Have you ever been on a total stranger’s Instagram account, and it made you feel like you needed to be doing more? I have plenty of times, whether it was a fitness account, a fashion account, or an entrepreneur’s account that is crushing it. I enjoy seeing people do well, it motivates me.
In fact, I spend part of my mornings looking at social media for inspiration. When I see people consistently in the gym, it makes me want to go, when I see someone put more thought into their attire, skincare, and overall appearance, it makes me want to step my game up. When I see some of the entrepreneurs and business professionals on IG take on new ventures and crush their goals, it makes me want to do the same thing.
Unfortunately, social media has been labeled as something evil by some people when it has enhanced the lives of so many. Spiritual leaders, coaches, trainers, influencers, etc., have all been able to broaden their reach and inspire people across the globe.
The issue is that most of us don’t know how to effectively use social media. We allow it to overtake our lives, consume too much of our time, and interfere with our productivity. I’ve been there too.
The key is to use social media as a tool. One of the things I pride myself on and teach others is time management and organization.
Here are 3 tips for using social media as a tool for inspiration, motivation, personal and professional growth.
Monitor Who You Follow
The people or accounts you follow on social media say a lot about your character. We were all told to choose our friends wisely when we were young, well the same reasons hold true for social media. Constantly consuming content that is not beneficial to your goals is a hindrance.
Ask yourself, “is it time to do a social media purge?”
Monitor How Much Time You Spend on Social Media
Social media becomes a problem when it starts interfering with other aspects of our lives. For example, if you can’t enjoy dinner without picking up your phone, or you can’t have an engaging conversation without constantly checking your notifications, or you’re spending the majority of your day aimlessly consuming content, strictly for entertainment.
To help monitor how much time you are spending on social media, use a screentime monitoring app or widget on your smartphone. This will allow you to see how much time you are spending on social media, as well as other programs on your smartphone. You may be shocked when you see how much of your day is spent meaninglessly scrolling throughout the day.
If this is a major problem area for you, set a goal for the maximum number of hours you plan on devoting to social media daily. Your phone will alert you when you have reached your desired limit.
Embrace The Success of Others
As I stated earlier, social media can be a great motivational tool. Make sure you are following people or accounts that challenge you and encourage you to be the best version of yourself. But remember that you are not in competition with people on social media, you are in competition with yourself. Use the content they post to energize you and invigorate your mind to start pushing yourself to higher heights.