Avoid falling into the hole
If you’re already feeling down, check yourself before scrolling through your Facebook or Twitter feeds. “Social media can be a swamp of self-pity,” says April Masini, a New York-based relationship expert. “For instance, if you’re not sure of your relationship, it’s easy to come close to stalking a love interest online and hyper-analyze all of his or her relationships via social media.” No matter what you’re down about, adds Masini, there’s always grass that’s “greener” right on any one of your social media pages. “So, if you’re down at all, chances are social media can make you feel like you’re at the bottom of the barrel because so many people are on there showing off their family vacation, new car, or fabulous date. If you’re feeling blue, prepare to go a shade darker.” In other words, go do something else—treat yourself to a movie, browse a bookstore, or even take a mini vacation—until you’re ready to face the social media world again. Need inspiration? This is what your social media really says about you.
Take a WiFi-free vacation. Literally
“I love traveling abroad, because during the day, I don’t have easy access to WiFi, so I’m forced to enjoy my trip and the people around me,” says Samantha R. Strazanac, who runs a North Carolina-based marketing firm. “Once I return to my hotel and can access my social media, my happiness diminishes because I often feel sad when scrolling through my media feed. It puts a damper on my mood.” Even if you can’t afford to jet off to Europe, try leaving your phone behind the next time you take a walk. “You’ll appreciate the birds tweeting again and forget about the ‘tweets’ on Twitter that can be pretty negative,” she says.