Tomorrow marks the first of June, which means that summertime is on the horizon. And this summer, I’ve decided to go on a diet. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not about to put down my hot dogs, hamburgers, or potato salad! Instead, I’m going to try what the experts call “a social media diet” for a more stress-free summer.
Social media can be a great place to find pet videos, funny jokes, or opinions about the week’s biggest television drama, but there’s also a lot of junk. And just like with real food, when we put in nothing but junk, we start to feel out of shape. Flabby. Or even crabby.
In fact, studies show that social media is often linked to depression. Not because it’s inherently depressing (though it can be, for sure), but because of the way many of us utilize it. For instance, a large percentage of social media users report that they can’t help but compare themselves to others online. When everyone is posting about their vacations, marathon wins, or fancy meals, it can be a bit of a downer when you’re staring down a bologna sandwich and a pile of bills on your desk.
One important thing that experts say is to remember that social media is curated. When we scroll through an Instagram feed, we don’t see the bad pictures or the messy days – only the perfect shots that people want to show.
Rather than comparing yourself to others on social media when you’re feeling blue, I like the idea of the social media diet. Pour your time into something that feels rewarding, like cooking a meal, going for a hike with friends, or taking on a project around the house. When you’re done, you’ll feel happy and accomplished – and sure, you can even post the photos on Facebook if you like.
If you need a quick dose of joy without the temptations of, say, the infamously negative Twitter, here are some heartwarming, uplifting moments people have shared:
These parents graduating from college together – now that’s an achievement worth sharing!
This proud grandpa who has seen each one of his grandchildren off to college – and he has the caps to prove it!
This family taking “paws” to celebrate the newest addition to the family – congratulations!
This proud uncle ready to make a great “first impression”:
Or this kid and his incredible smile, doing us all a favor for when we wonder: “Why don’t they report on any good news?”
Fuel for Thought,
~Bob
