Sometimes it can be hard to find inner peace while constantly being bombarded by social media. A myriad of studies show that constantly being on social media negatively affects your mental health. Chronic social media use can cause depression and even memory loss. It can also affect you physically, manifesting your social media anxiety into gut issues, headaches, and tense muscles. Even so, it can be hard to disconnect, especially when one can tend to feel left out when not engaging. With around 72% of the U.S. population using social media, it can feel nearly impossible to shut it all off.
But you have to focus on your own well-being, and although achieving peace in a tech-driven world can seem difficult, it doesn’t have to be. There’s many practices you can implement in your daily life that will help you de-stress and feel more fulfilled and connected with the real world.
1. Meditating
Okay, so maybe it seems silly to suggest you download an app while we’re discussing using tech less. But the great thing about tech is that you can use it to your advantage, and one of those ways is through a meditation app. Meditating will help you slow down your mind, focus on the present, and push away any negative thoughts. And there are plenty of apps, like Calm or Headspace, that can help guide you.
2. Going outdoors
Connecting with nature, even in a small way, is one of the best ways you can get in touch with the real world, and yourself. A quick walk around the block while listening to your favorite podcast — or better yet, while leaving your phone at home — can be just the start you need to start getting that Vitamin D. A stroll in the woods, by a lake, or in your local park is the perfect medicine for any stressors.
3. Locking away your phone
Social media can be addicting just like gambling, and it can be incredibly difficult to stop. If you’re at a point where going without your phone for an hour makes you break out into a rash, you might want to consider simply locking it away, so you have no choice but to step away. There are lock boxes made specifically for phones that work on timers that you set, so you can’t access the phone by any means until the timer is up.
4. Talking to friends in person
Texting and emailing is super convenient, but sometimes we need good old-fashioned face-to-face hangouts! Taking the time to grab a coffee with an old friend you haven’t seen in a while, or even spending an hour just chatting on the couch, can significantly improve your feelings of connection to others, and your overall happiness.
5. Practicing daily gratitude
What are you grateful for today? Focusing on the things that make you happy and thankful, rather than the negative things that you compare yourself to (that Instagram model is photoshopped, I promise you), will help you prioritize your needs and find gratitude in the little things.
Which one of these tips resonates with you? When in doubt, try all of them! You don’t have to completely upturn your life, but applying some of these practices will absolutely help you find some inner peace in a loud, tumultuous world.
