7 ways to navigate social media during the holidays

’Tis the season to be jolly. Christmas is approaching but it’s different from earlier times. Before social media was in the picture, you would go home, watch ‘Home Alone’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’ on TV with your family, drink hot chocolate, and curl up with a book by the fire. It was a period of slowing down and giving and receiving gifts with your loved ones. However, times have changed now.

You’re bombarded with TikTok and Instagram posts of families wearing matching sweaters, looking happy and smiling endlessly. Their Christmas looks perfect to you. This can arouse a sense of resentment even towards strangers. It’s not unnatural to look at their pictures and feel FOMO. Seasonal holidays are already stressful. The pressure to appear perfect on social media today only adds to the stress. Here are some ways you can manage these heavier emotions:

1. Focus on the meaning of the holiday

Christmas, marking the birth of Jesus, brings a message of peace, joy and family. You can use social media to focus on what Christmas means to you. If you celebrate Hanukkah, go back to the origins of the festival, and share how you celebrate it. Allow yourself to break free from holiday expectations and enjoy the moments with your friends and family.

2. Comparison is the thief of joy

How often have we scrolled through social media and wondered what it would be like to be as rich or as pretty as someone else? There is a reason why they say comparison is the thief of joy. When you see your friend having a great time with their family on Christmas, you can’t help but compare your life to theirs. The more you compare your life to what you see on Instagram, the more you will begin to think that the grass is greener on that side.

3. Make room for gratitude

Gratitude is a mindful process that helps you navigate negativity. It allows you to celebrate your life as it is. It is a gentle reminder that you are enough and that it is the little things that go a long way. When you make room for gratitude, you grow in strength and resilience, which in turn boost self-worth. Learning to be grateful also helps with:

• Strengthening your immune system

• Lowering blood pressure

• Longer and restful sleep

• Experiencing joy and pleasure

4. Stick to your boundaries

Just because your friend and their family went on a vacation to Greece during the holidays, and you spent yours at home with family, doesn’t mean that their holiday was better. Be realistic about both your wants and your means and make the best of your situation. Everyone’s privileges are different. Social media makes everything look simple but nothing comes easy. Draw boundaries with yourself and with others and do your best to stick to them. Always have a ‘Plan B’ in case ‘Plan A’ falls through. Can’t go on an international holiday but really want to travel? Maybe take a family trip to the nearest beach or go on a holiday picnic. And yes, take your furry friend along.

5. Manage your social media usage better

Let’s say your friends went to a New Years' party last night but you weren’t invited. You see their stories and posts and feel excluded. Take a minute before you type out that passive-aggressive response. Just like you don’t like everyone, not everyone in your life will enjoy your company at all times and that’s ok. Many apps help you stay away from people that make you feel bad about your life. For example, if it’s difficult to resist the urge to check Instagram every 5 minutes, mute the accounts that make you feel bad during the holiday period. You can always unmute them later.

6. Social media world is not real

If you’re one of those people who think people are exactly how they appear on their social media accounts, you’re in for a big shock. Social media is a highlight reel. People only show you their best angles — giving an impression that everything is perfect. What you don’t see are personal problems, financial irregularities, family issues and other common problems that affect everybody. Every time you start to sulk about why others have it better, remember that you are not looking at the whole picture.

7. Practice self-care

Self-care is a necessity. Take care of your mental and emotional health by prioritizing short self-care breaks throughout the day. You can indulge in:

• Daily meditation or mindfulness practices.

• Some kind of exercise or movement.

• Maintaining a hand-written or digital journal.

• Watching movies, TV shows, listening to music or reading.

You could even invite your loved ones to take part in acts of self-care with you. Holiday shopping, decorating, cooking and singing are fun activities to make memories with others. May your holidays be packed with treats, hugs, and laughter.