Using Social Media with Intention: A Well-Being Approach
Social media is a huge part of daily life for most people, myself included. Whether it's Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, or Facebook, we tend check these apps regularly—sometimes without even thinking about it.
And that’s no accident. These platforms are designed to capture and hold our attention, often making them feel more like a habit than a conscious choice.
But like anything else in life, social media can either support us or drain us. The key is to be intentional about how we use it.
Here are 3 ways to make social media work for you in a way that supports your well-being:
1. Make social media actually social
Instead of just scrolling, engage with the content in your feed! Like, comment, message a friend. Social media can be a great tool for staying connected to people and communities that matter to you. When you focus on meaningful interactions, it becomes less about comparison and more about connection.
I personally really appreciate how social media allows me to stay in touch with friends who live far away. I love seeing little glimpses of their daily lives because it makes me feel more connected to them, eventhough we don’t see each other very often.
2. Curate your feed
I just want to friendly remind you that you’re allowed to unfollow, mute, or hide content that doesn’t serve you. If something makes you feel bad, anxious, or just isn’t adding value to your life, it doesn’t need to take up space in your mind. By doing so, you can actually teach the algorithm what type of content you want to see! Curating your feed to include things that inspire, educate, or uplift you can make a big difference.
For example: Some years ago I used to get a lot of dieting/weightloss content in my Instagram feed that I noticed had a negative impact on my relationship with food. I made an intentional choice to filter out this content. I filtered accounts that promoted dieting and told the Instagram algorithm that I didn’t like this content when it popped up for me. Instead, I actively followed body positivity accounts and creators who inspire me. Over time, I noticed a big shift.
3. Set boundaries that work for you
Maybe that means turning off notifications, taking breaks, or deciding when and how you want to engage. Social media is a tool—you get to decide how you use it. Having clear boundaries can help prevent mindless scrolling and make your time online more intentional.
Tip: I recently started using the app ScreenZen, which prompts me to pause before I open Instagram to consider whether I’m actually doing something I want to do or just mindlessly scrolling.
To sum it all up, social media is what we make of it. It has its challenges and negative sides. But with intention, it can also be a space for creativity, connection, and meaningful interactions.
Personally, I’ve come to really appreciate the positive aspects of social meda, like how it let’s me connect with people, stay in touch with long-distance friends, and consume content that inspire and uplift me.
What about you? What are your intentions for using social media? I’d love to hear about it! Feel free to email med to share your thoughts or DM me on Instagram!
Want to more deeply explore how you can care for your well-being? I’ve got a free masterclass for you! In it, I teach an evidence-based positive psychology framework that will inspire you to think about well-being differently. Sign up here and I’ll send it directly to your email inbox.