An expanding body of evidence links digital technology usage and social media engagement with various negative mental health outcomes; however, research to date has mostly been correlational in nature and focused on adults rather than adolescents; producing small positive, negative, and null associations.
Support your children to balance screen time with other activities that promote emotional wellbeing, such as learning new skills, reading cherished books and taking up hobbies.
1. Take Time Off
Emotional wellness encompasses multiple factors, from physical health to the capacity for developing meaningful relationships. A key component of emotional wellbeing is being able to relax and unwind from stressful situations; this can be achieved through numerous activities such as breathing exercises or mindfulness meditation.
Also essential is taking regular breaks from technology. This may mean just switching off your phone during dinner or taking time away from screens before bedtime; or more complex solutions like limiting how frequently you check social media or forwarding alarming news headlines to friends and family.
If you find yourself overwhelmed, take a “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Spend the day relaxing, having fun, and refraining from anything related to work or stress-inducing tasks; this can help reset your mood and get things back on track – and share this special time off with a loved one or friend for added meaning!
2. Set Limits
Emotionally healthy people have the ability to articulate their needs and boundaries to others in a clear manner, whether this means saying “no” to a request or simply explaining that they need alone time for recharge.
Setting emotional and physical boundaries helps you take charge of your emotions and feel more in control of them. Not being aware of your own limits makes responding appropriately to distressful situations or simply managing everyday life more challenging.
Emotional boundaries include requests that people knock before entering your room or taking time alone after work to decompress. There are numerous other ways in which creating and upholding healthy boundaries will benefit your emotional well-being.
3. Turn Off Social Media
Dr. Jeff Lambert conducted a study involving 154 social media users who were randomly divided into two groups, one which took an extended social media break while the other carried on as normal; their results revealed that those taking a break experienced improvements in wellbeing, depression and anxiety levels.
Recent research indicates that social media use may exacerbate mental health problems like low self-esteem and loneliness, thereby leading to isolation and depression.
Limiting social media access can be straightforward. There are various methods you can employ to do this, such as setting aside times each day when you will not check social media, uninstalling apps that cause reflexive checking, or disabling notifications. Furthermore, encouraging children and teenagers to interact in person rather than online may also prove effective.
4. Set Goals
To safeguard your mental health, setting goals is key. Whether they be physical (such as working out more), emotional ( such as setting limits), or both. It’s crucial that they’re set and kept.
Studies have demonstrated that goal setting can positively affect both happiness and well-being, yet some key aspects of goal-setting could increase success:
Specificity and difficulty are equally essential aspects of setting goals, with specificity providing direction while still challenging enough without becoming impossible to attain.
Negative emotions are part of life, but how you deal with them can determine your mental wellness. Being aware when experiencing negative emotions such as anger or fear and identifying their source can help manage them in healthy ways – this might include consulting a therapist or finding other forms of support; plus it’s also essential to find positivity and practice gratitude in daily life.
