By Heather Graham // Social Media // EEW Magazine Online

How many memes, Internet terms, and social media chatter occupy your mind daily? What have you read, watched, or heard online that made you laugh, rant, or share? Truth is each of us is affected by advancements in technology.

Though this isn’t all bad, there can be a real downside to having our brains cluttered with useless, negative, distracting conversations, content, and gossip.

If you’re brave enough to admit that you have not been doing a great job balancing online and offline life, good for you. Reading this article is a great step toward getting things under control so social media will be a helpful asset, not a toxic liability.

But first, how can you know if you have gone too far down the Internet rabbit hole and need to claw your way back? EEW Magazine Online is offering 7 distinct ways to tell.

#1 You’re less productive. Some employers block social media apps on work computers to maximize employee productivity. This is smart because online posts can monopolize your time without you even knowing it. Research shows that the average person grossly underestimates the amount of time spent online. We’ve all been guilty of fixating on the craziness some folks post, people-watching, or following stupid conversations. Tempering the time spent online when it isn’t work-related is a must. Otherwise, you will lose irretrievable hours and incessantly disrupt your workflow.

#2 You are angrily weighing in on discussions. Internet users can say some pretty messed up things and can sometimes be wrong as two left shoes. So, what? It’s a free country, right? Arguing with strangers on the Internet when you disagree with their perspectives is not good for your mental health. It’s also useless trying to be the thought police; after all, that’s not a real job. Rarely will you change anyone’s mind, and it’s unlikely that your response will be world-changing. How about expending that energy on something worthwhile like, say, helping the poor?

#3 You are a slave to notifications. If you are one of those people that must know each time someone follows you, likes a post, or comments, or when your favorite creator posts something, social media has become a controlling tyrant. Take your power back! Turn off your notifications occasionally for the sake of your peace—especially if said notifications are accompanied by sounds. That ding will break your concentration faster than a toddler repeatedly calling your name for no reason. You have important things to do and cannot afford to be a slave to random notices. You will not die if you turn off notifications. Promise.

#4 You follow too many TikTok trends. Millions worldwide love the video-sharing app TikTok which has risen to become one of the most impressive timewasters in social media history. There are some cool things there, but let’s be honest, there’s a lot of nonsense too. Whether you are a creator or watcher, there are lots of trends—some funny, some helpful, others profound—that will suck you in and refuse to let you go. If you don’t set healthy boundaries for yourself by limiting what you invest in and are influenced by, time will keep on tick-tocking away, and your goals will remain unmet.

#5 You compare your follower count to peers. Getting followers. Becoming an influencer. Going viral. Some people are obsessed with the potential for massive attention on the Internet. When this becomes the focus, you can easily stumble into the destructive pattern of believing your self-worth is a numbers game. That never has been or will be true. Your follower count, whether significantly higher or lower than your peers, is not an indicator of your value in any way, shape, or form. Comparison, as it is often said, is the thief of joy. It can also be the fuel of arrogance. Careful, careful.

#6 You are polarized by politics. Democrats and Republicans with opposing views go head to head on social media all the time. The hostility goes deep and nurtures division rather than unity. If you find yourself fuming over social media’s ridiculous political debates and hating the “other side,” it may be time to take a break. Being wholly shaped by politics is a no-no. One’s political affiliation does not completely define the person. Standing on your convictions and voting at the ballot box is cool. Fighting others online that do not share your political views is not cool.

#7 You engage foolishness in your DM’s. Direct messages are not bad in and of themselves, but there are some bad actors that can send some inappropriate things. If someone has access to your private messages and abuses that privilege, going back and forth with them is not advisable. Conversations can quickly get out of hand, and shady characters can infiltrate your life if you let your guard down too much. Better options are ignoring them, blocking them, or even reporting them if they get too out of hand.

Did you relate to any of these toxic social media habits? No judgment. If you can identify any ways in which you can improve or change for the better, do yourself a favor and take action. Let nothing hinder you from doing what is best for your mental, emotional, and spiritual health.