In 2006, I wasn't actively involved with social media. Facebook was still in it's infancy and Instagram didn't exist.
As I was preparing for my first Ironman, I didn't find myself comparing my journey to anyone else because I had nothing and no one to compare it to. I didn't feel inclined to buy fancy gadgets or use specific nutrition products. I wasn't being "influenced" to buy certain things on social media.
After the race, I had to call my friends to let them know how I did in the race. I didn't feel any pressure before or during the race because there wasn't a way to track my performance.
Social media has become a standard part of our lives. I'm incredibly grateful for Facebook, Blogger and Instagram as each platform has allowed me to connect with others, share my passion and grow my small business.
Social media can play a positive role in life but it also carries the potential to become a stressor. It's not uncommon for people to mindlessly scroll social media and to finish feeling sad, anxious, depressed or bad about yourself.
I don't want to return to a place of no social media but I do believe that it's important to establish a healthy relationship with social media use.
If you have found yourself in an unhealthy relationship with social media, here are a few tips:
- Remove notifications and set a time frame for browsing.
- Understand your purpose when logging on to a social media platform. Be thoughtful about why you are choosing to browse, scroll or search.
- Use social media the way you want. Follow people, brands and influencers that make you feel good about yourself - or enhance your life in a positive way.
- Don't compare your life to the picture-perfect moments you see on social media. This is another reason to be selective about who you follow on social media.
- Put your mental health first. If social media is making you stressed or anxious, it may be a good idea to delete social media apps from your phone during a temporary social media breakup.
----------------------
“Remember when people had diaries and got mad when someone read them? Now they put everything online and get mad when people don’t.”
― Unknown