In today’s increasingly online world, it’s far too easy to compare the drudgery of everyday life to the seemingly perfect lives of our peers. Spending too much time engrossed in our phones, staring at snapshots from other people, can damage our perceptions of ourselves, and our mental health.
The question becomes: Where do we draw the line between the artificial, heavily manipulated portraits that dominate social media outlets to the imperfect moments of everyday life? Checking our phones has become so deeply programmed into our minds, that even taking a break from our phones feels strange and disconcerting. Regulating our daily consumption of media can significantly improve the way we feel about ourselves and positively affect our mental health. So, next time you compare yourself to someone else, remember that picture, that post, that video, is only a tiny window into their life. In her 1989 tour, Taylor Swift reminded her fans that when we scroll through the “highlight reel” of people’s awesome lives, all we see is the behind-the-scenes of our lives.
No voices are as damaging as our voices are to ourselves, and social media can be a painful reminder of our own shortcomings, failures, and imperfections. As Taylor Swift says, you are not going nowhere just because you aren’t where you want to be yet. Don’t let the voices telling you you’re not good enough, drown out the voices telling you you are.
Taking a break from social media, when it’s so engrained in our daily routine, can be difficult. However, putting your phone away before you wake up in the morning, and before you go to bed is a good place to start. Perhaps, pick up some light reading, to relax and soothe your brain. The act of reading and placing yourself within a new reality, will allow your mind to escape from the pressures of social media.
Lastly, surround yourself with people you love. Going on a walk in the arboretum with a friend, or FaceTiming your parents makes a huge difference in the way we interact with others and perceive ourselves. Sometimes just hearing the voice of someone you care about will remind you that you are good enough.
Thumbnail courtesy of Kirsten Burrell