The average person spends 147 minutes on social media every day. That’s 17 hours and 15 minutes each week, 73.5 hours a month and a whopping 894 hours per year! Let that sink in…
And what are we actually doing with that time? Are we using it to connect with friends and family, build relationships, share interesting things? Or are we doomscrolling, swiping through our feeds mindlessly, getting caught up in the drama of other people’s lives?
Bingo!
Social media is one of the most powerful tools that we have at our disposal. But it can also be a time sucker.
In this blog post, we’ll look at how using social media intentionally can make a difference in a way that can benefit you and those around you.
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How has social media affected us
It’s safe to say that social media has had a major impact on our lives over the past decade. For better or for worse, it has completely changed the way we interact with each other and consume information.
Social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok have become a central part of our lives.
On the plus side, social media has made it easier than ever to connect with friends and family all over the world. No need to wait for snail mail letters to cross the oceans; we can simply post a status update or send a tweet and people can respond immediately.
I’ve lived abroad for almost 10 years and it’s been a fantastic way to keep in touch with family and friends. I wouldn’t be without it!
Read also: 10 Powerful Ways to Build an Intentional Friendship
But with every positive, there comes some negative aspects. It’s too easy to get caught up in comparing our own lives to the seemingly perfect lives of others that we see online.
It can also be a major source of anxiety and stress, as we constantly check our phones for likes, comments, and notifications.
Ultimately, social media is what we make of it. It can be a powerful tool for good or a destructive force in our lives; but it all depends on how we use it.
So how can we use social media in a way that is positive and beneficial? Let’s take a look at some ways to do just that.
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Ways to use social media intentionally
#1 Focus on relationships rather than numbers
Be honest, how often do you check how many likes and comments you have on a social media post? Or how many followers you have?
One of the biggest mistakes that people make on social media is focusing on the numbers. We get caught up in comparing our feeds to others, and we measure our self-worth by the number of likes and comments we receive.
But what if we reframed our perspective and started looking at social media as a way to build relationships?
Think about the people you interact with on social media. Do you actually know them, or are they just people who you’ve seen around online?
Now imagine that you only had 50 friends on social media. Would you interact with them any differently? Would you be more selective about who you follow and what you share?
Try to focus on quality over quantity – it’ll help you use social media in a way that’s more intentional.
#2 Connect with people who inspire you
Social media gives us the wonderful opportunity to connect with people from all over the world, including those who share our passions and interests!
If you love hiking, follow some local hiking groups. Got a passion for crocheting? Follow someone who shares helpful patterns. This way, you get to build your skills and learn from people who know what they’re talking about.
Social media can also be a great way to connect with inspiring and successful people in your field of work. Have you ever thought about connecting with colleagues on LinkedIn (yes, LinkedIn is considered a social media platform!).
Ultimately, we should use social media to surround ourselves with people who lift us up and help us grow.
Read also: A Simple Formula for Living a Meaningful & Happy Life
#3 Share your ideas and thoughts in a mindful way
Social media is a great place to share our ideas and opinions with the world. But it’s important to do this in a thoughtful and constructive way, rather than simply venting our frustrations or ranting about current events and politics.
Share articles and other content that you find interesting or thought-provoking, starting a constructive conversation or even educating people.
Have you ever heard ‘if you’ve nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all’? Remember that not everyone needs to see everything we post. We don’t need to share every single thought or opinion we have; sometimes it’s better to keep certain things to ourselves.
Be careful not to share personal things. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen someone post a picture of an airline ticket, showing their reservation number. Anyone could call the airline and cancel your flight, just from that one image.
Read also: Being Intentional With Your Life: 12 Ways to be Intentional Every Day
#4 Take a break when you need to
There’s no shame in taking a break from social media. In fact, it’s often necessary in order to avoid burnout.
Once or twice a year, I delete my social media apps from my phone. It forces me to take a break and, interestingly, when I get them back I find I’m not using them as much.
If you find yourself constantly scrolling through your feeds, it’s probably time to take a step back. Try for a week, or just a few days if you fear the withdrawal.
Another way you can take a step back is to set specific hours of use – like one hour a day – or if you need a little extra help, use the Freedom App.
Read also: Disconnect to Reconnect: The Significance of a Digital Detox
#5 Silence notifications and give yourself some space
One of the best ways to use social media more intentionally is to silence our notifications. This can help avoid getting sucked into the never-ending doom-scroll. My phone is on constant light vibrate or silent!
When notifications come through, we tend to drop everything else and ignore the people around us or tasks we should be doing, even if we don’t really have time for it.
One solution is to simply turn off notifications altogether – or at least for the apps that you tend to check the most.
Read also: Freedom App Review: Are You Ready For Digital Freedom
#6 Don’t strive for perfection
Guess what! Your social media account doesn’t need to be perfect! In fact, perfectly curated feeds and perfectly edited photos can sometimes seem inauthentic.
Instead of striving for perfection, try focusing on simply sharing yourself with the world – warts and all. Embrace your flaws and quirks, and don’t be afraid to share the messy, imperfect parts of your life.
What you see on other people’s social media accounts isn’t necessarily the whole picture. In fact, it’s often a carefully curated version that shows only their best moments, without any of the struggles or setbacks along the way.
Read also: Perfectly Imperfect: 12 Reasons Why Imperfect is Perfect
Summary: Using social media intentionally
So now we know – using social media intentionally can help us build relationships, connect with others, share our passions, and so much more.
While it can be easy to fall into the trap of spending hours scrolling through our social media feeds, if we use social media intentionally, we can get so much out of it.
By being mindful about what we share and who we connect with, we can make social media work for us instead of against us and make a positive impact on the world around us.
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