The internet can be an excellent resource. But it can also be our own worst enemy. According to a recent study, the average person spends about 6 hours a day online. And while some of that may account for work and other need-based tasks, most of it is spent surfing the web or scrolling through social media. After a while, all that mindless time online can begin to take its toll. If this sounds like you, it might be time for an online overhaul. In this blog post, we’ll explore a few ways to practice good online self-care.
Be Selective
It’s important to follow people that make you feel good about yourself. If you wouldn’t be friends with them in person, you probably shouldn’t be online. If specific topics trigger you, avoid them by muting stories and posts that might upset you if you see them in your feed. Your for you page is just that — for you.
Keep a Log
Keep a log of how being online makes you feel. You might be surprised at what you find out. What might start as a self-soothing activity can quickly become an anxiety-filled, doom-scrolling session. Sometimes, less is more.
Take Breaks
If you have to be online for work, make sure you take a break. Get some fresh air or quickly walk around the house or office. Computers are visual stimuli, but your brain needs more than that. Diving back into the real world every once and a while will keep you grounded.
Know the Truth
Not everything you see online is true. People only post the best on social media — always the parts they want you to see. It is not real life. Every person goes through their own struggles, but one thing is for sure. It’s not going on social media. Take posts with a grain of salt. While life might seem greener for another person, you aren’t seeing the whole picture.
Set a Limit
If you have trouble regulating your time spent online, set a limit. You can manually set a timer each time you decide to go online or set one up on your smartphone. Most have a setting where you can set an allotted amount of time for social media and other apps that notorious time sucks. Once you reach your maximum time spent online, you will be pinged with an alert so you know it’s time to log off.
Detox
If setting limits isn’t working, you might need a digital detox. Spend a week to yourself without the constant urge to jump online or scroll through your phone. Undoubtedly you will feel that you have a lot of time on your hands. Do things that make you happy — sketch, walk, or bake. You might not even miss it once you cut it out of your life.
Christina Montoya Fiedler
Christina Montoya Fiedler is a news writer based in Los Angeles, CA. She’s a mom, wife, blogger, former publicist, lima bean hater, and coffee drinker extraordinaire — but not necessarily in that order. You can follow her on Twitter @cmf2009.
