SOCIAL MEDIA: Mental Health and Wellness Comparison in 2021

Have you ever caught yourself aimlessly scrolling on instagram and comparing your physical appearance to someone else’s? You start to see what someone else’s day to day activities look like, what they’re eating, how they’re working out and comparing your body to theirs. Not to mention they probably threw in a selfie or two to make it seem like . You immediately start asking yourself, “why don’t I look like that” and putting yourself down forgetting all of the handwork you did for yourself. It is the toxic cycle where you enter the downward spiral of putting yourself down.

First and foremost, let’s start out with health and wellness looks different on everybody. Our bodies are constantly changing, growing and adapting. Healthy is more than just daily workouts and eating nutritious foods. In fact, it is directly affected by what you watch and listen to. Your mental health plays into how you feel and see yourself. 

 

Let’s face it, it’s 2021 and social media has officially taken over lives. Instagram, one of the most popular social media apps is a place where people post their best photos and videos creating the most perfect day to day lifestyle. It’s the first thing people look at in the morning, and the last thing before heading to sleep. If you’re like me, the morning time and night time are the times where I like to think. I often find myself setting goals and intentions in the morning for the day, and I reflect back on what happened throughout my day at night.

There are many things I like to remind myself that help me keep a leveled head on my shoulders in regards to fitness goals and healthy habits. Here are a few things I like to tell myself each week:

1. Your journey is your journey only.
2. Change doesn’t happen overnight. It happens overtime.
3. A habit is formed over time with a consistent routine.
4. It is important to have a big goal, but small goals are just as important.
5. Mental health is just as important as physical.

My advice to you would be to use social media as a place for you to post what you like, post and saved videos and photos that inspire you. Don’t be afraid to unfollow or block any pages that make you feel bad about yourself. 

XX

Malia