It is the first thing you look at when you wake up and the last thing you look at before you go to bed. It consumes you; it dominates conversations. It makes you laugh, but it can also make you cry. You think about it even when you aren't on it. It is a huge part of everyday life and will remain so for the foreseeable future. What is it, you may ask?
It is SOCIAL MEDIA.
So, if you are in the ring with Social Media itself, the one and only 270 lb, reigning champion… how can you beat it? There are upper cuts of self-doubt and unhealthy comparison coming at you and you have to make sure to avoid a choke hold of obsession and FOMO. From someone who has struggled with how best to handle social media in a busy life, here are some ways to come out on top.
1. TURN OFF NOTIFICATIONS for social media apps
This is wildly helpful because I know that I am the kind of person that will hear or feel the vibration of a notification and has to look at it,which then leads to a 30 minute scroll through Twitter after I check the initial notification that got me back on my phone in the first place.
Turning off notifications for certain apps means that you won't be tempted to drop everything and check a notification the second it arises.
2. UNFOLLOW all Instagram models
I KNOW IT'S FUN TO FOLLOW KYLIE JENNER ON INSTAGRAM AND ALL THE OTHER INFLUENCERS AND INSTAGRAM MODELS BUT, HEAR ME OUT! I know for a FACT there are probably at least 10 to 20 accounts that aren't adding enough value to your life in the grand scheme of things for the pictures they post to occupy space in your thoughts during the course of a day!
The next time you are scrolling through social media, make a conscious effort to recognize which pictures you deem unnecessary for you to see anymore. Unfollowing all those unrealistically skinny model accounts has literally done WONDERS for my self esteem!
3. MUTE people (you gotta do what you gotta do)
This one could be misconstrued as slightly offensive, but muting people on social media is genuinely one of the most efficient things I have ever done.
We all have those people we can't bare to actually unfollow or un-add because they are like the sibling of a friend or someone from high school you have no ill feelings towards, but are just a lot less relevant in your life now and HOW, might you ask, can you still be electronically courteous? Mute them!!!! One less story to click through, one less picture on your feed! One less person to compare yourself to or needlessly think about.
4. Set TIME LIMITS
I'm sure we all know about that handy dandy feature Apple provides where you can set time limits on certain apps and-- yes, while this is a little 'helicopter-mom-ish'--it is still such a helpful conscious reminder.
When that second hour on snapchat rolls around, a jarring hourglass screen pops up to remind you that you have 5 minutes remaining for social media, and because this notification has the same energy as the Kool-aid man bursting in through the living room wall, it is a lot easier to realize you should probably get off social media.
5. DELETE IT in times of stress
As an absolute last resort, just full send it and delete the app off your phone for the amount of time that you need to focus, and re-download when acceptable because desperate times (AKA Finals SZN) call for desperate measures
Here's the thing: having to physically remove social media apps from your phone because they are simply too distracting if you have them downloaded is probably a sign that your habits need to change in order to form a better relationship with social media in general.
6. Don't feel the need to keep STREAKS
Mya Pfeifer
I understand for some people, streaks are just a part of an everyday routine, but I think there has to come a point in everyone's life when they realize a meaningless face/ceiling fan/black screen picture sent to 35 different people isn't always worth the energy.
Here's my logic: if a streak picture is going to a close friend, odds are you are going to talk to them in a group message or snap group or see their stories anyway… what is the point in sending them a random picture? On the other end, if a streak picture is going to someone you wouldn't say "hi" to if you passed them on the street, but you are just sending the picture for the sake of keeping the streak… I mean, come on. Life is much too short for that.
I can only speak from experience of course, but trust me, trying not to let social media get the better of me is something I have been working on for years. These strategies are all rooted in the classic, renaissance art that our ancestors once called self control. Social media isn't going anywhere, so it's up to us to take control and start making the most of our days.
Hugs and kisses,
Emma
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