Your Phone is Slowly Killing You…
Prioritizing Your Mental Health in a Digital Era
Mental health is of utmost importance in a digitally charged society because the current online environment can often feel unstructured, hyper-critical, and overwhelming. It is important to note that when we interact with social media, we are interacting with a completely virtual world with no foreseeable physical boundaries.
In today’s digital age, it is more important than ever to take the time to focus on our mental health. With an increase in digital distraction, particularly due to the rise of social media, it can be difficult to focus on personal well-being and take care of our minds. As such, it is crucial to take time to understand how digital technology can affect your mental health and proactively take steps to ensure it does not become a detriment.
“Okay Sydney, we get it’s important! Where do I even start?” I’m so glad you asked sweetness…
Control Your Usage:
Practical advice for maintaining one’s mental health while in this space, is controlling your usage. It is essential to set limits and regularly take mental health breaks from the constant overstimulation and instant gratification that comes from 15-second videos. Establishing a social media schedule and setting boundaries for yourself is important, as it can help to give you control over the time that you spend on social media and reduce stress when these boundaries are in place. In addition, putting some distance between yourself and your devices by switching standard notifications off can help create some space.
Replace the Negative With Something Positive:
Implementing meditative activities such as yoga, mindfulness, and journaling can also provide a form of relief. Ultimately, listening to your body, engaging in activities that bring pleasure and contentment, and maintaining a support network should be a priority. Practicing self-care, such as getting sufficient sleep, exercising, eating well, and taking time for yourself when consuming social media is great for more than overall wellness, but helpful in avoiding screen fatigue.
Remember Your Why Often:
Remember your why when it comes to limiting your screen time! From refraining from body-shaming culture, comparison culture, or just overall toxicity; there are many reasons why people take screen breaks and control how much they are on their devices. It is important to remember that online interactions should not be the catalyst for the majority of one’s relationships, rather it is more important to foster real-world interpersonal relationships that help you stay grounded and protect your mental health.
As someone who has battled mental health diagnoses for over four years of my life, I could go on and on about this topic!
My Advice:
Seek support. Make sure you have someone who you can talk to - whether it be a family member, friend, mental health professional, or even support groups online or in your community. Knowing that you have people who you can turn to when you're feeling overwhelmed or overwhelmed can make a huge difference.
Practice self-care. Make sure that you're taking time for yourself, whether it's engaging in activities that make you feel good, trying out a new hobby, or making sure that you're taking care of your physical and mental health. Taking time occasionally to do something that relieves stress or relaxes you can help keep your mental health in check.
I will dedicate a post filled with my self-care tips, how to build and maintain healthy habits, and more soon! For now, something that helps me is having a dedicated list on my phone called “Things that Bring Me Joy”, it’s nothing fancy, just a bulleted list in my notes app that I reference when I’m having one of “those days”. It is a tangible way to see the opportunities I have to take action in resistance to how I might be feeling. Some joyful ideas on it include:
Take a walk with Blu (my doggo)
Ground yourself: touch some grass barefoot and get sunshine
Get a cup of coffee and journal at a coffee shop
Make pesto pasta and garlic knots
Bake lemon bars using mom’s recipe
Call grandma, pops, Julie, or Desiree
Watch a travel vlog
Watch a Fast and Furious movie
Do Yoga
Go to a Thrift Store
3. Use healthy coping mechanisms. It's important to find healthy ways to cope with stress and other difficult emotions. Practices such as deep breathing, yoga, journaling, and even playing video games or listening to music can be effective tools for managing your mental health.
4. Get help if you need it. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you're feeling overwhelmed or struggling with your mental health. There are many mental health resources available to help, so don't be afraid to reach out and get the help you need.
I am NOT a therapist, but you always have a friend in me :)
With love,
