Over the holiday season, most likely between dinner sittings, you’ll probably find yourself laying across the couch, blindly scrolling on social media, looking at endless posts, stories, and videos.
With more free time over the holidays, it’s important to balance how much time you spend online with being social in real life.
For all the flaws associated with social media, it is important to recognize that it’s not all doom and gloom and that being active on social media can have its benefits:
- Grow a social support network of peers and find help with making personal decisions
- Connecting with others can help decrease feelings of isolation
- Using social media can help you explore your interests and personal identity
- Social media can help with developing your personal and professional skills
- Can help in finding internships and job opportunities and applying to school
There are a number of ways that you can limit your exposure to negative content and comments on social media. Here are a few tips on healthy social media use:
- Take breaks – turn off your phone or deactivate your account to take some time away
- Turn off notifications – cut down on distractions by keeping apps silent/off
- Unfriend, unfollow, mute – remove people/accounts that don’t treat you with respect
- Track your screen time – learn how much time you spend stuck to your screen
- Find the joy – engage with people that make you feel seen and provide support and positivity.
If you’re experiencing the symptoms of anxiety or depression as a result of social media, you’re not alone. Reach out to a trusted resource, like your health care provider, for help.
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