With all the talk about rubbish ‘detoxes’ in January, Jennifer Coleman talks about detoxing from one of our biggest addictions this new year: social media.
Mental Health is covered under such a huge umbrella that it could cover all of Ireland. I think life is hard … between work / life balance, how does anyone do it all right all the time?
To find the answer we go on social media and look to others, that just feeds are insecurity. But we can’t give it up because we try and keep connected to people. You know them people that you met 3 years ago on holidays? Or that girl you sat beside in Secondary school 10… ok 20… years ago. Trust me, these people really don’t give a crap about us. They don’t care how great or amazing our life is, but somehow, we need their approval. Deep down we know that the people that matter & deserve the energy we waste on social media actually physically in our lives. Either at the end of a phone call or a walk/drive/flight away from us. Why don’t we spend more time keeping in touch with the people that matter? Checking in with the people we love? Why do we spend more time on the people on social media that are selling stuff, filtering stuff or just doing random stuff? Why do they deserve our time?
My life was all about social media because honestly, I’m very noisy. I love to see what everyone is up to and what’s happening. I don’t want to miss a beat – but in doing so I’m questioning everything about my life, my weight, my job and my relationship. I come to the conclusion I am a Nobody. I have accomplished nothing in life, I’m fat, I’m ugly, I’m a crap mother and even crappier wife. Hell, social media rules!! Why don’t I spend even more time on it now just to prove my point even more….? Seriously, how did I make it to 40??
Why did it take me so long to realise I don’t need social media? I don’t need to take 20 pictures to get the right one and I definitely don’t have to post family pictures up just so everyone knows how amazing my life is. Because guess what? It’s not. I don’t look that good as the 20th picture made me look, my kids don’t love me 24/7. The holiday I’m on has me covered in mosquito bites and my liver is about to give up and beautiful scenery is that beautiful with the 5th filter I tried on and it lasted like that for a total of 30 seconds before my kids were moaning about being hungry or was it thirsty?? Either way it was a cracking picture and got the most likes ever.
Life is hard, mental health issues are at an all time high. Maybe, just maybe, if we make one change it will help us. Detox from Social Media for 30 days. Full detox. It might not be the easiest thing you’ve done but if you fully stick to it for 30 days I think you will honestly see how much better your life is. Come on January is depressing enough without beating ourselves up over somebody else’s ‘amazing’ social media account. We are better than that. We are strong than that and deep down inside happier than that.
Your Mental health deserves the break.
Will it solve all our problems?? Hell no. Will we be ‘cured’ from our Mental health struggles? Definitely, Hell No. Will it help my mental health?? Yes, Yes, and Hell Yes!
Love yourself enough to take a break.
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