Holidays can be quite stressful as there are too many things to do and not enough time to get … [+]
The holidays can be quite stressful as there are too many things to do and not enough time to do them all. Add to that the fact that expectations can be unrealistically high, it can lead to a very blue Christmas for many. Social media can further add to the stress experts have warned.
“Social media can be a source of connection, but it can also be a source of stress and painful social comparison,” said Dr. Chelsea Hansen, PhD lecturer in the Psychology Program at School of the City University of New York Professional Studies.
Hansen suggested that practicing mindfulness strategies can help determine whether social media causes stress or enhances connection.
She advised users to ask how social media feels, especially this time of year.
“How much time you spend on social media platforms,” Hansen also opined, “There’s often a difference in stress depending on how the platforms are used, how often they’re used, and whether you’re scrolling or purposefully posting and replying to your favorite ones.”
Setting healthy social media boundaries
The holidays are often when people overindulge in too much food, too much dessert, too much alcohol, and even too much time on social media. Students who are out of class may choose to check in—whether it’s fear of missing out (FOMO) or simply because they’re away from friends.
Likewise, those who are not home for the holidays can use social media as an alternative way to connect with friends. While this can help lift spirits, it can also leave others feeling lonely and rightfully missing out on the holiday fun.
“These platforms present a distorted view of reality and do not always reflect everyday life,” said Dr. Eugene Lucas, Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Distance Education Program at Wilkes University.
If coordination is not an option, it may be a good idea to set boundaries to avoid unnecessary stress.
“If you experience changes in your emotions or mood while viewing social media as the holidays approach, note the platforms that trigger those feelings and limit exposure to them while increasing exposure to more positive platforms or focusing on actual social activities available to you in real life,” Lucas recommended.
It may also be necessary to cut back on social media use during the holidays when it becomes a problem.
“Notify friends and family of your desire to avoid or reduce exposure to social media in order to increase the real feelings of camaraderie and value that come from in-person gatherings during the holiday season,” Lucas continued.
Keeping the holidays in balance
Some users may benefit from a complete break from social media during the holidays, while others want to find balance. There’s no easy answer, and Hansen said it can be important for everyone to determine what works best—since there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
However, he did offer some general advice that can apply to almost everyone.
“To reduce stress and time spent on the platforms, consider having specific time blocks when using social media,” Hansen added. “Unfollow or mute accounts that evoke negative feelings—you can often ‘mute’ people or accounts without them knowing, which is a way to protect yourself from comparison and stress without completely disconnecting.”
Finally, for those who go to in-person gatherings and meet up with friends, family, and colleagues, disconnecting, or at least disconnecting, isn’t the worst way to spend the holidays and ring in the new year.
“During holiday gatherings, consider ‘tech-free’ times or places,” Hansen said. “For example, not using phones while at the dinner table or waiting on your social media timeline until the gathering is over are ways to set boundaries. Some prefer an ‘unplugged’ day or longer, with no access to social media at all, but because people often use social media to connect during the holidays, it may be easier to use the strategy of time-blocking or shorter periods of disconnection.”
