• Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Listen here

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Podcast Show Notes

We as human beings are social creatures – we need to be around others to thrive in life. But what happens when you become too connected to social media?

In-person connections can ease stress, anxiety, and depression, boost self-worth, provide comfort and joy, prevent loneliness, and even add years to your life. 

So when these connections are made it makes a huge impact on our mental health and overall happiness.

But as technology has advanced we tend to rely on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram to fill that connection need.

The downfall of social media

While social media does allow you to communicate and stay up to date with family and friends around the world.

As well a find new friends and communities so you can network with other people who share similar interests or aspirations.

This virtual communication on social media doesn’t have the same psychological benefits as face-to-face contact has.

An article by Lawrence Robinson and Melinda Smith says…

“It requires in-person contact with others to trigger the hormones that alleviate stress and make you feel happier, healthier, and more positive. Ironically for a technology that’s designed to bring people closer together, spending too much time engaging with social media can actually make you feel more lonely and isolated—and exacerbate mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.”

EP 45: 4 SOCIAL MEDIA MISTAKES YOU ARE MAKING

Do you allow Social media to do this?

Without knowing each of you personally, I can make the assumption that you at some point in time have allowed social media to make you feel more sad, frustrated, lonely, inadequate, and self-absorbed.

I know I have many times.

But we are not alone. When you spend too much time exposed to biased information it makes sense that there’s a high risk you will develop these negative experiences

So today I want to lay out the signs that it may be time to re-examine your online habits. Sometimes it takes a simple gut check to admit you have a real problem.

Then I will offer you ways to prevent social media from impacting your mental health.

I’ve personally gone through a social media detox the last few months using some of these steps and it made an instant impact on not just my mental health but my real-life relationships.

While there is no limit of time to spend on social media that will assure your mental health isn’t affected it’s important to know the indicators that social media may be negatively affecting your mental health.

spending more time online than off

One of those indicators is that you are spending more time on social media than offline with friends.  Are you opting for scrolling Instagram stories, Twitter feeds, and TikTok videos instead of setting up coffee dates and happy hour meetups? It’s something to seriously take note of.

Again, you can’t allow social media to become a substitute for offline social interaction. And this goes right into when you are out with your friends to keep OFF social media. 

are you guilty of FOMO?

If you keep returning to social media over and over again you are guilty of FOMO -fear of missing out.

You feel relationships or your business will suffer, or you’ll be left out of a conversation if you don’t respond immediately to a notification of a post like, comment, tag, or dm.

Social media wants you to spend more and more time on their platforms – so they will do anything to notify you to GET BACK ON… but understanding this vicious cycle is important.

Using social media more often will only increase this FOMO and your feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and loneliness

comparing yourself to others

Another sign that social media may be negatively affecting your mental health is you are comparing yourself unfavorably to others. That comparison trap.

You see a woman your age in a two-piece with a kick-ass body and you immediately develop low self-esteem, right?

  • Why can’t I look like her?
  • Maybe I should eat less?
  • Maybe I should work out more?

You can quickly develop a negative body image and these feelings affect your mood and worsen any symptoms of depression and stress.

This goes for business, health, family, finances, and all the things.

EP 9: HOW TO CONFRONT THE ‘COMPARISON TRAP’ WITH A GRATITUDE STATE OF MIND

Unhealthy behaviors

This may lead you to want positive reactions to your posts like she’s getting so you engage in unhealthy behaviors. 

This could be posting more provocative photos than you’re used to posting, engaging in cyberbullying, or feeling pressure to post more regularly about yourself.

Remember all you’re worried about is getting more and more comments, likes, and shares on your posts… so even if you have to pick up your phone while at work or school or while driving you do it. 

Sleep problems

You even check social media while making dinner, while eating with your family, and when you lie in bed. 

This leads to sleep problems as the light from your phone can disrupt your sleep and in turn, can have a serious impact on your mental health.

no time for self-reflection

When every spare moment is filled with engaging on social media you are leaving yourself little to no time to even reflect on who you are. 

The way you grow as a person is to be aware of your brand interest and beliefs as I teach in step one of my Stay in Your Lane Brand Method. 

But if you leave no time for self-reflection – you live on a saucer rotating around the moods others put you in. You lose yourself completely and don’t even know why you act the way you do.

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

4 ways to prevent social media from impacting your mental health

Alright ….so by now I’m pretty sure you can honestly admit that you could do better at modifying your social media use.

So here are four ways to prevent social media from impacting your mental health:

1. Reduce your time spent on social media

  1. Seems easy enough right? A 2018 University of Pennsylvania study found that reducing social media use to 30 minutes a day resulted in a significant reduction in levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep problems, and FOMO. But you don’t need to cut back on your social media use that drastically to improve your mental health. The same study concluded that just being more mindful of your social media use can have beneficial results on your mood and focus.  

I mean even myself I spend more than 30 min a day on social media – so that can be an unrealistic first target for many but reducing the time you are spending is a must. 

Use a tracker

Most phones now have a tracker in them so you can see how much time you are spending on social media. So know your current time and then set your goal and adjust it less and less every week. 

Turn phone upside down and silenced

Another simple way to reduce time is to turn your phone upside down at all times – I’ve recently started doing this and it’s making a HUGE difference for me picking it up less often. 

I also have my phone silenced most of the day so I don’t hear any dings or distracting noises. Especially while working, at dinner, while driving, or while with friends. 

Don’t take it to the bathroom with you

Another big one for me is to not bring your phone to the bathroom with you. I know I’m not the only guilty mom out there of this one!

Disable notifications

But it’s very simple to disable social media notifications. Remember social media wants us ON their platform so when you turn off all notifications there are no alerts to tell you to get back on to read a new comment or message. 

This really is the first step to regaining control over social media. 

You simply go into your phone settings and notifications and for each app slide notifications to OFF.

Here is an iPhone tutorial.

While some suggest removing social media apps from your phone and only checking it from a desktop computer I feel that if put them in a folder and not on the home screen you have a better chance of NOT checking them that often.

2. Focus on your motivation for using it

The second way to prevent social media from impacting your mental health is to focus on your motivation for using it. 

Most times we are using it purely out of habit or to kill time waiting for a child to get out of school. But if you have a purpose for using it you can get on and off and limit your time on the platforms.

So next time you get on social media ask yourself these three questions:

  1. Are you using social media as a substitute for real life? If you are lonely call or reach out to a friend. Even if you can’t meet in person using a video app like Marco Polo is a great way to get a healthier dose of connection that’s 1:1 and off social media! I make sure to connect with friends several times a week on this video app.
  2. Are you an active or a passive user on social media? Are you simply scrolling posts and watching the interaction of others as a passive user… or are you engaging with others as an active user? If you are on social media – be an active user because a passive user can lead to more feelings of loneliness.
  3. Does social media leave you feeling inadequate or disappointed about your life?  This goes back to the feeling of FOMO – you focus on what you don’t have rather than what you do have. By remembering that no one’s life is ever as perfect as it seems on social media you can start to counter these FOMO symptoms faster.

3. spend more time with friends OFFLINE

The third way to prevent social media from impacting your mental health is to spend more time with friends OFFLINE!

Yes… set aside time each week for a…

  • playdate,
  • long walk,
  • shopping trip,
  • book club,
  • wine club,
  • card club,
  • happy hour meet-up,
  • or a simple coffee date or dinner. 

Even if you’re busy there are always ways to set aside each time to get face to face with someone without relying on social media. Even if you are new to an area – go to the coffee shop or restaurant and interact with others inside.

A simple HELLO and smile will improve how you feel and you never know where a kind gesture will lead.

An example – Just last night I was invited to a neighbors house for a wine tasting and dinner. Granted we just moved here a few months ago so I had only met the host once and didn’t know any of the other six ladies attending… I was so close to turning down the offer but something inside me needed that interaction. Turned out I had a great time and just the in-person connection …even with people I had never met prior …made me feel happier.

4. Express gratitude

The fourth way to prevent social media from impacting your mental health is to express gratitude about the important things in your life.

Really reflect and journal positive memories, moments, and experiences… this private reflection and mindfulness allows you to live in the present moment and lesson the impact of FOMO – which is a great way to improve your overall mental wellbeing.

If you find a cause to support – volunteering is also another way to express gratitude. Helping others not only enriches your community but allows you to feel happier and more grateful.

In closing

I know this is a lot of information to digest but I feel it’s important more than ever to really diagnose our social media usage and understand how it’s affecting our everyday lives. We can quickly become addicted to social media if you aren’t using these kinds of tips to limit it’s usage. And it can be a lot just to admit you have a problem. It really is the first step.

If you want to understand how social media works to keep you on their sites – there’s a Netflix documentary out right now called The Social Dilemma –  this film explores the dangerous human impact of social networking, with tech experts sounding the alarm on their own creations.

It really opens your eyes to the ways social media predicts and changes our behavior.

No one is safe from social media manipulation but I hope this episode helps you control your social media habits a bit better so it’s doesn’t have a huge impact on your mental health.

And I understand that in times of suggested social distancing and quarantine social media can be an invaluable tool for staying connected in some form or fashion with friends and loved ones.

But again be mindful about how it’s making you feel. It could be doing more harm than good. It’s always important to take steps to limit your social media usage.

BONUS: How to help a child or teen with unhealthy social media use

Written by Lawrence Robinson and Melinda Smith, M.A. 

Childhood and the teenage years can be filled with developmental challenges and social pressures. For some kids, social media has a way of exacerbating those problems and fueling anxiety, bullying, depression, and issues with self-esteem. If you’re worried about your child’s social media use, it can be tempting to simply confiscate their phone or other device. But that can create further problems, separating your child from their friends and the positive aspects of social media. Instead, there are other ways to help your child use Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms in a more responsible way.

Monitor and limit your child’s social media use. The more you know about how your child is interacting on social media, the better you’ll be able to address any problems. Parental control apps can help limit your child’s data usage or restrict their phone use to certain times of the day. You can also adjust privacy settings on the different platforms to limit their potential exposure to bullies or predators.

Talk to your child about underlying issues. Problems with social media use can often mask deeper issues. Is your child having problems fitting in at school? Are they suffering from shyness or social anxiety? Are problems at home causing them stress?

Enforce “social media” breaks. For example, you could ban social media until your child has completed their homework in the evening, not allow phones at the dinner table or in their bedroom, and plan family activities that preclude the use of phones or other devices. To prevent sleep problems, always insist phones are turned off at least one hour before bed.

Teach your child how social media is not an accurate reflection of people’s lives. They shouldn’t compare themselves or their lives negatively to others on social media. People only post what they want others to see. Images are manipulated or carefully posed and selected. And having fewer friends on social media doesn’t make your child less popular or less worthy.

Encourage exercise and offline interests. Get your child away from social media by encouraging them to pursue physical activities and hobbies that involve real-world interaction. Exercise is great for relieving anxiety and stress, boosting self-esteem, and improving mood—and is something you can do as a family. The more engaged your child is offline, the less their mood and sense of self-worth will be dependent on how many friends, likes, or shares they have on social media. 


The doors are NOW OPEN for new enrollment to The Social Note Community

As you know we only open enrollment for new members 6x a year so I invite you to take a look into what my business bestie Jenny Taylor and myself are doing to help female business builders like yourself who are here on purpose for a purpose. You can learn more at thesocialnotecommunity.com/

The Social Note Community is for women (from all countries) who are fed up with the sales tactics being reinforced throughout the online industry today. 

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Whether you are just getting started or been in business for years, this community is for women who are ready to use their unique gifting, story, and passions to grow their business. This community welcomes women from all industries: creatives, service-based, network marketing, bloggers, influencers, affiliate marketers, and others. Again learn more and join the community at thesocialnotecommunity.com/


Whenever you’re ready, here are 3 ways I can help you:

  1. Build a Continuous Flow of New Clients Using This Simple Profit Pipeline™ – HERE!
  2. Turn Your Chaos Into Clarity in Just 90 Minutes with this One Call – HERE!
  3. Obtain the Support System You Need Inside Our Coaching Group – HERE!
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Using my Stay in Your Lane Brand Method, I offer women a roadmap to discover the fortune (influence!) that lies within their brand and leverage it to make their business more profitable faster.

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Other episodes you may enjoy is “Ep 41: Is Your Website Costing You, Clients? How To Best Grab A User’s Attention In Under 12 Seconds.

or

EP 16: YOU WILL FAIL ON INSTAGRAM IF YOU DON’T CHOOSE TO DO THIS


Pin It on Pinterest

Share This