Tuesday Tip
Today’s Tuesday Tip is beneficial for your mental health, whether or not you live with chronic pain and illness: It’s okay to unfollow people on social media.
I don’t know about you, but I admit that I spend time mindlessly scrolling on social media, particularly on the flare-up days when it’s hard to focus. But I’ve also realized that this practice can lead to me encountering posts that are upsetting. In turn, it leaves me feeling worse—physically and emotionally. While I may not be able to do much about the physical impact, I can do something about the emotional one: Stop scrolling, and unfollow people and pages that aren’t beneficial to my mental health. (And guess what? You have permission to do the same thing!)
Social media can be a wonderful tool, when used correctly and in moderation. It’s a great way to keep in touch with loved ones and friends, especially those who live far away. You can find out what’s going on around the world, discover new recipes to try, and watch reels that evoke a variety of positive emotions. But, with social media, it’s also easy to find posts and videos that leave up feeling upset, down on ourselves, or anxious.
So the next time you’re looking through your feeds, ask yourself if it’s beneficial for you to follow each account. Does doing so add something positive to your day? If not, consider clicking the “unfollow” button. Worried about someone getting upset? Don’t be. In many cases, the other person/account won’t even know. And, if you feel better about it, you can hit “mute” instead. Then in place of those accounts, look for some that are uplifting, ones that make you smile or laugh, etc. Hit “follow.”
You only have so much time in the day, and life is too short to read/watch things that are going to make you feel miserable, add to your pain, and use up your valuable spoons Share on X. There’s no reason to feel guilty about doing something that will benefit your health (physical and mental) in the long run.
I hope you have a blessed, low-pain day.
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Hi Leslie, thanks for this email. It’s very timely as I have been unsubscribing from many emails. I love your content and identify what it means to live with Chronic pain.
I’m struggling with fatigue and don’t have the concentration to read a lot. I used to love reading but I can’t remember the last time I read a book cover to cover. Loving your book which you sent me on PDF as it’s easy to read a snippet when I’m up to it. Thank you.
I would love to still be a part of your FB group as that’s easy to browse through.
I hope your husband’s health is improving and you’re being buoyed up by people’s prayers. ?❤️
You’re welcome. I appreciate your kind words. I’m glad to offer encouragement and truths about living with chronic pain and illness.
The fact that many people struggle with attention, due to various reasons, was one of the things I kept in mind with my book. I know there are many times, especially lately, where it’s hard for me to sustain focus, so the daily devotions in “Hope Amid the Pain” are the perfect size.
It’s an honor to have you in the FB group ? Thank you for the continued prayers.