How mindful social media usage improved my mental health

Studies have shown the negative impacts of social media on mental health. However, social media can actually be helpful in improving one's mental health when used mindfully.

Being mindful begins with self-awareness - to recognise how what we see on socal media affects our thoughts, emotions and behaviours. It takes practice and a lot of self-reflection to be able to practice mindfulness successfully but here are some ways to help.

To prioritise your mental wellbeing, use content filters on platforms like Twitter - mute topics, keywords and accounts that contain inflammatory and potentially toxic content. This works on any social media platform with feeds and a muting function, and can help to clear your mind.

However, you should not filter everything you don't like to see. Social media provides a diverse range of people and viewpoints for your consideration.

Besides avoiding toxic content on social media, keep your feed full of positivity. The accounts we follow on social media directly influence the feeds we see daily. If the content tends to induce negative thoughts, it can lead us into negative thinking patterns.

By filling your feed with positive content, you can create a healthy online environment for yourself. This provides a safe space that reminds you to take care of your mental health.

Social media is great for finding like-minded people to befriend and share experiences with. As long as you don't give away personal information, it's easy to have an enjoyable and safe conversation with others online. Just remember to talk to people who build you up, not tear you down.

It is also a good idea to use social media to strengthen your existing relationships, especially if you cannot meet in person.

Whenever I go through something difficult, connecting with others who relate to my struggles makes me feel less alone. There is a wide range of platforms for people to offer their knowledge and gather support.

However, social media still has a variety of fake news, so it is important to remain mindful of your usage and exercise discretion when communicating with others and accessing resources on social media.