Hey Friends,
Just a quick post to share a post I shared on Instagram this morning. For those who don’t follow me on Instagram and want to, here is my feed.
As a dietitian in practice for 30 years (yikes), I have seen a change in our culture since the use of cell phones. We can always be reached and we know what everyone else is doing via our social media feeds. Comparison can be the thief of joy. When people determine their own social and personal worth based on how they stack up against others (how many likes did you get? how many followers do you have?) they can see themselves as better or worse. When you think about it, it’s a bit ridiculous! To top it off, social media paints a very skewed picture of people’s life. This “comparison trap’ can make individuals feel they need to keep up with others. My recommendation: put on your blinders and just do you. Constant input from our phones, leaves us with less downtime. I think it’s important, we reassess the use of our time on social media and get that downtime back.
Today on Instagram, I took a minute to call out the notion of being “holistically exhausted”.
Here is the post I shared in case you missed it.
When you feel physically, emotionally and spiritually tired…listen to your body’s messages and TAKE A BREAK! That might mean, calling in sick from work, canceling plans, skipping the workout, or asking for help. Life is busy. Don’t get caught up in other people’s highlight reels on social media. Just do YOU. Our need for downtime is individual and based on the number of different stressors we are experiencing. Don’t compare what you need and desire to someone else’s needs. Some questions to ask yourself: Are you fitting in some fun? Do you feel well rested? What did you do for YOURSELF today?
A walk in the nature is my favorite way to de-stress but sometimes I take a warm tub in the middle of the day. 🙂 There are NO rules of engagement, just do what you can, where you are, to take a little downtime, when you need it.
P.S. Limiting social media can be helpful too! Choose who you follow carefully. Your social media connections should add to your well-being, not detract from it.
Linda Bryan
I think that the comparison game extends well beyond the comparison of self against others as presented via electronic devices. We are expected to want, want, want whatever is new or fancy or higher cost. Add to that exhaustion with the barrage of information in our 21st century world. We can’t possibly know everything, but we are assumed to so the vocab level and assumed data background of so much in our digital world can be merciless–gotta secretly Google this and Google that, just to keep informed. Plus we now we have unexpectedly devilish counter-information channels to exhaust our overworked crap detectors. And the visual input of small format text presented on glowing screens makes our eyes so tired. I am not sure if I’m “holistically exhausted” but I am culturally exhausted and my body is always tired.
katescarlata
I agree, Linda. But, we can try our best to not get caught up in some of the drama, right?
Lindsay Devine
This is a great post, definitely one of my favorites. It’s always nice to get the reminder to disconnect, unplug, and listen to our bodies outside of food. Thanks Kate!