It’s that “New Year, New Me” time of the year! The end of a year always brings about a sense of renewal and hope for the upcoming year. It's an opportunity to set goals for yourself that will bring you closer to achieving your personal and professional potential, but with such high expectations comes the risk of failure if not executed correctly. Setting a new year resolution is not as daunting if you set it in the context of an achievable goal. A simple plan for success and meaning will help keep yourself motivated! What I try to do is to keep the challenge simple so it doesn’t feel like I’m going cold turkey which almost always invariably leads to a relapse. By implementing change gradually, you give yourself time to adjust and hold yourself accountable (instead of feeling like you’ve failed yourself over rigid goals).
If quitting social media is on your list of resolutions, this article offers a different approach. I’m on social media a lot- it’s my primary mode of communication with family and friends who live all over the globe, and like many, it also happens to be a large part of my professional life. I understand that it's easy to get overwhelmed by it but ironically it can also be hard to put down. Instead of quitting social media completely, try changing the way it affects you using the tips below:
Don’t let the numbers define you: Social media is a powerful tool that can help you compete in any industry. But if we get caught up with the numbers, our stress levels will rise and it's likely we'll burn ourselves out before truly giving value to those who follow us or have an interest in what matters most - providing content for them!
Don't check it in bed: Whether you are waking up or going to sleep- don't check your phone for at least an hour. When we first wake up, our brainwaves transition from delta to theta- a state which makes us more emotionally intelligent and creative individuals. But if you check your social media or newsfeeds before heading into work in the morning then this process gets skipped over as we enter alert mode from seeing the latest headlines, emails or posts. This also sets the tone of the day so if you've come across negative news, you're prone to being a bit more stressed and anxious throughout the day. On the other hand, the blue light from our screens stimulates wakefulness, which makes it harder to fall asleep easily afterwards as well as having an effect on sleep habits. This isn't just bad for our well-being but also impacts how much energy we have the next day.
Don't give in to the negativity: Don't let the trolls get you down! Social media is a great way to share your life with others and engage them in conversation, but some people are just looking for an opportunity to stir things up. You can either ignore them or respond positively.
Unfollow whoever isn't adding value: If social media has you feeling exhausted, perhaps it’s time to reevaluate the content and people you are following. Much like in real life, you are allowed to distance yourself from people who make you feel bad online. If someone posts something that continuously upsets you, you have the choice to unfollow them.
Get quality time off: Serving your audience should be a priority, but so too must self-care. You cannot serve others if you do not take care of yourself first and foremost! Take some time off every now and again to refuel your cup with quality content or activities that will help keep things fresh for everyone involved in this endeavour together--including YOU.