Maintaining Your Social Media Image: A How To

In last week's blog, I gave four tips on maintaining your image on social media in an appropriate and realistic way.  This week, I will go a little deeper into these tips and how to put them in action.  

Tip #1: You don't have to post anything to prove that you did it.  These days, we are so consumed with our image that we forget to enjoy moments as they come.  Instead, we watch life go by through our phone screens as we document every exciting moment that happens...just so that others can see that our lives are AMAZING! Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with documenting your life on social media.  However, the trouble comes when you search for validation through this documentation.  To combat this, try to be in the moment and if you want to post something, go right ahead, but avoid checking your likes or views.  Just put it out there, continue enjoying life, and move on.

Tip #2: Don't compare yourself to others.  When you are on the receiving end of these posts, don't assume your life sucks just because you may not be seizing the day the same way that other person is.  The same thing applies to self-confidence. You see a photo on Instagram, and all the thoughts start coming in: "His/her body is better than mine." "They do makeup so much better than I do." "He/she has his/her life together...I don't." These thoughts can completely take over your mind.  The trick is to be able to see these thought-provoking photos and instead learn to compliment and lift up the person in the photo rather than shame yourself for not being them.  

Tip #3: Be a little mysterious.  The great times in your life shouldn't always have to make it to social media.  The problem here is that we focus on sharing things online before we've even talked to another person face-to-face.  Your followers do not have to know every single thing, exciting or not, that goes on in your life.  Instead, try putting your phone away sometimes and don't let the thought of posting your adventure get in the way of enjoying it.  

Tip #4: Take a social media cleanse.  I cannot stress this one enough! I have gone on several social media cleanses, and they are so healthy.  A social media cleanse is when you give up as many social media platforms as you feel the need to for a certain amount of time.  When I do them, I go all out. NO social media for usually a week.  This allows me to spend genuine, undistracted time with myself and those around me.  I highly recommend going on a social media cleanse to help get you out of any of the bad habits that I discussed in the first three tips.

Following these tips will help you practice gratitude and celebrate your own life on a deeper level.  Thank you for reading!

xo

J