Last updated on November 13th, 2020 at 02:41 am

Social media has been a lot lately! I get that helps us stay informed, but when do you draw the line and realize you’re going down a rabbit hole. I guess that’s what make social media addictive right? We want to know more and more.

What’s going on with COVID? Whoa, another Black person victimized by police brutality? Look what’s going on with the protest. Here goes Trump saying stupid sh*t all over again. Everyone’s doing so much, but I’m not doing enough. I need to call my therapist; this is all too much.

At least those are my thoughts as I’m scrolling nonstop on Twitter. Seeing article after article on Facebook. I know this is eroding away at my mental, but I have to stay informed—in the loop. And I can bet this is how other people are feeling. Trying to find the balance of peace of mind and knowing what’s going on.

But constantly focusing on everything going on in the world, that you may or may not have control over, can rob you of the present moment. Hence why people are having anxiety—worrying about the future. And depression—living in the past that no longer exists.

You have to do your part to make sure you’re okay mentally and physically. So you will have to set some boundaries with yourself if you want to thrive. That means taking a break from social media and connecting with yourself and people in your life.

So where to begin with the boundaries?

Set a Time Limit

You would be mad if someone wasted hours or even days of your time. So why not keep that same energy with yourself? Because essentially, you’re wasting so much time just scrolling and doing nothing else.  Not that you have to be productive all the time—because, no you don’t. But you shouldn’t indulge in social media too long.

The pandemic, racial injustices, and the overall comparison game social media perpetuates isn’t good for your mental. You got to learn the balance of it all and I—if anyone—knows how difficult that is. But setting a daily time limit has helped. If you have a newer Samsung galaxy, there’s a Digital Wellbeing control that allows you to set timers. And it’ll give you your weekly usage—same for iPhone users.

But you can also download Stay Focused an app that lets you set timers,  gives your usage stats, blocks apps for a certain time—whatever you need. Having this will help you realize how much time you spent on social media and your phone in general.

Time Block

I was against this for so long, but I’ve found time blocking helpful in managing my everyday life. So if you want to complete a task, dedicate an hour to it. If you don’t finish the task, save it for tomorrow.

With everything going on, it’s hard to focus on the tasks/goals you set for yourself because you might want to tune into social media. Maybe you want to feel more connected to people. Maybe it’s a distraction for you. Maybe it’s a comfort thing.

Whatever your reason is, don’t let it consume you!

Make time for work, yourself, and other things you want to do. Having a planner can definitely help with that. Write down what you need to do allot time to it, then get it done.

When you don’t have a routine, you can easily get wrapped up in social media. Again, you don’t have to be productive all the time but routine can look like making breakfast for yourself. Doing your hair. Being outside for 30 mins a day. Journaling.

It’s your world.

Go Outside

This goes hand in hand with everything. If you set time limits on your social media and are intentional about going outside, then you’ll see a shift in your mental. Vitamin D is good for your wellness and promotes a happier you. And you can naturally get that from being outside.

Look at God!!

So eat lunch on the grass. Do a social distancing walk with your friends. Chill out at a lake or beach. Do some gardening. Anything that involves soaking up those beautiful sun rays.

I personally felt a shift in my mental health when I moved to Thailand. I was outside more. I hiked as much as I could and the weather was mostly sunny. And guess what? I felt happier! Nature is medicinal.

Go To Therapy

If you don’t know by now, I’m an advocate for mental health and healing yourself. These times can be especially traumatic for folks since we can’t see our friends and families as much. Travel is more limited. Unemployment is at an all-time high.

So it’s easy to spiral, and I too have experienced that in quarantine. But what’s helped me is seeing a therapist and having a safe space to express my feelings + getting validated.

There are plenty of resources for you to see a mental health professional, please don’t let money stop you.

Also, check out these resources for Black mental health, LGBTQ+ friendly.

Have Fun

Most of the time we’re on social media because we’re bored. Or we think everything revolves around being on there. But it’s time to reshape what fun looks like even if it’s social distancing.

Now that it’s warmer outside, you can go to the park, go for a hike, grill outside, go kayaking. You can even become a tourist in your own state and discover something new.

Try a new recipe or even play cards against humanity virtually. Be intentional about your wellbeing, and some days will look different from others—but when you can.. try to have fun and make the most of this finite life we have.