4 Ways Social Media Can Support – Rather Than Undermine – Your Life

posted on : February 7, 2020

A 2019 Statistica Report shared that Americans on average spend 1 hour and 57 minutes on social media every day!

That’s a big chunk of time. And while cutting down on social scrolling is ideal because it will free up two hours of time and energy for your real life, I recognize that there are benefits to social media.

You’ll experience social media’s benefits — rather than its detriments — if you have the appropriate boundaries in place, like these 4 that I suggest:

1. Let Social Media Be About You (Not Your Children).

So many of us moms have our identity tied up in being a mom. It’s why so many women go through a mild depression when their children get more independent and no longer need them as much, because we’ve forgotten who we are. We lived our life for our children, rather than for our self.

Sometimes our social media profile reflects this as well. We post about our children’s awards, our children’s accomplishments, our children’s victories. Well, what about yours?

Your child’s job is not to fulfill the long-held aspirations that you once had for your self. That is YOUR job, so get out there, make your identity YOURS, create your own victories, wins, and successes, and then inspire and celebrate them with us on social media.

(By connecting to yourself and your true desires, you will actually connect more authentically with your children, which is what they really crave. They don’t want to be your social media trophy, they want your connection in presence.)

Go be present with them.

Go be present with your life.

2. Protect Your Energy.

You are responsible for the media you consume every day, so be mindful about what you are consuming. There is no law that says you need to be friends with or follow people from your past. There are friends of mine from high school and college that I unfriended because their posts were filled with drama or not a vibrational match to the energy I want to experience and put out in the world.

Just because someone is a friend, sibling, even your parent, does NOT mean that you need to be following what they are up to on social media. If someone’s posts don’t bring you joy, inspire you, or challenge you, or if they are racist, sexist or disrespectful, UNFRIEND, UNFOLLOW, UNJOIN THE GROUP.

You have control over this.

3. Social Media Is Best Used For Being Inspired And Staying Connected.

I use Facebook to stay connected to my friends and colleagues that I care about or who inspire me, even if we haven’t talked in years. If I see the name of someone I cannot remember how I know them, I UNFOLLOW so that my news feed represents the people that I want to stay in touch with.

On Facebook, I belong to several masterminds and peer networking groups that enhance my career and my personal growth. It’s one of the reasons I love the platform. Seek out these types of groups that resonate with you.

I use Instagram for inspiration. I follow my mentors, coaches, people I aspire to be like… and the few friends of mine who are not on Facebook 🙂 So when I look at Instagram, it lights me up and challenges me to be a better human being.

Finally, when I post on any social platform, I:

Think about how I can inspire or connect with my friends.
Ask myself if my ego is craving some attention and driving me to post. I do give in to my ego sometime (we’re all human!), but it’s out of a mindful choice after I’ve recognized the driver.

4. Recognize That Social Media Has An Addictive Nature To It.

Research has shown that every time you get a notification, like, comment, zing on social media or your smart phone, your brain releases dopamine so you feel good. This is the same chemical that is associated with drugs, sex, exercise, love, gambling, food, and so on. We literally become addicted to our phones.

As with any addiction, when life gets uncomfortable, we all seek dopamine to feel good and numb out the uncomfortable, the pain, the hurt, the loneliness that we are feeling.

If you find yourself stuck on social media, ask yourself: