Social Media and Your Mental Health

Social Media allows us to connect with friends and loved ones near and far. It has become a common way to communicate, make purchases, get information on businesses in your area, and stay informed on news updates. While this can all be a good thing, it is important to remember that the constant use of social media in our daily lives can impact your mental health.

Here are 4 things to remember to see how you are minding your mental health as it applies to social media:

Limit your social screen time.

You can set limits on your phone or timers on your computer. If you aren’t sure if you have been spending too much time on social media, you can take a look at the Screen Time app (Apple Users!). This can be very eye opening! You can set a good example for your children or grandchildren by setting limits for yourself.

Take a break.

Go on vacation, visit family, go for a walk, make a dinner for your family, enjoy time with a friend, dance, or even take a nap. You’re not a machine, you are human, so it’s okay to stop and smell the roses from time to time and leave your phone behind. Consider having a phone-free dinner rule for your family.

Live in the real world.

Remember that the virtual world is not the only important factor in your life. There is a world moving and bumping around you that you should also be interacting with. Don’t lose yourself in the disconnection that can occur when you are too reliant on social media, we need you here in the real world.

Think before posting.

What you post says a lot about you and can influence those who follow and support you. Before you post or hit send, think about if your content is spreading a message you want to be associated with. Is it positivity that you are spreading? Consider Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Let this be the checklist that you used to determine if the comment or post you are about to share is worth sharing.