The magic of the internet is all around—information at the tips of your fingers. Connecting with anyone anywhere at any moment in time is easy—instant gratification at its finest. With the necessity or just downright bad habits of always being on, the online world and the real world can easily become blurred. Now more than ever, creating boundaries for internet and social media usage is important.
This is easier said than done with a phone always in hand or constantly being connected to a computer. Fear not; this post will give you some ideas for creating your own boundaries.
Boundaries With Your Time
Because life is lived on socials, email, and Google, it is important to remember that there is a physical world out there too. The rise of the internet has allowed for some great innovations, but it has also caused a skewed sense of reality.
Allow yourself to unplug from the internet and be more present in your world. Taking a full-on hiatus may be unacceptable if your work revolves around an online presence. But limiting your time online, especially outside of those work hours, can be really impactful.
Maybe you find yourself scrolling first thing when you wake up or the last thing before you go to sleep. Create a routine that does not involve checking emails or seeing what your friends ate for dinner last night. Take that morning time to meditate, have a cup of coffee, work out, or even phone that friend. Pick up a book or have a cup of tea before bed.
Boundaries With Your Content
The first part is being mindful and intentional with what you put into the internet world. Do you need the whole world to see everything you do and post? Oversharing is the new way of life, and it is easy to forget that some things should remain private. It is very easy to separate emails and accounts, so some things can remain in a safe space.
The other side of the coin is reexamining whose content you consume. Your feed is equivalent to your personal space. Delete, unfollow, block, or mute if something isn’t bringing you joy. The beauty of the internet is you don’t have to see anything you don’t want to. Purge accounts, companies, or emails that add no value to your life.
Boundaries With Your Interactions
Circling back a little to your safe space, evaluate your privacy settings. Having a public presence can welcome all kinds of feedback, both positive and negative (and everything in between).
Receiving negative feedback of any kind can be hard. It could even trigger mental health matters. Life online tends to be a little more vicious than the real world because it is easy to hide behind screens. Reducing your exposure to unwanted and unnecessary commentary is a great way to set a healthy boundary.
On the other end, be thoughtful in your own responses. Be cautious with those you engage with. Be honest in your feelings, but know where to draw the line of oversharing. Don’t be afraid to cease communication with anyone who causes you grief. And grow with those who build you up.
Taking the First Steps
Look at the goals of your internet usage. What do you want from it? Who are you trying to interact with? Look at your level of comfort and feeling of safety. If you feel overwhelmed, turn off your commenting or change your availability settings. You should never feel unsafe. Check-in with your feelings. Are you feeling drained? Do you find value added? Are you stressed with your engagements?
Setting internet boundaries is so important in this modern age. If you need help completing this process, reach out today. Life is stressful, and no one needs the internet making matters worse.
