The Burnout Gamble #11: The Relationship Between Social Media and Burnout
Like chocolate, social media can be addictive. Checking it periodically may be a part of your daily routine, but too much of a good thing can have negative effects. Many studies have discovered correlations between poorer health and higher social media use, leading to feelings of loneliness and isolation, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and suicidality (Forbes).
The Relationship Between Social Media and Mental Health
Two studies, in particular, demonstrate more than this simple correlation. In fact, they’ve determined that it’s causation. Furthermore, they also proved that limiting time on social media has positive effects on mental health.
The first study was conducted by the University of Pennsylvania, discovering that limiting social media usage to 30 minutes a day leads to significant improvement in mental well-being. During the study, they asked 140 undergrad students to either limit their use of Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram to 10 minutes per platform (30 minutes total) or continue their regular use. These participants provided phone data to confirm exactly how much time they were spending on social media each day.
Additionally, the same undergrad students were also required to fill out a questionnaire before and after the study to determine how they were feeling in terms of anxiety, FOMO (“fear of missing out”), depression, and loneliness. After the three-week period, it was confirmed that students who limited their social media use actually felt better than the students who maintained their regular daily usage.
The second study was conducted by York University. They found that young women reportedly feel worse when commenting or interacting with a peer on Facebook and Instagram that they believe is more attractive. Thus, this interaction increases the negative state body image; however, active social engagement with family does not seem to have the same effect on mental health.
So, How Does Social Media Relate To Burnout?
Basically, social media can become a 24/7 job if you don’t allocate downtime to “unplug”. The constant drive to always be “on” and showcase how glamorous your life is can be exhausting and overwhelming. It can lead to feelings of dread when thinking about your next Insta-worthy pic or potentially an unhealthy obsession over growing your engagement and post “likes”.
Balance is key; otherwise, you run the risk of burning out. If you pride yourself on being a social media guru, here are some signs to watch out for:
Lack of energy
Growing fatigue
Issues sleeping
Exhaustion
Problems with memorization or concentration
Reduced imagination
Reduced initiative
Lowered performance
If these signs appear, be aware that burnout is pressing in. Even experts and app creators say that spending long periods of time on social media is simply not good for us. Therefore, avoid burnout by limiting your time on your favourite platforms or take a break from your online presence for a few days. You may notice a positive change in your mental health.
For more information when it comes to beating burnout, read on with “The Art Of Resting and Recovering to Avoid Burnout.”
