How to balance social media and mental health

The relationship between social media and mental health is well documented.

We know there is The pros and cons of social media Use, but it’s important to remember that someone is working hard on your favorite brands’ social accounts. For every useful bit of social content we see, there is drama and gloom to make up for it.

Food for thought: Daily social media use peaked at an average of 147 minutes in a day. More and more of our daily personal interactions happen through smartphone screens.

However, the community spotlight on social media is driving productive conversations about mental health. Not to mention addressing the stigma attached to those who struggle.

Below we explain how to manage mental health and social media. This includes healthy habits and advice on how to deal with it personally and professionally.

consider it One in five Americans Report receiving treatment for their mental health. Given how integral social media is to our daily lives, we cannot ignore its impact on our well-being.

includes the good And bad.

Let’s get things started by digging into both sides of the debate.

Why is social media bad for mental health?

Social media gets a bad rap when it comes to mental health. Completely unfounded when you consider the following.

The stress of FOMO and the “always on” culture

Being in touch with friends, colleagues, and the rest of the world 24/7 is both a blessing and a curse.

Enter the “always on” nature of social media. This is an unspoken (and sometimes explicit!) pressure to be active.

Always listen. Always submit. Always posting.

This has led to a phenomenon fomo (fear of missing out) and the pressures that go with it. This includes pressing for…

• stay informed. From the never-ending cycle of news to announcements and updates, there is a constant stream of content to consume. Keeping up with everything is downright overwhelming. This includes our content You want to see.
• Respond. This applies to both personal and professional social media use. Expectations are high when it comes response time to consumers. Leaving anyone When reading it seems forbidden.
• Mail. Many people feel compelled to post even when they don’t want to. Research says so 45% are from Generation Z He claims that there is a lot of pressure to be perfect on social media.

Negative news and conflict tend to thrive in social feeds

The inner workings of Social media algorithms Complicated.

However, conventional wisdom says that algorithms tend to favor whatever wins the most clicks, comments, and shares.

And in many cases, the content ends up being controversial or conflict-driven.

This creates a negative snowball effect in our social feeds. The more interactions a controversial post or argumentative bait gets, the more fuel for the algorithm. Besides the pressure to be “always,” negative habits such as Death scroll common now.

The ill effects of excessive screen time

As mentioned earlier, the amount of time spent on social media is increasing.

This is a major concern among parents on behalf of the younger crowd. There has been extensive research published on the negatives associated with too much screen time. This includes:

Certainly, no one compulsion We have to stare at screens all day (unless it’s part of your job). Smartphones are a non-negotiable part of modern life for most Americans. However, this does not preclude these potential health problems.

How does social media help people improve their mental health?

The potential negative effects of social media are clear.

However, we should not ignore the positive impact of social media. We highlight below how society serves as a positive net for our mental well-being.

Raise awareness to support causes and people

Platforms like Twitter and Instagram have fostered countless conversations regarding social issues. Specifically, issues that people may not face face to face in their communities. This includes:

• Resources for mental health and treatment
• Awareness of social and political causes (#FightFor15 or #InsulinForAll)
• Support marginalized groups

Building community and relationships

Despite its flaws, social media objectively provides a place to meet.

This includes community building for people from all walks of life. From artists connecting with fans to friends keeping in touch, connections can be made through social media. Not to mention easier than ever.

Communication and learning possibilities regardless of geography

If nothing else, social media democratizes information and communication.

Consider how many people use social media exclusively for communication. with more than Six billion smartphones In the world, social platforms provide a place to connect, share and learn.

How to prioritize mental health as a social media professional

to intervene Social media burnout Hard.

Because sign off is easier said than done when your job is all about social media interactions.

Dealing with negativity and even abuse from social strangers is bad enough. Reconciling those difficult conversations with the aforementioned issues only makes it seem worse.

If you feel like it’s all too hard to handle, take a step back. Here are some pointers for maintaining your mental health as a social media pro.

Set limits and boundaries

That’s the big thing. Standing up for yourself in a professional role is crucial. This means setting limits regarding what is acceptable in your daily duties. We recommend setting limits when it comes to:

• Comments and criticisms from clients. Recognizing when a customer is unreasonable or hostile. There is a fine line between confrontation and harassment that clients should not cross. Reserve the right to walk away when they do.
• Help and support. Know your role and scope of work. Just because you work in social media doesn’t mean you have to be a conflict therapist or mediator.
• sign out. When you are off the clock, you are off the clock. Separating personal and professional social media should be a priority. This may take some getting used to if you work remotely. However, being there 24/7 is mentally exhausting.

Rely on your team

Ironically, working in social media can be very lonely.

Chatting with customers and posting content will not satisfy your need for personal interactions.

This speaks to the value of collaborating with your team and communicating with them frequently. You should feel supported and similarly support those who may be facing burnout themselves.

many companies Use Slack For this very reason. For example, some teams have dedicated channels to celebrate each other or share memes. Think of your team channel as a place to get a serotonin boost throughout the day.

Add some personality to your professional presence

Establish relationships with others he possible through the content. For example, many brands are doing their best to show their human side through social media. Granted, doing this aligns with your brand, some ideas include:

• Useful or fun content “just because”
• Behind the scenes content or content in You are (for your work)
• Inspirational or motivational content

Brands often benefit when their social media presence isn’t 100% appropriate. You might even be able to incorporate conversations about mental health into your content calendar (think: Mental health day).

Divide your tasks so that they are more mentally manageable

Pro tip: Don’t create undue stress on yourself.

Put the “always” nature in the social mode away Unless You are in a service centered role. Even then, you don’t need to get caught up in the tedious tasks without breaks. Consider time management techniques such as: Pomodoro Technique. Break your most mentally stressful tasks into chunks rather than tackling them all at once.

Unless you’re dealing with a true emergency, social responses from clients and colleagues can probably wait a minute or two. Give yourself some breathing space.

move (like, literally)

The value of just waking up and resting cannot be overstated.

Depending on your condition, that could mean a yoga break or a 10-minute walk. It may also take a few seconds to stand up and stretch. The relationship between Seating and productivity desks unable.

If nothing else, make a conscious effort to take breaks away from your screen. It also includes your smartphone. Maybe that means taking notes manually or taking a call without turning on your webcam. Find what works for you.

4 tips for a healthier use of social media in your personal life

Developing healthy habits professionally is easier when your personal social use is stress-free.

To wrap things up, let’s take a look at some tips for ensuring a healthy social media diet in your personal life.

1. Keep your social media really personal Personal

Most social media professionals do not double up on their private and personal accounts.

Having said that, you can take it a step further to protect your mental health. This includes:

• Set boundaries and be firm about logging off. Again, job notifications can wait.
• Unfollow (or downgrade) industry-related accounts on your personal feed.
• Avoid “professional” networks (LinkedIn, and sometimes Twitter) for more “real” ones (be realisticTik Tok)

2. Positive social feeding systems

Despite popular belief, the fight against negativity is social algorithms he possible. Some ways to do this include:

• Regular interaction with accounts related to your personal interests and hobbies
• Mute accounts and words that are likely to bully you (see below on Twitter)
• Be selective about who you follow to reduce negativity in your feed

3. Consider occasional social media breaks

Fact: more and more teens Deciding to take voluntary breaks from social media. Week-long breaks are surprisingly common.

The concept of a “digital detox” is all the rage right now. This doesn’t mean you have to destroy your phone and live in a cubicle to “unplug” it, though.

How long you take your break to go is up to you. We recommend thinking of breaks as a health challenge. Start with a day or two and then evaluate from there. You might be surprised at what happens when you take your time.

4. Prioritize activities that limit screen time

Having hobbies that don’t involve social media or screen time is always a plus.

And despite popular belief, so is Netflix Not Hobby.

Try to keep your hands and your mind busy. Whether that means cooking, crafting, or working out, it’s up to you. It never hurts to get out of your comfort zone.

How do you manage social media and mental health?

Finding a healthy balance between your social presence and your well-being isn’t always easy. The tips above can be a powerful starting point.

We absolutely love all things social. Of course, your mental health should Always Come first. This is especially true for professionals in this field.

And if you want a positive presence, consider how Sprout Social looks Posting on social media Features can help automate your tasks and save you time.