Mental Health And Social Media With Maria Tassi

As we navigate the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, social media has become an integral part of our personal and professional lives. There are so many wonderful things about the medium. However, its constant presence and curated focus on perfection can undeniably take a toll on our well-being.

In ‘Build Your Digital Community’ Episode 65, our host Kristina, along with her business partner Maria Tassi, explore the relationship between mental health and social media, discussing the potential pitfalls, challenges, and strategies for maintaining a healthy mindset while navigating the digital realm.

Find The Good In Social Media

Many people tend to look at social media in a negative way -  they choose to see the scary, dangerous, and damaging sides of it. However, when you change your perspective and lean into the best of it, you will find that there are so many amazing things it can offer you, from sharing value and your passions, to building strong communities. Positivity breeds positive outcomes.

If you find that you have a negative mindset around social media, try:

• Taking a social media break

• Journaling or chatting with friends to try and understand the root of this mindset - ask yourself why

• Working to changing your mindset - think of some solutions you can implement that challenge the way you think about it

For example, if you view social media as inauthentic or fake. Ask yourself how you can show up on social media in a really authentic way to shift this narrative.

The Comparison Trap

Comparing the progress of our professional and personal lives on social media can be a challenging feat to overcome for anyone. It is ultimately about how you use and view social media that truly matters. 

We encourage you to be intentional with how you’re choosing to show up and what your strategy is going to be. Ensure you put things into place that protect your mental space and help you to be the best version of yourself. 

Protecting Yourself on Social Media

If you share a piece of content that elicits a negative or triggering response from people, evaluate how that makes you feel. If this ultimately becomes harmful for you, remember that you are in control. You can establish limits to protect your mental space, such as choosing to remove pieces of content or limit / turn comments off.

If you find you need more support or you are not in a good place to receive feedback online, don’t hesitate to seek counseling and take some time away from the platforms. Never put your mental health at risk for the sake of a social media post. Looking after yourself is paramount.

Mute People

Though it is important to expose yourself to differing perspectives and views, follow people who genuinely inspire you, challenge you in a positive way, and make you feel great. Perhaps you follow someone who puts out content you don’t necessarily agree with or makes you feel a certain way. 

Don’t be afraid to mute or unfollow these people to keep your feed an uplifting space. There is no purpose in feeling brought down or stressed out over someone else’s content. 

Dealing With Clapback

Being yourself on social media can take a certain level of fearlessness. It can be difficult to speak freely in a world that possesses trolls and uncalled-for cancel culture. If you wholeheartedly believe in what you’re saying, say what you need and want to say. There will always be an element of pushback and ruffled feathers - feedback is also not always inherently negative.

However, if social media comments are really affecting you, consider having someone else monitor your comments - like a business partner or a virtual assistant. 

That being said, always apologize when you do something wrong or say something out of line. Mistakes happen. It is how you deal with them that matters most. 

Find Your People

Surround yourself with a supportive community. It helps to have a trusted source(s) to discuss things with. Your community can confirm if you were in the wrong or if you said something that was out of place. They can also reaffirm you or help you work through moments of uncertainty.

People who are doing more than you aren’t judging you. Don’t take criticism from anyone you wouldn’t take mentorship from. 

Set Boundaries

The key to having a healthy relationship with social media is creating space and distance from it. You can post every day and have boundaries. You can post every other day and have boundaries. You can not post on weekends and have boundaries. It’s all about what works best for you. Life exists beyond the online world and it’s important for us to participate in that. 

Tip: Switch on your phone’s do not disturb setting to help set these boundaries and be fully present during these moments of space. 

The relationship between mental health and social media is unique for everyone. We all face our own struggles and challenges. We hope this post allows you to recognize the potential impacts it can have on your well-being and inspires you to take proactive steps to maintain a healthy mindset.

By setting boundaries, practicing self-care, and cultivating a positive digital environment, you have the power to curate a digital experience that supports your well-being and empowers your entrepreneurial journey