If you can feel your stress and anxiety levels rising while you use social media, you’re not alone. And even though your feed is completely digital, those negative feelings can actually have an impact on our physical health. Clenched jaws, tightened fists and elevated heart rates are just a few ways that bad experiences with other people on social media can manifest in our bodies.
But a simple mindfulness exercise like inhaling deeply, listening to music or taking a walk while paying attention to your surroundings can help combat that. At a time when social media use is surging due to the COVID-19 lockdown, it has never been more important to take care of yourself IRL while you spend more time online — and that means learning ways to find your center while you scroll.
Watch three social media users put mindfulness exercises to the test in this video.
This was produced in partnership with the Greater Good Science Center and the Einhorn Family Charitable Trust. Learn more about how you can bridge differences in your life here.