How I Keep My Sanity on Social Media

If you rely on social media, for what it’s meant for, to be social, you may find it can be challenging to keep your sanity. There’s always that one friend who constantly posts those polarizing political posts. That one account that’s trying to sell you a $100 drink that will “change your life.”

I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.

I enjoy my Instagram and Facebook scrolls as a break from reality as much as the next person, but I noticed one day that it wasn’t relaxing anymore. I was angry about something someone posted or I was feeling bad about myself because I didn’t look like another mom. I was questioning how I parent because I wasn’t up on the latest parenting research.  

Then it hit me.

I had created this feed. I chose to follow these accounts. 

And since I had chosen to follow them in the first place, I could just as easily choose to unfollow them. 

And there is no reason to feel bad about it. And even better, I don’t have to announce it. Despite what some people think, you can disagree and unfollow someone WITHOUT announcing it in the comments section. Actually, it feels better to do it in secret. Make it something THEY have to figure out.

Now, I still use social media to be social and to learn new things or just read and see fun stuff. I’m just a lot more picky about what I choose to see. I had to make some decisions to unfollow or unfriend people who didn’t help me be the best version of myself.

I choose to make my social media my happy place and I encourage you to do the same.  It may look different for you, but here are a few criteria I use.

How to Create a More Positive Social Media Feed

1. I only follow fitness and health gurus who promote positive body image and not fad diets. I also prefer these people to have a diploma of some sort on the subject. 
2. I only follow parenting sites that hold the same values of parenting that I do.
3. I only follow friends and family who I actually want to hear from or whom I want to see my child or know about my life.  
4. I only follow celebrities who are either funny or positive. If I care to snoop on any other famous people, I’ll just look at their profile every now and then, but not let it be a constant in my feed.
5. I follow FUN accounts for the sake of being FUN! A few top favorites on Instagram I would encourage you to add are:
   • The Tiny Chef Show – A tiny puppet-like chef who cooks in the cutest kitchen while speaking in the funniest way.
   • Tiny Kitchen (by Tastemade) – They make tiny food in a tiny kitchen–I can’t stop watching.
   • Tank’s Good News – A curated account of only positive stories. It will restore your faith in humanity.

Those are the steps I take to help keep me feeling positive about myself when I’m on social media. What would you add to this list?