Social media break

I was never one of those people who thought social media impacted my mental health, until recently. There is enough uncertainty in my life right now, I don’t need conspiracy theories, people complaining how masks take away their rights, and the general negative tone many social media platforms seem to have taken in the last couple of months.

I get this pandemic is taking its toll on everyone but I hadn’t realized how drawn to the negative comments I had become in recent months/weeks. My “need” to click on the comments of a mandatory mask bylaw coming in to affect left me wanting to throw my phone at the wall, climb into bed, put the covers over my head and not resurface until this was all behind us.

I found I was getting an increasing number of not-so-positive calls at work and would absorb this negative energy until it physically hurt. I would then chose to read negative articles and comments on social media leading me to become very bitter and wondering why I wanted to live in this world. To clarify, I wasn’t suicidal, I was in a place of wanting to fake my death and escape reality by living off the grid.

After a particularly bad day where I read an article about how this pandemic will likely have long lasting effects on mental health, I decided maybe spending a large portion of my days on social media wasn’t helping my mental wellbeing and I decided to take a break. A friend mentioned you can set time limits on your phone apps. I found how to do this and I am so glad I did! I have a 10 minute a day limit for Facebook and Twitter and also a screen limit between 22:15 and 07:30 every day to ensure I’m not filling my head with negativity before I go to sleep.

It only been 5 days and I already feel better for it. I have better focus, I want to have a life again – although in a socially distanced, not too many people around me way – I will get myself back to the gym and with my work schedule changing to earlier hours I will start to swim again.

Without absorbing the negative energy, I am handling situations much better. Every little thing isn’t in danger of tipping me over the edge. I don’t want to hide under the covers any more, I don’t feel the need to start to withdraw and cut contact with those closest to me (my biggest cue that I’m getting to a dark place that won’t be quick to get out of), and generally I just feel the weight of the world slowly lifting off of my shoulders.

I have no plans of extending my time on social media any time soon. I am sticking with Insta as I can look at pretty pictures and ignore comments much more easily. I’m allowing myself time to breathe. I highly recommend a social media break, even if only for one day. Even if you don’t take a break completely, just try avoiding the negativity. There are lots of positives out there, sometimes we just have to look harder to find them.