Social Media Burnout
Taking a break from activism isn’t being selfish
As I swipe through my Instagram stories, I see something new every day. George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Yemen, saving the USPS, and most recently, Jacob Blake.
I love our generation for bringing awareness on topics in ways that mainstream media could never. We’ve all done a lot of growing and having been doing our part on social media to spread the news.
The fight never stops.
It really doesn’t but sometimes, there’s this immense pressure to keep sharing these posts, staying “woke” and keeping up with the news. You don’t want to come across as a fake ally or someone who’s just joining the activism train because it’s popular but it can be draining. Always seeing the bad that goes on in the world is bleak and demoralizing. It starts to weigh heavily on your mental health which is not good.
If there’s one thing I learned from quarantine it’s that self-care is important.
Sometimes, a social media cleanse is necessary.
You don’t have to be the most knowledgeable or up-to-date on what’s happening in the world all the time. Just worrying about COVID-19 is stressful enough at times. There’s always someone else to share the post. Don’t pressure yourself to keep fighting past your limit. Everyone needs a break to take care of themselves every once in a while. Remember: mental health is just as important as physical health.
You’re not being selfish and I promise no one will blame you for not sharing a couple of Instagram posts and reading the news every day. I promise you that even the fiercest activists have to rest so don’t be ashamed to take one yourself.
I encourage everyone to take a break and do some things for yourself. Here are some suggestions:
- Stress got you breaking out? Take care of your skin! It’s the largest organ in your body after all. Take a nice bath or do some fun face masks that you’ve had lying around your house for a while.
- Need to forget about the world? Binge some Netflix (I promise I won’t tell)! Some of my favorite light-hearted shows include The Great British Bake Off, New Girl, and Gilmore Girls.
- Got a lot to say but don’t actually want to talk to someone? Write it all out! Whether it’s on the notes in your phone in a physical journal, inanimate objects can’t talk back. You are safe to vent all you want without anyone asking questions or making comments. It honestly feels really refreshing so I highly recommend this!
After you’ve stepped away and logged off social media to focus on yourself, you will probably feel a lot better and have a clearer mind. This will help you stand up for your beliefs and fight for the injustices of the world even better!
I hope you guys stay safe and take care of yourselves.
Thank you for reading! Connect with us to stay in the loop!
Continue the conversation and our mission to spread Trill awareness on social media by sharing this post! #StayTrill
Stay Trill (true & real),
Rachelle
About The Author: Rachelle (she/her) is a sophomore at Rutgers University studying Computer Science and Statistics. Her favorite color is sunflower and she loves coffee ice cream.
