Five ways to use social media to fight depression
Use social media to connect, not compare. Here are some ways to use social media to fight depression and improve your health.
Use social media to connect, not compare.
Social media has become a part of everyday life for many people – often, with multiple accounts to keep up with.
Below are some tips to make the most of your time on social media, and how to use it as a tool to fight depression.
1. Keep in touch with friends
Social media shouldn’t replace face-to-face contact, but it can help you stay connected with people. Use social media to stay in touch and, when possible, to make plans to meet in person.
2. Make new connections and connect with old friends
Social media allows us to reconnect with people we’ve lost touch with, as well as to make new friends. Send an old friend a message to see how they’re doing, or comment on a post from someone new to expand your social circle.
3. Focus on quality over quantity
Don’t get caught up in the numbers. It’s important to focus on the quality of your friendships rather than how many followers or fans you have. Having one good friend you can meet up with and rely on is far more meaningful than having hundreds or thousands of followers.
4. Find your community
Use social media to connect to larger communities of people who share similar interests or lifestyles. It can be pretty cool to see people from all over the world sharing ideas and coming together around something they’re passionate about.
5. Don’t make comparisons
Most people tend to post about “good stuff,” making it seem like their lives are full of fun, excitement, and adventure; but these posts don’t necessarily reflect the realities of real, everyday life. Avoid getting sucked into thinking that everyone else’s lives are free of challenges and disappointments – it’s just not the case.