Social media has become an omnipresent part of modern life, with billions of people
around the world turning to platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat to stay connected. While social media can be a great way to stay in touch with friends, family, and even celebrities, it can also be a source of stress and anxiety. The overutilization of social media can negatively affect your perception of your own life, leading to feelings of inadequacy and dissatisfaction.
One of the most common issues associated with social media is the feeling of FOMO, or “fear of missing out.” When scrolling through your endless feed, you may see pictures of family on vacation, a colleague getting a recent promotion, a friend getting married or a celebrity accomplishing a lifelong goal. This can lead to a feeling of jealousy and the fear that you are missing out on something or someone better. This can be particularly true if you are feeling lonely or isolated, as it can be hard not to compare your life to those of you see on your news feed.
Social media can also lead to unrealistic expectations of how our lives should be. Every day, we are bombarded with images of “perfect” lives, from perfectly decorated homes to artificially sculpted bodies. These images can create a feeling of inadequacy, leading us to believe that our lives can’t stack up against our friends and that make us feel like we just are not doing enough.
One of the best ways to combat the negative effects of overutilizing social media is to reduce the amount of time spent on it. Taking regular breaks from social media can help to reduce feelings of anxiety. Additionally, limiting the amount of time spent on social media can help reduce the amount of FOMO experienced.
It is also important to remember that social media is not always an accurate representation of reality. People often post only the highlights of their lives, omitting the mundane or difficult parts. It is important to remember that not everything on social media is what it seems, and that it is not an accurate reflection of how our lives should be.
Finally, it is important to focus on self-care, self-compassion and self-acceptance. There is no such thing as “perfection”, it does not exist. We want to walk in alignment with our purpose, positive and healthy core beliefs and values. Taking time to focus on activities that bring joy, such as exercise, reading, or spending time with friends, can help to reduce feelings of inadequacy and dissatisfaction. Spending time with loved ones and engaging in meaningful conversations can also help to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation. As a final tip; understanding everyone is unique and has different strengths and limitations can help curate self-acceptance and a step towards a more positive perception of life.