Social media is a huge part of our everyday lives. It’s nearly unavoidable. Many of us start our days with social media, like our parents read the morning paper with a cup of coffee. The biggest difference between the two relatively similar morning routines is rather simple. Social media is oversaturated. The human mind was never meant to consume so much content at once. However, it’s not all bad; sometimes, social media can be a tool that helps improve our mental health and overall mood if we use it correctly. Dark Joseph Ravine (legally born Joseph Levy Cohen) has done just that, offering these tips to follow his lead. He says that to keep his peace of mind while having an online presence, he tries to:
- Find Balance – Be sure to balance your social media usage with other hobbies, friends, and activities. It’s easy to get lost in the sauce! Manage your time wisely, putting your phone down occasionally to stop and smell the roses. Try to limit your scrolling time to 15 minutes or less per app. It may seem hard, but it gets easier to manage over time.
- Frequently Check-In – Do daily check-ins with yourself. How does the content you consume make you feel? Engaging only with positive, encouraging content that you resonate with creates a happy experience online, leading to peace of mind when you log off. Your body will send you signals, like fatigue or anxiety, if you’re doom-scrolling for too long.
- Respectfully Un/Follow – Don’t be afraid to use the follow button accordingly. Follow creators and friends who make you feel good but unfollow anyone who projects negative energy. Sometimes, people are simply no longer aligned with us. That doesn’t make anyone a bad person. Remember that social media “follows” mean very little in the long-run. You shouldn’t feel badly for unfollowing anyone who projects bad vibes!
- Operate Authentically – Portraying yourself authentically keeps social media fun, making it feel less of a burden or job. Remember, social media is supposed to be enjoyable! People will know if your content or online presence is forced or too curated. Do what makes you happy. Post what makes you feel good. Give it time, and people will begin to support you. Many people gain online followings just by showcasing their true personality to the world, just like Dark Joseph Ravine did!
- Encourage Consistency – Giving yourself a self-imposed schedule not only helps algorithmically, but it also helps prevent burnout. This way, you’ll know when to go do those other hobbies we mentioned earlier. Let’s say that you decide to post once a day at 3PM local time. You’ll probably spend a few minutes scrolling before or after you post. Having a consistent schedule will set your brain accordingly. You’ll know when it’s “social media time.”
Overall, social media doesn’t have to be an all-consuming thing. Instead, you should learn how to use it to benefit your mental health. It can be an incredibly positive tool that opens you up to a whole new world of like-minded people, places, and things. Influencers like Dark Joseph Ravine have mastered the art of social media, curating a community of supportive people who follow the mantra “Kindness for Success.” Dark Joseph Ravine, now the author of Watch Out! It’s Nolan, posts new content from time to time. He hopes he can inspire his followers to do their best every day.
