By: Elizabeth Koblenz, LMSW

The rise of social media in today’s generation can consume us in more ways than we can imagine, sometimes causing more harm than good. Don’t get me wrong, social media can bring us joy in many ways, like finding that cool recipe you saw or a video that made you smile. However, it is how we react to others’ social media stories, pictures and videos that can lead us to feel bad, guilty, or sad about our personal lives. 

Because social media can have such a strong presence, we often develop singular representations on others’ lives, which in turn can cause our thoughts to overlook the fact that these images are just pictures and moments in time. When using social media, often times we begin to use a cognitive distortion called comparison. Comparison is an automatic negative thought as a result of comparing ourselves to someone else. Comparison can sneak up on us and sometimes go unnoticed. When using social media, comparison can come as a result of scrolling through someone’s page or watching someone’s story (a few second snip-it of a live moment of time). When one gets lost in feeling in the thought of comparison from using social media, it can lead to feelings of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. 

Social media has become such a staple in this digital age that we can get lost in the “scroll” and forget that the rest of the world exists. Because of the feelings and emotions that can come from social media, it is important to take a moment and reevaluate the amount of time you spend on it. Here are 5 tips to help take a break from social media, become more mindful, and reset your mind: 

1.     Read a book:

Instead of scrolling on your phone during your downtime, try reading! Reading is a great way to challenge your mind and get lost in a story or text that interests you. Reading also helps to catalyze your imagination and take a break from your everyday stressors. This is a great way to let your mind rest from social media and allows you to take some time for yourself. 

2.     Cook/bake your favorite meal or snack:

Have that new recipe you’ve been dying to make but haven’t had time to? Cooking or baking is often found to be therapeutic and fun! Instead of scrolling through your feed, invite a friend over and cook/bake that new recipe you’ve been dreaming about. 

3.     Hang out with a friend or family member:

Hanging out with a friend or family member can help remind you of the importance of the connection of human contact. Take some time to meet up with a friend you haven’t seen in a while; get lunch, dinner, or just make some plans to hang. When you are together, challenge yourselves by putting your phones away and enjoying each other’s company. This way you will be able to enjoy your time without the distractions that a phone can have. 

4.     Go on a walk or do an exercise class:

When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. Endorphins trigger a positive feeling in your body that allows you to feel good. See if that workout class you’ve been dying to try has an open spot or just take a walk around the block. Going for a long walk or enjoying a workout will help bring out a sweat and break away from your phone.

5.     Get outside and explore:

It is easy to get lost in our electronics and become distracted from what is going on around us. Take some time to explore your local neighborhood and check out some new places that you haven’t been to yet. Maybe even go to a local museum and get a first look at the new exhibit. It is important to be able to get some fresh air and step away from your electronics. Who knows, maybe you will even be pleasantly surprised with what you find in your neighborhood! 

To learn more about how to incorporate these tips into your daily life or to work with Elizabeth, give us a call today 646) 494-4878.