feed better. For instance, you can look up some educational profiles or pages with recipes. You might follow embroidery pages or you might find some new artists and musicians. Don’t forget that you choose what you look at.
Engage, Don’t Compare
One aspect of social media is particularly problematic, it can make you start comparing your life to other people’s lives. You might notice how everyone is always busy, friendly, successful, or beautiful. Constant reminders of others’ perfection can be damaging to your own mental health.
However, it is extremely important not to do this. You need to remember that what you see online isn’t always true. People tend to make their lives more enjoyable than they are. On the other hand, even if it is true, it is just a small portion of a much bigger picture. Don’t use social media to compare yourself to others, use it to interact with them and foster meaningful relationships.
Hit Delete, Ignore, or Block
Don’t be afraid to block people online. If there are people or pages in your following list that cause you headaches, remove them from there. You don’t need a couple of minutes online to ruin your whole day and that is exactly what sometimes happens.
Grumpy people, pages with hateful messages, or rude people do not belong on your socials. Make sure to do all you can to disengage with them. Unfollow them, and if that’s not enough, hit mute or block button. This way, you’ll ensure nothing brings anxiety or negative feelings when you check your socials.
Conclusion
Your social media is your own space, you decide how you’ll use it and how it will affect you. With these tips, you’ll get the best parts of this online experience without having to worry about social media burnout and its symptoms.
