Words by Raffaella Migliore
“Your screen time is up 44% from last week” …. Sigh. A notification of a job poorly done. A long forgotten new years’ resolution to “get off your phone and pick up something else, anything else”. But it’s hard, for everyone. In accessible areas of the world, people spend more time on social media than they do eating, drinking, socialising and grooming. Our apps are designed to keep us hooked! Time spent on social media by the average person living and working in 2019 could have been repurposed to climb Mount Everest…32 times.
You can try as hard as you like to cut down, but the truth is that having a social media presence and trend awareness is indispensable today. We move through information so quickly that if you’re not ahead of what’s happening in the digital world, you’re behind. With a little discipline and a consciously curated social media feed, those hours spent can be enriching, productive and, in fact, a tool to cultivate creativity. Have a look at our how to’s on crafting an inspiring feed.
#CuratedContent
We are what we create and what we create is a product of what we’ve consumed and filtered through our individual perspectives. 32 trips up Everest worth of #throwbackthursday’s seems like too much for the writer whose focus is not on publishing “A Brief History of Thursdays: 21st Century edition”.
Get clear on the kind of content you want to consume. Make a list of the kinds of products that will genuinely improve your life, the books you’d pay for, the podcasts you’d subscribe to and the art that really inspires you, then scroll through your feed and see how it lines up with these healthy interests. Anything that doesn’t fit the bill, can get the boot. #Unfollowed.
#NoFilter
When 60 percent of your instagram feed is populated with beauty gurus, fitness models and “influencers” (see also: I was paid to pretend I love this product) it becomes to easy to feel discouraged about your very real life/ body /instant oats for breakfast.
It’s hard to remember that the photos we scroll through are not a reflection of people’s actual lives, but highly curated, often edited and mostly paid for. Studies have shown that social media has a high tendency to contribute to depression and a lowered sense of self esteem.
On the flip side, there is an abundance of healthy and motivational content to be found and followed. Find that page of quotes that provides you with a much needed lift on a Monday morning or follow that creator that is honest about their struggles and gently reminds you that “you are enough!”. #GoodVibesOnly
#LikeForLike
Populate your feed with people like you! Or people you’d like to be more like. Find the hard workers showcasing their hustle and generously sharing their tools that you can mentally store or digitally save for later.
Join and interact with online communities that share your interests and support your goals. Getting in touch with people who are looking to share ideas and participate in collective brainstorming is not only a great way to feel intellectually reenergized, but also a fantastic opportunity to make meaningful connections and help you produce work you wouldn’t have been able to on your own.
#ShoutOut to the sharers!
These are some of our personal faves to follow:
@Belletrist – Started up by Emma Roberts, this page explores and celebrates one new book every month!
@Poetry.community – This account provides a platform and community for all kinds of poets and connects likeminded writers.
@siphokaziveti – Siphokazi is a proudly South African, body positive influencer. She’s all about self love, self acceptance and affirming words.
@Lesssomething – This page chronicles the attempts of living a life of less harm and more positive impact. Full of practical suggestions on how to live a less wasteful life.
@brenebrown– a prolific voice on the power of vulnerability, this storyteller’s instagram account is full of impactful communication tips and literary inspiration
@infinitewaters– this guy just seriously packs a punch of positivity
@room206media – Follow us for writers tips, Wordy Wednesdays, prose from the heart and a little peak into who we are and why we love what we do!