By now we have all heard the warnings of how bad social media can be for you. For example, that social media, when used consistently, may paint unrealistic expectations for your life and can cause way too much overthinking. 

While this is true, I think there’s a way to find a balance and make social media both beneficial and fun. It’s all about setting boundaries between you and your phone and realizing that all your accounts on social media are for yourself, and no one else. 

The biggest apps out there that have the potential to be detrimental to our generation are Snapchat, Instagram and Tik Tok. These apps portray unrealistic lives and body images through editing and filters. I think we all have been there and tried to take a million different photos for a selfie just so we could look good for our feed. Personally, I don’t think this is bad, though. It’s okay to take photos and post them and feel good about how you look. Where it gets toxic is in the reason behind posting it. 

If you are posting a photo and then taking it down because it didn’t get enough likes or you think you look bad in it, then it might be time to take a break from social media. However, once you start thinking of social media as your platform to express yourself, then the selfies and accounts you follow and things you see on your feed become super beneficial for yourself, and you stop worrying about the likes and comments. 

Follow who you want to follow. Social media can be used to either build yourself up or knock your image down, so if you follow accounts that impact you positively and add a smile to your day, it’s a lot better for your health. This means you should follow what you find inspirational and helpful, not just who has a lot of followers. For me, that means lots of dog and food accounts and zero Kardashians. I think it’s also really important to not feel bad about muting an account or blocking someone on Snapchat or Instagram – it’s not petty. They won’t know, and you will be so much better off not seeing things that might distract you or cause you to overthink things.

Lastly, take a break. There are a million ways to enforce this ideal but I think deleting the apps for a week or two can be really refreshing. Now I know this can be scary, but your streaks and likes are not as important as your mental health. If Snapchat is distracting you from getting things in real life done, tell your friends you’re taking a break, and delete the app – they can text you. For Instagram, you can actually temporarily suspend your account so you can’t even receive notifications. You can also turn off notifications for apps for a temporary break or give your phone to a friend when studying. This is usually what my friends and I do, and it really works to stay focused on what you actually need to do instead of reacting to every notification that pops up. 

In the end, you can either have a healthy relationship with social media by setting time limits, following accounts that you like and not overthinking it, or a toxic one that is difficult to break. You just have to remember that it’s supposed to be fun and that it is yours to do with what you want. 

Wiping down surfaces such as door handles, washing hands before eating or drinking and even wiping down your phone can protect you from common illnesses. Exercise is also a huge benefit to staying healthy because it helps make the body more efficient at fighting bacterial and viral infections as well as keeping the immune system strong.

The holidays are often filled with family, treats and home-cooked comfort food – and a healthy diet is neglected.

According to UPMC Pinnacle, “It is estimated that up to 20 percent of the United States population gets the cold or flu each year. Wintertime presents a higher likelihood to develop cold and flu than during any other season.”

Therefore, a diet high in green veggies and fruits high in antioxidants, such as dark berries, can boost your immune system and aid in protecting gut health.

According to Prevention, getting your regular immunizations, such as the flu shot, can “reduce the risk of flu illness by 50-60 percent in the general population and can decrease the severity and side effects if you get sick.” Although some may argue that you can still contract the flu even if you have received the flu vaccine, it can still protect you – particularly for the elderly and young children who are more susceptible.

Taking multivitamins such as vitamins A, B6, B12, C and D and the minerals chromium, copper, folic acid, selenium, calcium and zinc strengthen and protect the immune system. The vitamins can also help you curb side effects of illnesses such as strep, the flu and the common cold.

Ultimately, attempting to live a well-balanced lifestyle by eating healthy, exercising regularly and keeping your hands and everyday surfaces clean can fend off winter bugs.

Photo courtesy of Urgent Care.