“Comparison is the thief of joy”
– Theodore Roosevelt
From catching up with friends to discovering new trends, social media plays a big role in how we connect and communicate.
As much as social media presents itself as a space for creativity, it comes with a darker side. The constant exposure to everyone’s tailored and well-designed lives can take a toll on you.
Your classmate from high school has been dining in new restaurants four nights in a row. That influencer you just followed is in her fifth country in a month. And you? You’re in bed doom doom-scrolling with a paper due in less than 12 hours. Just like that, a familiar feeling is resurfacing; you have fallen into a comparison trap.
If you’ve ever found yourself measuring your worth against someone else’s reel highlights, you’re not alone. The good news? You can still enjoy the scroll without spiraling.
Here are some practices you could integrate to avoid the comparison trap and protect your peace.
It’s not real!
Everything you see on social media looks so good and fabulous. And rightly so, that’s because their feeds are curated. That means all you see are the best moments of other people’s lives.
It’s just a slice of their story. The highs are captured, but the lows are taken out of the picture. People post their wins, not their breakdowns. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have those.
In the grand scheme of things, what made it to the gram were just the results. All of the things you are seeing online most likely took time and came with struggles you’re not seeing. All the accounts you get a glimpse at are just personas, and the person behind it is someone who is experiencing fears and doubts just as much as you do.
So, comparing yourself to their good days is like comparing apples with oranges. Tap your shoulder and give yourself some grace. You’re doing better than you think.
Take social media breaks
Social media is highly addictive The serotonin boost keeps your eyes glued for hours on end. However, too much of anything is bad. So, social media detox is a good way to practice a healthy relationship with your phone.
A good way to enforce this is by setting the number of hours you can open social media applications. Most phones have a feature that allows users to set a screen time and lock up the app once they have reached their limit.
If you want a longer social media break, you can delete the app and re-install it once you’re done with your time off. Remember, less screen time = more you time.
Celebrate other people’s wins
Social media is the usual announcement hub for when people have an achievement they want to celebrate. Still, it can be a cause for a comparison trap for someone admiring from afar.
A good technique to try when you feel your comparison senses tingling is to rewire your thinking. Instead of seeing it as a point of envy, practice being happy for other people’s success.
If that’s a friend, wouldn’t it be cool to know someone who has been to a country in Europe? Or if that’s your classmate, their latest achievement can be something you note next time you see them.
It’s important to learn how to applaud others so when it’s your turn to be applauded, it comes from a place of abundance, not competition.
The energy you put out there will always find its way back to you.
Follow accounts with positive vibes
Information overload is so real on social media. The thing is you can choose the energy and vibe that comes on your feed. Be in charge of your algorithm by being more intentional with who you follow.
Follow accounts that inspire and uplift you instead of accounts that bring out the worst in you.
Practice gratitude daily
Gratitude is an underrated form of self-care. Being grateful is a powerful mindset that transforms the lens through which you see yourself and experience life.
A practice that can go a long way is to write three things that made you feel grateful today. It can be about how the sun shined today or how you pet a puppy while walking.
You will realize how blessed you are when you look for glimmers of joy every day. After all, the small moments in life are what make the bigger picture.
The grass is greener where you water it
At the end of the day, social media is just a tool – you still have control over how to use it for your own good. Your mental health matters! By shifting your mindset, protecting your peace and practicing daily gratitude, you take back the power that comparison tries to steal.
The grass isn’t greener on the other side. It’s greener where you choose to water it. Yes, it’s nice to look over the fences every once in a while, but use it for inspiration and get motivated.
The real magic happens when you keep your eyes on your own garden and watch it bloom. Your time, energy and focus are your greatest armor — pour them into yourself and watch your life flourish in ways you never imagined.
Your journey is unfolding exactly as it should. The universe is contracting and conspiring to give you everything you deserve. Trust it.
What are your techniques to get you out of the comparison trap on social media? Share it with us @shareignite!
Feature image courtesy of Sanket Mishra via Unsplash.
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