8 TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH From SOCIAL MEDIA AND NEWS

While Theodore Roosevelt likely could never have imagined the advent of social media when he stated that "comparison is the thief of joy," his words have never rung truer.

- Charlene Bazarian

It is little wonder, as amidst a backdrop of sensory overload of photoshopped images, innumerable posts creating unattainable expectations about everything from your appearance to your popularity, like buttons, follower counts, and targeted ads, it is becoming increasingly difficult not to judge the inside of your life against the outside of everyone else's.

It is certainly no secret that the internet has become an ever-increasing and almost unavoidable presence in each of our lives. While many of these platforms have provided the ability to communicate and connect with a vast amount of people and content, the constant barrage of information and thousands of carefully curated profiles has played a significant role in an epidemic of low self-esteem, depression and anxiety, contributing to a global mental health crisis.

Despite the concept that the internet brings us closer together, its overuse can intensify feelings of loneliness and exclusion. Even beyond social media, the onslaught and instant access to news coverage, which is aptly described as "doomscrolling," particularly in these chaotic times, can add to a sense of hopelessness. Dilan Gomih, the multifaceted Chief Energy Officer of Dilagence, a company that helps busy professionals fuel their own personal success as well as to maximize their performance and productivity shares some strategies on how to combat this and to reclaim control over your mental well-being.

Dilan's Tips:

#1. Use Focus Mode on your Smartphone: You have more control beyond Do Not Disturb mode. Smartphone users can control what they see by programming specific modes to control which notifications are seen by day, time, and app.