Social Scrolling: Amping up our Awareness
Manage episode 506390799 series 3551368
Ever looked at someone's social media and felt your life didn't measure up, only to discover later they're struggling just like everyone else? You're not alone. In this eye-opening conversation, we dive deep into the world of social comparison and how it's specifically affecting women in midlife.
The statistics point to why we are more anxious than we have ever been—the average woman spends 3-4 hours daily on her phone (that's a full day each week!). Midlife women have experienced a 50% increase in anxiety and depression since 2020.
Social media has evolved from occasional photo album browsing into 24/7 access to carefully curated versions of others' lives, creating a constant comparison trap that's nearly impossible to escape.
We share personal stories about our own struggles with screen time, including one hilarious anecdote about unconscious scrolling during sleep that perfectly illustrates how hardwired these behaviors have become. The dopamine hits we receive while scrolling create addictive patterns that keep us reaching for our phones first thing in the morning and last thing at night, often without realizing how it's affecting our mental health.
The key question we challenge you to ask yourself: "Am I using social media, or is social media using me?" Breaking these patterns requires awareness and intentional action—checking your screen time statistics, setting limits, and finding meaningful activities to replace mindless scrolling. Instead of just consuming inspirational content, what if you actually did one thing you saw online today?
Ready to reclaim your time and mental wellbeing? Join us as we explore practical strategies for healthier social media habits and remember that what we see online is just a tiny glimpse through a peephole—not the full, beautiful, messy reality of someone's life. Your relationship with your phone might be the most important one to examine right now.
We want to hear from you! Reach out to us on socials or at [email protected] to share how our conversations are landing with you! xo-Melynda and Jennifer
Chapters
1. Welcome Back to Emptiness Quest (00:00:00)
2. Social Media: The Modern Photo Album (00:01:12)
3. 24/7 Access and Its Effects (00:05:05)
4. The Comparison Trap (00:08:22)
5. Screen Time Statistics and Anxiety (00:14:12)
6. Using Social Media vs Being Used (00:18:00)
7. Taking Action and Setting Limits (00:21:50)
43 episodes