Social Media & Mindfulness
While scrolling through social media feeds has become an integral component of many people’s daily routine, it is critical for their wellbeing that they reflect on the potential impacts.
Many openly acknowledge that they spend “too much time online” and yet continue to struggle to successfully unplug without feeling a sense of anxiety. This could be for a variety of reasons depending on the person and their individual connection to social media.
“The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.” -Steve Furtick
Social media is not a full (or even sometimes real) portrayal of someone’s life. If you forget this, you could fall into the trap of comparing your life to what someone else chooses to share.
Cultivating a greater sense of awareness could potentially benefit those who are seeking to make a shift in their online experience.
Change is gradual, so it is important to take mindfulness at a comfortable pace. Next time you find yourself scrolling in an autopilot state of mind, take a moment to pause. Close your phone and practice honestly asking yourself the following questions:
“How is this content making me feel? Is this increasing or decreasing my sense of connectedness?” Is this information adding or subtracting to my day?”
If your instinctive response to these questions is more negative than positive, begin to consider ways to improve your online engagement:
- Set an Intention – Before you get on social media, stop, take a breath, and remind yourself that your goal is to have a positive experience.
- Remind Yourself to Stay Present – Notice your hands touching the screen, feel your body sitting on the couch or chair, and focus on your breathing as often as possible to avoid getting lost in your thoughts.
- Catch Yourself – If you catch yourself judging someone else, make a conscious effort to find three good or positive things about that person.
- Use Envy as a Call for Inspiration – Instead of seeing others with envy, look at them as a person to be inspired by. If someone has achieved what you want to achieve, then that means you can achieve that in your life too!
A FREE two-hour workshop called, Girls on the Web: Wellness and Social Media, will be available free of charge from 4:00-6:00 pm on February 26th, at Carizon (645 Westmount Rd. E. location). Please call 519-743-6333 to sign up!
