January 3 – Connected

For many people a new year draws feelings of hope, desire, and change.  The wish for change is a big one that can be self-driven or created through outside forces.  The desire for change often leads to New Year’s Resolutions. People resolve to make a change, whether temporarily or permanent.  Often the goal is to make a change that will lead to greater happiness.

One common New Year’s Resolution familiar to the modern world is to spend less time on social media.  A major reason for this is to avoid feelings of negativity that often abound with our interactions online.  In fact, most people who have given up social media purport to feel happier, clearer, and have more time to themselves that was previously spent surfing the web.  For many people the thought of cutting back their social media intact is tempting, however, going completely sans social media is impossible. They may be a part of a page for work, social groups, or use various platforms for connecting with family and friends.  If this sounds like you, don’t sweat it. You can still adjust your online experience to make your social media a positive experience. Check out the list below for ideas that may work for you.

1. Eliminate negativity.  When scrolling through your social media, take a moment whenever you come across a post that makes you unhappy or stressed.  Evaluate whether or not the person or organization behind this information often posts information that makes you feel this way.  Is it worth keeping it in your life? If not, delete it. This sort of spring cleaning can have a major impact on your Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts to name a few.
2. Make a habit of following positive figures.  For example, everyday the Dalai Lama tweets a bit of positive wisdom, often about love and compassion.  I have these set to show up as a notification everyday, and they’re a pickup in my morning. Here’s a variety of ten other positive posters: @TenTree, @TheKindologist, @TheDogist, @lifelimits, @happsters, @kiva_microloans, @deepakchopra, @athleta, @ohjoy, and @humansofny.  If you know of any other positive posters, please share in the comments!
3. Cut your social media time.  If you can’t get rid of your time online altogether, but still feel you need to step back – try scheduling social media into your day.  For example, only look at Facebook at night. You can also move the apps to a back page on your phone – out of sight, out of mind.

Quote of the Day:

“What is interesting is the power and the impact of social media… So we must try to use social media in a good way.” Malala Yousafzai

Song of the Day:

Connected by Luke Dick