Social Media Break

Social Media Break - specifically Instagram

I don’t like or use Facebook much anymore. Although it does seem to work better than instagram for local stuff (idkw).

I have a love hate relationship with instagram in particular.

It’s a great place to finnnd things. I’ve found other yoga teachers, and local studios. I’ve found work and collaboration oppertunies. I’ve found yogi’s and teachers with bodies like mine!

I love to share on Instagram too. By sharing my silly little videos of me bending and breathing, I’ve begun to really heal my body image hang ups.

In my head I was this grotesque blob, but actually watching my body move showed me that that’s just not true. It’s just a body, moving.

When I do share my body moving I’m also showing other people that IT IS OK to exist in a body like mine. Despite what skinny tok might be telling you.

You can find and create communities!

Ok now the shitty side of instagram. It’s waaaaayyyy to addictive. It’s built that way. The algorithm sucks ass! And it’s way too easy to doom scroll and endlessly compare your life to others.

I took the break from around December to January. It felt like I cut off the main source of my comparison. When I’m in real life, I’m (kind of) good at not comparing myself to other people too much. But when I’m on Instagram, I get caught out. I do it without noticing…I’ll doom scroll then snap out of it suddenly…like what am I doing?

Intellectually I know Instagram and social media is the high lights of peoples’ lives, not the low lights. But, it seeps into my subconscious.

Being off it for a few weeks, it’s been so peaceful in my head. No background noise, if you know what I mean?

During my break I did still post random bits here and there. I’d notice the few likes I’d get on a post, start scrolling , but catch my self floating back into old habits and stopped. It’s so addictive! Putting my phone down and getting up and moving my body helps. Instantly wakes me up out of phone coma, lol!

Some of the things I did instead of scroll;

• Actually watching movies and tv shows the whole way through.

• Reading more.

• Doingggg things, like hobbies, or going for walks or painting.                            

It’s February now, and I’m trying to find a balance. I’m trying not to fall back into old habits, but it’s hard! I’ll post what I need to then only spend 5 or 10 minutes online, then put my phone down. Maybe I should put reminders on my phone? “Don’t doom scroll, do something else”

I really dont know, if anyone out there has any tips let me know!

I’ll share them so we can all try lol!

Till next time,

Luv ya,

Bye

X