Spring Cleaning for Social Media
Detoxes and Cleanses are for more than the body . . .
Springtime lends itself to detoxing and cleanses. A lot of my friends will spring clean their bodies with some sort of detox. They might fast, drink lemon juice, quit drinking coffee, or something of that nature. Others will go after their homes and start purging the clutter, opening windows to let in the fresh air, and begin deep cleaning every nook and cranny. The goal? To feel lighter. Live cleaner. Breathe easier.
And now that we all expose ourselves to social media, here presents another aspect of life to consider purging and decluttering. Spring makes for a great season of social media unloading- to unfollow or hide people and organizations whose posts leave you worse off for having seen. Here are some examples of what to keep yourself from seeing:
passive aggressive posts that indirectly speak to or about someone- some people post with hidden messages (personally, my least favorite of all)
posts that remind you of or make attractive a lifestyle you no longer want to live
overly political posts intended to stir up strife- especially in election cycles
posts that have a “look at me” feel
posts that mess with your spending habits
posts that leave you feeling like you don’t count, you don’t measure up, you aren’t enough, you have failed, or you don’t have what it takes
Along the same lines, when we think about food, we consider its value. What will it do for our bodies and what will it build for us nutritionally? Just because something is sweet and sugary doesn’t mean it’s actually the kind of food that’s going to be used by our bodies for strength and optimal functioning. In fact, sweet and sugary wreaks havoc on the immune systems and brains.
We need to look at social media the same way . . . remember, it’s called a feed. We are feeding on it.
Pay attention to what you are putting into your brain and heart. Be picky. Feed on what builds life in your emotions, intellect, and soul. Feed on what keeps you chasing your dreams, pursuing a better life, and being a better parent, lover, and friend. Follow artists, photographers, health coaches, speakers, and anyone else you can think of whose made it their life’s work to bring beauty and healing to the world.
Social media is what we make it, the result of what we have created it to be, based upon whom and what we allow to show up on our feeds. Make a plan to declutter your feed and make your social media platforms places of life and inspiration. Your heart will thank you.
Here are some links to some of my favorite life giving feeds on Instagram. I am sure if you prefer Facebook, you can find them there as well:
Inspiring photography that leaves me in awe of the Creator: https://www.instagram.com/iammikeweber/
An adventurer and photographer that takes me places I can’t go . . .
https://www.instagram.com/dirkbadenhorst/
A marriage research group that provides simple relationship reminders and tools . . .
https://www.instagram.com/gottmaninstitute/
A contemplative and thoughtful mom and writer who grounds me in what matters most . . .
https://www.instagram.com/annvoskamp/
A researcher of the brain who has discovered pathways to freedom . . .
https://www.instagram.com/drcarolineleaf/
A reminder of our common humanity and exposure to narratives of people across the world . . . https://www.instagram.com/humansofny/
This feed keeps me mindful of how to be praying for refugees and families fleeing war. It sounds like a negative, but not at all. It reminds me that I live in abundance and provides a way for me to share it through prayer and giving . . . https://www.instagram.com/preemptivelove/
Thanks for hanging in there for this longer than usual post. This spring, let purging your social media platforms be one of those simple and free hacks for your mental and spiritual health.
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