My friend and colleague, Heather Plett is a gifted writer and facilitator who used an invitation to teach a workshop at a local university and the requests of several friends asking for her help to build a strong presence online as catalysts to create a beautiful guidebook entitled Social Media: A Beginner’s Guide to Meaningful & Mindful Engagement.
In it she offers the following tips for those wanting to engage with people online in mindful and meaningful ways:
- Pay attention to how interactions with people make you feel. If following a popular person makes you feel jealous every time you see his/her name, then stop following and engage with people who make you feel good about yourself instead
- Be intentional about what you want to gain from your online connections. Though they can be very meaningful, don’t expect them to replace the relationships/community you already have in your life. Leave your house and make friends that you can see face to face.
- Make an intention about what times of day (and/or how much time each day) you'll allow yourself to spend time on social media. Perhaps you decide you won't go on until 10 a.m., or you'll only go on for 5 minutes each hour.
- Make an intention about what times of day (and/or how much time each day) you'll allow yourself to spend time on social media. Perhaps you decide you won't go on until 10 a.m., or you'll only go on for 5 minutes each hour.
- Be intentional about whether or not you'll allow yourself to visit social media sites on your smartphone. Make sure you have quiet time when you are not available. This may mean leaving your phone at home, or turning off the social media apps while you go for a walk or hang out with your kids.
- When you're doing other work on the computer, close your internet browser and don't let yourself open it until you've completed a specific amount of work.
- If your stats (followers, friends, readers, visits, etc.) impact the value you place on yourself, either be intentional about ignoring them, or step away from social media until you feel more healthy about it.
- Take sabbaticals from social media. This may mean that one day a week you don't open your computer, or one week or month per year you step away. Savour the life you have away from the computer.
- Make an intention to contribute to the good that is available online and to stay away from the bad. Don't get involved in ugly politics or hurtful rumours. Share positive stories that inspire instead of negative stories that cut people down.
- Go outside. Be in nature. Disconnect from all electronics on a regular basis. Live in this beautiful space called earth. Take deep breaths and be mindful at all of the beauty around you.
If you enjoy the excerpt from Heather’s guidebook, be sure to visit her website.
