What Amount of Social Media Use is Right For YOU?

Many of us know the feeling of getting lost in the abyss of scrolling through social media and how it can just make you feel crummy. There is now science to back up these feelings. The findings of a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine show there is a clear connection between social media use and depression and that the association may be causal. The evidence suggests that we should limit our social media use to under two hours a day.

Social media is certainly not all bad. My sister’s hilarious Instagram stories have been what has gotten me through this Pandemic (please please go follow her @marriageandmartinis). I encourage all my clients to utilize LInkedIn to build connections, learn career news and find jobs. But when you find yourself endlessly scrolling and feeling bad, it means it is time to put the phone away and do something else.

The difficulty is NOTICING when to stop. How can you pause to notice that social media use has switched from being helpful, interesting or entertaining and has become problematic. The study says anything over two hours, but I feel like it is more personal than that. You need to notice when YOU have had too much.

There are two ways to help you pay attention to your own experience. One is external and one is internal: 

• External: Set a timer to go off every so often when you are on social media--maybe every 15 minutes. When it goes off, check in.

• Internal: Develop more mindfulness practices-through meditation, yoga, breath work, etc. Mindfulness will help you to be more aware and "wake up" when you are in scrolling zombie land. When you pause, check in.

When I think of the time I waste scrolling, I get so sad. There are so many things I could be doing rather than endlessly scrolling. Here is my list: 

• Reading a book

• Calling a friend

• Taking a walk

• Organizing a closet

• Taking a nap

• Taking a bath

• Knocking something off my To-Do List

What would you rather do than scroll?

Make your own list of things you could be doing instead of scrolling and get in the habit of noticing when you are lost in a scroll and move onto a different activity.  Social Media has its place, it is up to you to determine when it is serving you and when it is holding you back.

This blog appeared on my bi-weekly Newsletter. Interested in reading more information like this in your inbox? Sign up for my Newsletter which has been described as “Useful” and “Uplifting” here. 

Want to make self care a priority?  I can help.