How to Incorporate Self-Care Into Social Media

How to INCORPORATE Self-Care Into Your Social Media Routine

When lockdown began, schools and colleges closed and we were all suddenly confined to our bedrooms, the beneficial side of social media was truly revealed. Undoubtedly, in a world that was forced to turn digital, the cyberspace became more important than ever.

Despite this, it’s no secret that social media can have immense effects on one’s mental health. The growing popularity of vlogging, both in the form of longer videos on YouTube and shorter snippets on Instagram stories, has resulted in many sharing even the most miniscule details of their life. Whether we intend it to or not, social media often encourages us to engage in the enemy of self-care: comparison.

So where can we find a balance?

If unlike Kim Kardashian West, Katy Perry and Jamie Foxx (who recently boycotted Facebook and Instagram for a day in protest of the misinformation spread there), a full-blown social media detox is not for you, then there are several ways of ensuring that your relationship with the online world does not grow toxic:

1) Curating a positive feed. Whilst we can’t control what others choose to post, we can control how much of it we engage with. If you find that anyone you follow – friends included – is getting you down, don’t be afraid to hit that unfollow/mute button! Remember, no one else must look at your feed but you. Make sure to balance out any negativity with heart-warming, forward-looking and engaging content.

2) Checking in with your friends. It was the original purpose of social media, wasn’t it? It can be easy to forget sometimes that the most popular apps were intended as a method of staying in touch, rather than flaunting the flashy details of our lives. When you feel like you have the energy (and time!), utilize social media to check in with your friends, especially those you might not have seen in a while. Even better, kill two birds with one stone and see how their self-care routine is going, awarding yourself a healthy reminder to consider your own.

3) Self-care content! For example, just searching self-care on the app-store reveals a plethora of apps made specifically to encourage productive, practical ways of looking after your mind. Once downloaded, swap that ten minutes you spend before bed looking at Insta/Facebook/ etc, with a calming journaling or meditative session.

4) Most importantly, ensure you have time to de-stress from the screen. This could be as simple as making sure to spend an hour listening to your favourite music each day, or perhaps leaving your phone upstairs whilst spending time chatting with family members. Either way, it’s essential to plan moments each day that don't involve keeping up an online presence.

The internet community can be incredible, and its sincerely wonderful how Gen-Z have taken the fight for social justice online. But keep in mind, balance is key, and it’s important not to invite negativity into your real life by forgetting to practice self-care in your online one.