How to put social media boundaries in place

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While social media can be a place to bring people together and share ideas and dreams, it can also lead us down a darker path and take over life.

There might be a sense of community online, but the combination of overuse and the constant need for attention and validation can be detrimental to mental wellness and distracting when it comes to productivity.

We have some top tips around how you can set up your boundaries, so you keep safe online and take what you need from social media and keep the rest away.

Set time limits
Have a think about how long you are spending on social media at the moment each day and then consider what a reasonable amount of time might be.

Two hours?
An hour?
Thirty minutes?

This is for you to decide and we are all going to be different, but what is key here is that once you choose a time limit, stick to it. Keep an eye on your watch, and look at what else you are able to do that brings you back into the real world. Facebook will still be there when you go back and that Twitter DM can wait.

Kick toxicity to the curb
If you are reading posts from a person who is always negative or are in a group that is toxic, get away. We don’t need that in our lives be that in person or online, so go through your feeds, work out what and who aren’t doing you any favours and walk away. No need for this to be a drama, just let things slip away and feel good vibes come back.

Be positive
It’s an oldie but a goodie but “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” is relevant when it comes to social media. Even if you’re speaking out against something, this can be done in a positive way if you offer alternative ideas and solutions rather than just throwing open a bag full of criticism. “I have another” can prevent discussions from becoming nasty and let you pass on your thoughts in a constructive way. Or, just move on and keep your thoughts to yourself rather than plastering it across IG for all to see.

Don’t give it all away
You might be having a bad day, you could’ve won the lottery, and your boss might have annoyed you, but you don’t have to put everything out there online. Yes, be part of the conversation but given that we don’t share everything in real life, you don’t want to let strangers know what’s up every second of the day.

Unplug
Checking social media can be a really bad habit, and an addictive one, but you do have a choice to decide when and how often you use it (see point one). Make one afternoon a week, or one day at the weekend a social media free zone and let your mind wander onto other things. Get outside, meet real friends, watch a movie or go to the beach and let the online world go on without you.

Team Pure Beauty

The truth about mindfulness

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Mindfulness has become a bit of a buzzword over the past 18 months, but what’s it all about?

In a nutshell mindfulness a very simple form of meditation that focuses your attention on your breath as it flows in and out of your body.

The conscious focusing on each breath allows you to observe your thoughts as they pop into your mind and, little by little, let go of them.

In time your thoughts come and go as if they are not your thoughts and you come to see that thoughts and feelings (including negative ones) are transient. They come and they go, and you have a choice about whether to act on them or not.

Mindfulness is about very much about observation without criticism and allows you to be as kind and compassionate with yourself as you are with others.

When you are feeling unhappiness or stressed, mindfulness allows you to catch the negative thoughts and deal with them before they start to spiral into depression. It is a great way to give you control of your life, in a positive way. In the long-term mindfulness can impact mood as well as happiness and well-being.

Studies have shown that mindfulness can help prevent depression as well as positively influence day-to-day anxiety, stress, depression and irritability so that when they arise, they leave more easily.

Despite the benefits, some people still aren’t convinced so we thought we would set the record straight so you know exactly what it is all about:

Meditation is not a religion.

You don’t have to sit cross-legged on the floor to meditate, but you can if you like. Whether it is on a bus, in your bed, on the floor, in the library or at you desk, it is possible to meditate pretty much anywhere.

Mindfulness needs patience and persistence but doesn’t have to take up a lot of time. Just ten minutes a day can really help you reassess and actually free up time because you are letting go of negativity.

Meditation is not complicated and there is no success or failure. At times meditation might feel difficult but it is part of a learning process that will help free your mind and emotions.

Meditation is not about accepting the unacceptable but about taking a wiser, clearer view of the world. In time it will give you greater awareness, clarity and compassion.

The simplest way to start is to find a comfortable spot and sit so that you can feel (some say follow) your breath as it goes in and out. To start with, your attention will wander but when you notice this, return your attention to the breath and carry on.

They say practice makes perfect and this is certainly true of meditation. Before long you will be a natural and will reap the benefits without even realising it.

Let us know how you get on.