Can social media encourage healthy habits? According to a 2015 study out of South Dakota State University, smart phones and social media may help some adults make healthier food and fitness choices. Participants in the 15-month Young Adults Eating and Active for Health (YEAH) project received lessons and targeted messages about eating, exercise and stress management which successfully increased their intention to make healthier choices over the course of the study. But while technology and social media can be useful tools to encourage healthy habits, it can also have the reverse effect, which begs the question how can we use social media to encourage healthy habits?
First, I’ll explain why social media isn’t the whole answer.
Social media has the potential to waste a lot of time and keep us sedentary. I’m sure you’ve experienced this for yourself. How often do you check a text message or some other notification on your phone and an hour later you find you’re still on it, but now scrolling through Instagram? That’s time better spent taking a break from your work, working out, doing some meal prep or anything else on your list of to-dos.
Social media doesn’t provide the whole picture. If you follow healthy living bloggers and Instagram accounts, you may get inspiration to re-create an elaborate salad or drippy, overflowing smoothie, which can be fun once in awhile, but know that not every meal is Instagram-worthy nor should it be. Ninety-nine percent of what I eat doesn’t make it to social media because it’s not pretty enough nor do I have the time to photograph it.
The comparison game is a dangerous one to play. Similarly, your wellness journey is entirely different than every other Instagrammer you follow so if you find you’re falling into the comparison trap, it’s time to re-evaluate whether social media is helping or hindering your process.
Information on the Internet is often erroneous. Almost everyone is labeling themselves an expert on the Web these days so be careful what you believe. No one diet works for everyone and not all of what you read is fact. Check your sources and do your own research before taking anything for face value.
I’m not knocking social media entirely because it can be effective to encourage healthy habits if you use it the right way.
These are some of the ways I recommend the responsible use of social media to encourage healthy habits:
One // Don’t let it become the be all end all. Social media can be a tool, but not the only tool. If you find inspiration and accountability on social media that’s great, but make sure you connect in person too. While a coach or a personal trainer require a time and monetary investment, having a single point of contact who knows your goals and what it takes to reach them, will encourage and push you to get there in ways social media can’t.
Two // Set boundaries on how you use social media. You have to decide what role social media plays in your life and how much time you’ll spend on it. This is somewhat of a checks and balances practice. If you’re feeling unmotivated or find yourself stuck in a comparison rut, it’s time to re-evaluate your social media habits.
Three // Use only what works. Apps can be useful, but seek out those that are truly helpful and set boundaries so your time is spent wisely. I happen to love an app called “Water Your Body” for the purpose of tracking water intake. It’s perfect in that it’s targeted to one thing, I can go in, track my water with every glass and leave. Likewise, I rely on my Activity app in my Apple Watch because it basically works in the background to track my calories burned, steps, movement and so on each day. I can go in and check my progress throughout the day if I want, but it prompts me from time to time anyway. The meal tracking app, My Fitness Pal, on the other hand, is one a lot of people swear by, but it took far too much time for me to search for foods and input my meals. I don’t measure or weigh my food so I was never sure if the results were accurate. It didn’t work for me so I eliminated it and can now spend my time elsewhere.
Four // Know it’s a piece of the puzzle, not the big picture. If you like to use social media to track workouts, meals, steps, etc. do so with the understanding that it offers a snapshot into your healthy habits, but can’t zoom out to reveal imbalances. There are so many different facets of wellness many of which we’re not always aware. If you eat perfectly clean and never miss a workout, but you’re not meeting your wellness goals, understand that there may be something else going on that an app can’t track.
Five // Understand accountability is limited. I alluded to this before, but it’s worth repeating because many people use social media for accountability. I get it. The Internet offers a way to connect with people who have the same interests and goals over distances that once weren’t possible. For that, it’s an incredible tool. However, group accountability can be supportive and keep you on track, but it often lacks the ability to call you out on excuses, push you out of your comfort zone and troubleshoot your challenges.
Six // Avoid the comparison trap. At some point or another, most people fall into the social media comparison trap. When you find this happening, it’s time to unfollow. Much as you choose your friends in real life (I hope), choose to be around those on social media who inspire you and make you feel like you can reach your highest potential in their company.
How do you use social media to encourage healthy habits? What works for you and what doesn’t?
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