So I’m assuming you’ve read Part 1 which mentioned how social media can negatively impact your mental health, if you haven’t already - check it out! Now, the most logical question is, what can we do about it? It’s so nice that you can’t even think about quitting, it gives you a break from the pains of reality, it fills out the void... I agree! But that social media stress, or fatigue, isn’t a walk in the park. And you want to feel better, right? Well, here are some tips so you can have the best of both worlds, literally.
All fantastic keywords, we all wish our lives can have those along with amazing habits and we’re set! But it’s difficult, and it’s understandable. You can however “try” to achieve balance. Schedule social media time during the day, limit the accessibility and try to balance your day so social media doesn’t eat your whole time. A fancy trick is that you can use technology to reduce the usage of technology! Use apps that monitor your phone usage, set reminders, and write it down. You only need to be consistent for a few days till you’re detoxed and in a better place.
One thing I found useful was to turn off notifications, it gave me so much headspace and I felt so clear! Till I got that feeling that I might’ve got the most amazing message and I wasn’t notified and I missed on something and existence will stop! So I started to check my phone very often and I felt fatigued again. Then I started using the delay technique, when I received a notification, saw the message and felt the urge to reply right away because this will reduce the anxiety; I delayed the action. For a minute I would resist the urge to be engaged and the urge would go away, I’d forget all about the message, and I would go back to being clear.
Being in the moment is amazing. It’s the most sincere feeling this world has to offer. I can’t say enough about how good it is. Download a meditation app and use it. Trust me, the anxiety goes down. Just remember you need to practice for a while for a good effect.
Well, sometimes it can be better! Have a sketch pad, doodle, draw, play music, talk to people, search for provocative subjects to discuss, be genuine and show care as much as you can. The feeling of a good conversation can leave you feeling more fulfilled! When was the last time you looked at a tree? Like really looked? Exactly.It’s worth trying these tips out. They’ve helped a lot of people feel more alive. I know I say that while staring at my laptop writing this, but I know it’s the last time I’ll use technology for the day, so it’s nice. Also, please, if there’s an app you don’t need, just delete it! Start now.
