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THIS TIP FROM OUR FOUNDER WILL CHANGE THE WAY YOU APPROACH SOCIAL MEDIA
When we talk about clearing away the clutter, we often think of the physical stuff: junk drawers, overstuffed closets, paper piles. But so often, the clutter that’s holding us back is psychological or behavioral. Take social media. Last year, the average American spent two hours and 51 minutes on the phone every day. How much of that time is wasted? How much of it is spent feeling less than? How much of it takes away from time you could be connecting with someone in person? In other words, how much of your phone time is clutter that would be better off cleared away, giving you space to create an intentional life in which you can thrive?
As barre3 founder Sadie Lincoln explains in her latest article for mindbodygreen, creating healthy boundaries around social media is something she’s struggled with herself. “ Last summer, I had a big aha moment while on a hike with my family,” she explains. “While walking in the woods, I started taking Instagram-worthy pictures of my kids. I then pulled my attention away from my family and the beautiful surroundings to look at the pictures. I didn’t like the lighting, so I made them stop and recreate the moment several times until I liked it. I then proceeded to post it right there on the trail with the imagined justification that showing the world I was on a hike was “healthy” and helpful. The truth is, this behavior was really unhealthy. I took precious time away from my kids and nature to obsess over the image and a clever hashtag.”
Driven by that pivotal moment, Sadie came up with her own playbook when it comes to social media—a step-by-step process that helps her stay present in “real” life while at the same time allowing her to engage in social media in a positive way. Want to give it a try? Follow these steps:
- Take pictures, but refrain from looking at them until later that day or even 24 hours later, when you are alone and can focus. Pretend your phone has film, and you need to get it developed to see the pictures.
- When looking at your pictures, ask yourself, “Is this a moment to share or protect?”
- If it’s a moment to share, ask yourself, “Why do I want to share this?” And then remind yourself of your power on social media with this statement: “My voice matters. The message I send will affect others.”
- If this is a moment to protect, reflect on this choice as well. Validate this important boundary and give yourself a pat on the back for choosing to keep an important moment just for you.
Check out Sadie’s full article on mindbodygreen for more tips around navigating social media—including her genius idea for crowding out that like-checking tic we all have with something so much more compassionate and productive.
Need an excuse to put the phone down? Move your body! Book a studio class today, or press play on a B3 Online workout!
Photo by Weaver House
When we talk about clearing away the clutter, we often think of the physical stuff: junk drawers, overstuffed closets, paper piles. But so often, the clutter that’s holding us back is psychological or behavioral. Take social media. Last year, the average American spent two hours and 51 minutes on the phone every day. How much of that time is wasted? How much of it is spent feeling less than? How much of it takes away from time you could be connecting with someone in person? In other words, how much of your phone time is clutter that would be better off cleared away, giving you space to create an intentional life in which you can thrive?
As barre3 founder Sadie Lincoln explains in her latest article for mindbodygreen, creating healthy boundaries around social media is something she’s struggled with herself. “ Last summer, I had a big aha moment while on a hike with my family,” she explains. “While walking in the woods, I started taking Instagram-worthy pictures of my kids. I then pulled my attention away from my family and the beautiful surroundings to look at the pictures. I didn’t like the lighting, so I made them stop and recreate the moment several times until I liked it. I then proceeded to post it right there on the trail with the imagined justification that showing the world I was on a hike was “healthy” and helpful. The truth is, this behavior was really unhealthy. I took precious time away from my kids and nature to obsess over the image and a clever hashtag.”
Driven by that pivotal moment, Sadie came up with her own playbook when it comes to social media—a step-by-step process that helps her stay present in “real” life while at the same time allowing her to engage in social media in a positive way. Want to give it a try? Follow these steps:
- Take pictures, but refrain from looking at them until later that day or even 24 hours later, when you are alone and can focus. Pretend your phone has film, and you need to get it developed to see the pictures.
- When looking at your pictures, ask yourself, “Is this a moment to share or protect?”
- If it’s a moment to share, ask yourself, “Why do I want to share this?” And then remind yourself of your power on social media with this statement: “My voice matters. The message I send will affect others.”
- If this is a moment to protect, reflect on this choice as well. Validate this important boundary and give yourself a pat on the back for choosing to keep an important moment just for you.
Check out Sadie’s full article on mindbodygreen for more tips around navigating social media—including her genius idea for crowding out that like-checking tic we all have with something so much more compassionate and productive.
Need an excuse to put the phone down? Move your body! Book a studio class today, or press play on a B3 Online workout!
Photo by Weaver House
