10 practical ways to strengthen your mental health online (we all should learn)

Today we are exposed to a practically infinite, continuously fed amount of media content unprecedented in history.

Social networks, WhatsApp chats, live news, tags, and notifications from our phones and computers significantly affect our time, our thoughts, and how we interpret them. Getting trapped in these refined digital mechanisms that constantly attract and hold our attention is normal.

However, if we become aware of some aspects and do not take countermeasures, our mental health and the quality of our time can worsen.

Knowing how to protect your mental health is essential. In this way, you can prevent the feelings of stress, loneliness, jealousy, and frustration that too often emerge when we spend too much time in the digital world: click the arrows in the photo to continue reading.

The first step in protecting your mental health online is to become aware of what you are doing online and with your time. It seems trivial to say, but choosing what to do and what to watch is essential. The Internet is also rich in positive content that contributes to our health: yoga courses, mindfulness, cooking courses, drawing courses, etc., all activities that encourage personal growth and positive feelings.

Don't let negative emotions and thoughts surface on the keyboard, but, on the contrary, choose kindness when commenting or judging other people's content. It's not easy sometimes, but social media could become a propeller of good human feelings if we do it all. Because if you do good, you feel it right away. The choice is yours!

The time we spend online blurs the boundaries between the digital world and the real world. Our real-life activities are often interrupted to post or scroll through our social media. Remember that authentic relationships are irreplaceable and that it's important to nurture them, perhaps starting with a video call to a friend, an after-dinner walk, or meditating.

Doomscrolling is the tendency to continuously search for news (especially damaging) or updates from one's social networks. The result is being sucked into constantly fueled negative feelings. Think about how updates from the accounts you follow make you feel. Or how you feel when you read your friends' posts. If you feel stressed or jealous, it's a sign that you need to distance yourself from them and stop following them for a while. Only some things we see are real; what we hear is essential.

Check your social media privacy settings. Always be careful about providing your data when signing up for services or apps. Keep the webcam covered when you are not using it, and always report content if it seems dangerous or offensive to you, including taking a screenshot. If you notice any of your friends or family members showing signs of stress or distress, suggest they talk to someone who can help.

Avoid comparing the "digital performance" of your contacts with yours. Algorithms firstly influence the number of likes and comments, and secondly, it does not measure the value of people. Aside from yourself and your thoughts, your human qualities cannot be tarnished by anyone or anything.

When you come across a negative or sarcastic comment, when you find yourself the center of attention in a WhatsApp chat, when you are immersed in the negativity of a thread, be attentive and, before any other reaction, breathe slowly. By doing so, you will not lose your temper and will be able to relativize and find a way to respond positively and direct your attention elsewhere.

Before posting any content, think carefully and ask yourself these questions: is it useful? Can it offend or offend anyone? If you feel the post is redundant or potentially harmful to someone, it's best not to publish it.

If you find yourself in the middle of a digital argument in which contemptuous comments follow one another, don't stir it up but, on the contrary, try to lighten the situation by promoting peace between people. Too often, we find ourselves enslaved by feelings of revenge, and thanks to a light and benevolent comment, problems can be resolved in the best possible way for everyone.

When you comment or reply to a post, it is good practice to be concise and write only what you want to communicate as long as it's positive and harmless.