How I Maintain a Healthy Relationship with Social Media

This question popped up on my Facebook news feed this morning:

"How do you process your "relationship" with social media? Total love? Total dislike? A combo of both?

There were plenty of comments that said "neither," or "love/hate." People were offering advice (including "taking a break"). I commented, "total love," of course. Here's how and why:

I CREATE MY OWN CONTENT

This, I think, is the biggest source of my Social Media freedom. A lot of what we feel anxious or unhappy about on social media is out of our control: the racism I find in the depths of the Twittersphere, the opposing political rants on Facebook, the religious guilt on Instagram, and (my favorite) the finger wagging on LinkedIn. How do I counter this? By creating content I love on all social platforms. On Twitter, I spend my 280 characters on my favorite soccer team, typically, or a good pun. On Facebook, you can find me sharing photos of my friends and family. And on LinkedIn, I like to spread the love in the form of genuine networking and education.

This does a couple of things for me:

1.) It's an opportunity for vulnerability on my end, and, thus, empathy on yours.

2.) It draws me closer to like-minded individuals. (Like you!)

3.) It gives me a chance to respond. (Thoughtfully and responsibly.)

I SET AN INTENTION

Since Social Media is my job, I spend a lot of time strategizing and planning for the content that I produce. This also allows me to set an intention for how I will use and interact with Social Media. At work, it is to be used as a marketing vehicle, a community outreach tool and a brand awareness instrument. Thus, I can approach all work-related social interactions through those lenses.

Is this a member of our community I need to reach out to? Will responding to this comment be an opportunity for brand awareness? Is this post in line with our brand and other marketing tactics? Etc.

From a personal front, setting an intention is a little more... fluid. Sometimes my intention is to build awareness of my personal brand. Sometimes, it's just to simply stay connected to my family. Sometimes, it's to boost my ego. And sometimes, it's to just better understand my neighbor.

Approaching all of my social media interactions through the eyes of a specific intention helps me filter out the content that would typically trigger negative emotions. For instance, if I log onto Instagram to promote a YouTube video that I've just posted, and see a prettier, skinnier, blonder version of me doing the same thing -- that jealousy gets converted into a learning opportunity. How did this chick get to have as many followers as she has? What kind of content is she posting? How often is she posting? Is she responding to comments? DOES SHE WANT TO BE MY FRIEND?

I CHILL OUT

Maybe it's because my 9-5 is Social Media that I see it through a different perspective than most. I've watched the angriest people turn their mood around at the drop of a FREE coupon. I have learned to take nothing personally, to give people the benefit of the doubt, and that what we consume on social media, in one way or another, is all marketing material. So, I chill out. I don't let it take up real estate in my brain. And you shouldn't either.

There are a thousand other buzzwords I could throw at you to help improve your relationship with Social Media. (Community over competition, spread positivity, good vibes only, etc.) But the moral of the story is that Social Media is the greatest invention in modern history because it's connected us. Countless relationships have spawned that otherwise would have never had the chance, families are helped, missing people found, animals rescued, and lives are enriched, everyday, because of Social Media. If you are having a hard time with it, look introspectively, first. Create your own content. Set an intention. And, maybe, just take a deep breath.

Kelsea Wiggins is the Social Media Manager for BIBIBOP Asian Grill, Lifestyle Blogger, YouTube Creator, Model and die-hard Arsenal fan. Ask her about her coffee addiction, here.