Social media can be a great tool for any business owner and entrepreneur, but it can also be a source of anxiety and stress. I have often found myself questioning if I even want to be a part of social media given how much anxiety and stress it has brought into my life in the past. I even went as far as quitting Instagram for six whole months! Let me just say that after really weighting the pros and cons, the bad and the good, I have come to realize that it’s a necessary evil that when looked at differently can be a source of immense good. The only thing is that you have to learn how to mindfully approach social media in order to use it in a healthy way.
Mindfully Approach Social Media
The first step to mindfully approach social media is awareness. You need to question why you use it in the first place and how it currently makes you feel. Back when you first started using social media (maybe it was Facebook or Instagram) what was the purpose? Was it to share your life with your family and friends? To grow your business and attract clients? Think about why you started using it and then really consider your new WHY. Why are you using it now?
Seek Joy and Curate Around It
Boundaries, like in life and relationships, are real when using social media. We tend to fall down comparison hole spirals and come out feeling awful about ourselves. Be mindful about who you follow. The good thing is that you can totally control your feed, what you see and how you use the app. Instead of scrolling through and endless parade of perfection that triggers your anxiety, try following accounts that bring you joy and inspiration. Follow people that make you feel good about yourself and encourage you. Likewise, you should be mindful about what you post and curate your photos and captions around your why. If it brings you joy, go for it! If you feel it triggering, let it go!
Live In The Moment
Being mindful is all about being present. Think about how often you are on your phone. Scrolling, posting, commenting, liking… I mean, I even take my phone to the bathroom! How many times do you wait to eat your meal because you have to style it, take a photo, edit that photo, caption it and then post it. All while your food gets cold! I actually don’t post in real time. Instead I pre-curate my grid and write my captions a week in advance in order to not take away from my life. To mindfully approach social media and actually post quality content for your community, I highly recommend quickly capturing the moments you want to share. Save that photo and post it later in your downtime when you can think things through and connect with your why.
Don’t Fall Into The Rat Race
The most crucial piece of advice I can give you? Don’t run when you need to walk. In other words, if you see other businesses, bloggers, friends or influencers doing a certain thing, don’t rush to try and “keep up”. You are only in competition with your past self, so while I know it can sometimes suck to feel like you are behind, I promise you that you are not. Do things in your own time. Really think things through before posting… come back to your why and make sure it makes sense and brings you joy. Because at the end of the day, being mindful is not about scrambling to post because you forgot and it’s already 4pm, it’s about sharing your magic in your own time.
Unplug & Keep it Real
Here’s the real deal… Everyone who’s on social media curates a highlight reel of their lives. You are only really seeing a teeny tiny fraction of their lives. It is also your choice how you want to use social media and consume it. Always be real with yourself and check-in to see how you feel. Unplugging is also really good for your mental health! I remember feeling the pressure to post every single day, and that pressure came from myself! Once I realized that I was in control, I let go and started truly living mindfully. Plus, how can you share amazing content and experiences if you are glued to your phone? Unplug and instead see the wonder around you, get inspired and create content that connects you with your community.
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The most important thing is to always be real with yourself about how social media makes you feel. The more self-aware you are, the more mindful your approach to social media will be. Now tell me, how do you feel about social media?
