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Why Unfollowing Will Be the Best Thing You Do for Your Happiness

29/01/17

Control Your Social Media Happiness

Don't be scared to delete
I have spoken to so many bloggers, Instagrammers and Youtubers recently about this topic. Just in general conversation when it comes to our own personal thoughts and feelings of late. Over the last year especially, more articles have been written about the seemingly fake imagery and enhanced lifestyle personas of some Instagram users. I’m sure I have shared my feelings on this: mainly that Instagram for me is a place to create a curated and beautiful place of imagery I am proud of. I just put imagery out there that I hope might inspire someone’s outfit choices, maybe encourage someone to buy a new beauty product I’m loving, or to show someone a new place to travel to.

But recently I must admit I’ve started to feel a little deflated whenever I head onto social media. And I also don’t think I’ve seen anyone else speak of this, probably due to the fact that they don’t want to offend anyone.

This is aimed at no profiles in particular, but at Instagram and all of the social media space as a whole.

I actually enjoy scrolling my social media feeds and reading about the days, quotes and thoughts of the people that I follow. I also head onto Instagram to see what my friends are wearing, where people are eating, staying, travelling to. And for the most part it makes me super happy to click like on every single picture as I scroll down my feed.

That’s until this happens…

You probably follow a lot of people on social media. Some of them you love. Some of them truly inspire you. Some of them share wonderful uplifting quotes that really resonate. And others happen to take some really beautiful and creative images that encourage you to work a touch harder on your own images.

But then, there are those social accounts that leave us feeling a little stale. Their images or words just don’t make us feel happy anymore. It might not be anything about this social user personally, but their images, personality, morals or their lifestyle just leave you with a bad taste in your mouth. I’m almost positive I can speak for everyone here. There will be someone that you follow who posts photos that no longer make you happy to see. Maybe their captions appear like they’re gloating, maybe their images are a little too materialistic, maybe their personality appears a little ungrateful for the things they get to buy and see. Or perhaps, they have a body that you would die for, eat food that would leave you wanting to gnaw off your own arm or live a lifestyle you could only potentially dream of with a lottery win. And all of that just leaves you comparing, angry or pretty darn fed up.

Whatever it is about that person’s feed that you don’t like; ask yourself why you’re still following.

A key issue, I think, is primarily Instagram politics. This profile is potentially a friend of yours, an acquaintance, or likely someone that you love to hate. And that is what is keeping you from hitting that unfollow button. You really want to unfollow every single time they pop up into your feed. But you’re worried of upsetting them or causing a rift because of a measly unfollow.

Remember this. Unfollowing someone on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Youtube or Snapchat doesn’t mean you’re a bad person or that you don’t like the person in question. It just means that you want to look at your social media feeds and see content that makes you really happy. It is nothing against that person; just you curating a feed of images or text that allow you to feel a certain way. You have the right to; its your own feed! You don’t want to have to feel negative on the daily every time this person’s updates pop up when you’re scrolling. So why do you?! I know so so many people who have this exact same feeling but just can’t commit to unfollowing for fear of hurting someone’s feelings.

And there are also those accounts of people you will probably never come to meet and who would never even noticed you had unfollowed. You may have followed them to see the carcrash, keep updated with their crazy lifestyle or to update yourself on particular topics happening in the world. But their images and words just aren’t what you want to fill your day with anymore, and frankly, laughing at Trump’s tweets from before he was POTUS isn’t quite the same now he’s actually able to cause damage.

But I’m here to tell you, the grass is greener. As soon as you realise that you care more for your own mental state every time that you scroll, than for this person’s attitude at you unfollowing, your social media life will be kicked up a few happy notches. You can still see your friend and love hanging out with them, or go to the gym with them, or go to events and see them. Its just this…

You don’t have to follow someone on social media to be friends with them. 

Trust me. That unfollow will really help you.

You won’t find yourself comparing yourself to others and putting yourself down in the way that you used to. You won’t read a tweet from a person who’s every word makes you frustrated. And you will be so much happier to scroll your social media feeds than you ever have.

Who wants to compare themselves every day to someone who has a body type that makes you hate your own. A ridiculous lifestyle and an ungrateful, boastful attitude. A feed that makes you feel like you aren’t cool enough, don’t earn enough or don’t live a fulfilled life. You can still follow lots of people with insane lifestyles and incredible bodies, as long as they inspire you and you enjoy their photos. But when that changes, and you find that all you’re doing is comparing or feeling down on your own photos, your own body, your own lifestyle, then it’s time to unfollow.

Unfollow them. It will be the best thing you’ve done on social media this year.

I really hope this inspires some of you to clear our your social feeds and make your social media a place that makes you motivated, encouraged, inspired and most importantly, truly happy.

I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this? Have any of you been feeling the same?

p.s. if unfollowing is too much for you, the mute buttons on twitter and instastories also make life rather peaceful too!

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