How To Use Social Media Mindfully For Mental Health?

Over the last decade, social media has transformed our relationships and interactions. This is fantastic in many ways. We now have the opportunity to seek information and communicate with individuals worldwide in ways we never have before. 

Social media is meant to connect people but it can also influence our mental health. According to recent studies, those who spend much time on social media have a higher risk of melancholy, social isolation, low self-esteem, anxiety, tension, insomnia, and other medical conditions. 

This is especially apparent when we use social media to replace in-person relationships or compare ourselves to what we see online.

It is unrealistic to believe that we should fully abandon social media, but power detox from social media and mindful social media use is necessary  There are methods to use it constructively while reducing its detrimental impact on our health. One method to accomplish this is to practise mindful social media use. 

Mindful social media use is the practice of focusing one's attention on the present moment, accepting and without judgement. As a result, we may be more conscious of how social media impacts us and practise better self-care by being mindful while using it.

Table Of Contents

1. Role Of Social Media In Mental Health 

2. Positive Attributes Of Using Social Media 

3. Negative Attributes Of Using Social Media 

4. Tips For Using Social Media Mindfully 

5. Dietitian’s Recommendation

6. The Final Say 

7. FAQs

Role Of Social Media In Mental Health 

Human beings are social beings. To thrive in life, we need the companionship of people, and the strength of our ties significantly impacts our mental health and happiness. Being socially connected with others can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, boost self-esteem, bring comfort and joy and even add years to your life. On the other hand, a lack of solid social ties can jeopardise your mental and emotional well-being.

Many of us nowadays rely on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, and Instagram to connect and communicate with one another. While each has advantages, it is crucial to remember that social media can never replace face-to-face human interaction. Face-to-face interaction with others activates the hormones that reduce stress and help you feel happier, healthier, and more positive. 

Spending too much time on social media, ironically for a technology supposed to bring people closer together, can instead make you feel more lonely and isolated and exacerbate mental health concerns like anxiety and depression.

Suppose you spend too much time on social media and experience unhappiness, dissatisfaction, frustration, or loneliness. In that case, it may be time to reconsider your online habits and strike mindful social media use. 

Positive Attributes Of Using Social Media

While virtual interaction on social media does not provide the same psychological benefits as face-to-face contact, it can help you stay connected and improve your well-being in various ways.

Mindful social media use enables you to

• Communicate and keep in touch with relatives and friends worldwide.
• Discover new friends and communities; connect with those with similar interests or goals.
• Participate in or promote worthy causes; raise awareness about vital concerns.
• During difficult circumstances, seek or offer emotional assistance.
• Discover crucial social connections if you live in a remote place, have limited independence, have social anxiety, or are a member of a minority group, for example.
• Discover a way to express your creativity and self-expression.
• Find useful sources of information and education.

Negative Attributes Of Using Social Media 

As social media is a relatively new technology. There has been little research to determine its user's long-term effects, positive or negative. Many studies, however, have identified a substantial correlation between excessive social media use and an increased risk of melancholy, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, and even suicide ideation and suggest mindful social media use. 

Negative experiences may be promoted via social media, such as:

• Lack of confidence in your life or appearance 
• Fear of missing out (FOMO) and social media addiction. 
• Enhances the feeling of loneliness. 
• The more the use social media, the more you wil acquire or worsen mood disorders like anxiety and depression. 
• Posting endless photos and innermost thoughts on social media can lead to unhealthy self-centeredness and remove you from real-life connections.

Tips For Using Social Media Mindfully 

Now that you know these facts, let us get started. Here are my top recommendations for mindful social media use and, as a result, becoming a happy person. The following are some pointers:

1. Consider Your Intentions

Consider your intentions before opening the app. We frequently scroll through social media as a reflex. Consider what you hope to achieve from the encounter. If you are unsure, you should probably avoid using the app now. Finding it on social media is more difficult if you do not know what you are looking for.

2. Pay Attention

Practice being present in the moment while scrolling through your feed. Take note of how your phone and the screen feel on your fingers. Examine your emotions and your body. If you take it slowly, you may realise that certain posts or people elicit more negative emotions than others.

Be present in your real-life social encounters as well. While you are among friends or family, try to avoid using your phone. While people are fixated on their phones, they frequently miss vital face-to-face relationships.

3. Remember That What You See May Not Be Reality

Have you ever scrolled through your page and compared yourself to what you see? It is crucial to remember that a person's profile is only a highlight reel, not a whole picture of their life. Contrast your entire tale with their highlights. Creating false comparisons contributes to low self-esteem. Remember that no one's life is perfect, despite what their posts may lead you to believe.

4. Be Authentic

Be true to yourself! Publish what you want, not what you think will win you the most "likes". Posting what fascinates and inspires you will make you feel more fulfilled.

5. Do Not Scroll. Interact!

We lose sight of how our emotions are affected as we mindlessly read through our feeds. Taking the time to interact with a post will allow you to reflect on your experience. According to studies, people obtain more satisfaction and happiness from social media when they utilise it for engagement by liking, commenting, sending messages, and so on.

6. Stay Away From Negativity

If you realise that certain persons or themes are causing you distress, consider unfollowing them. There is no guilt in separating oneself from something unhealthy for you. Instead, prioritise activities that align with your interests and passions.

Dietitian’s Recommendation

When times are tough, mindful social media use can be a tremendous tool for supporting, building communities, and inspiring action. Nevertheless, taking breaks, setting boundaries, and consuming carefully are critical. Continue to speak up, share, and connect in ways that are healthy for you.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         - Dietitian Lavina Chauhan 

The Final Say 

Social media may give individuals a platform that allows them to connect and reconnect with others, expanding and strengthening their in-person networks and interactions. However, mindful social media use is essential to for your mental health.

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