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  • The Social Media Scroll: Hobby or Hinderance?

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    Every time I meet with a new client, I like to hear about their areas of interest or any hobbies they may have.  This allows me to gain some insight into how people spend their free time as well as what they are exposed to on a daily basis.  Over the last five years, I have heard less and less about ANY activity that does not involve a screen. Social media is regularly referred to as a hobby.  By definition, a hobby is something that is done during leisure time for pleasure. 

    Once I hear someone say their hobby is social media, I ask them what they get out of spending time scrolling. This question is generally answered with a look of confusion followed up with an “I don’t know.”

    Then I ask if social media brings any value to their life.  There has only been one time in my personal experience when this question was answered with a “yes.”  Most commonly, I’ve noticed that people respond to that question by saying no, social media doesn’t add value to their life.

    SO WHY DO WE KEEP SPENDING SO MUCH TIME SCROLLING?

    If social media usage is serving as a distraction, let’s talk about what’s going on in life that’s causing this need to escape.  When we spend too much time on social media, it’s so easy to end up comparing yourself to others and deciding that you are falling short.  It’s important to learn that there are other activities that can serve as distractions for you while also adding value to your life.

    Are you using social media because it is a mindless activity?  If so, is spending your time on mindless activities getting you closer to or further away from the goals you have set for yourself?  By now you may have developed a habit of using social media for a couple hours a day, and maybe you’ve begun to lose sight of setting goals for yourself.

    Maybe you have an intense case of FOMO (fear of missing out) and the social media feed allows you to feel in tune with what’s going on.  But, what happens when you see friends out without you, someone else getting the promotion, or that your ex has moved on? Don’t you usually wish you didn’t see that update?  Sometimes it truly is better to miss out.

    Once you take a look at your social media usage and determine its value, you may think about changing hobbies.  If you’re questioning the value of your social media usage, let’s connect and find some better options for you.