Social Media in Modern Motherhood

How do you make social media work for you, and not against you? Tips for healthy social media use in modern motherhood include following people who keep it real and know your intentions for using social media as a new parent. Information? Connection? Support? Entertainment?

Everyone knows that social media is a wealth of information and support. Social media can be a great parenting resource -- if used wisely. Social media can help you stay up-to-date on the latest parenting trends, advice, tips and news but can make many mothers feel inadequate, constantly comparing themselves with others or questioning parenting choices. Remember that the highlight reel is just a very small portion of someone's life. Don't compare yourself to others -- it will only make you anxious. Give yourself permission to unfollow people or brands that don't serve you.

Using social media for entertainment, like many modern mothers? Make time for guilt-free scrolling. Be choosy about what you follow. If you see something that makes you feel bad, unfollow that person. You don't need them in your life. Do a social media cleanse once in a while, like maybe once a month or even every three months.

Remember, you're in control of your social media presence and can be selective about what you share. Discuss social media boundaries within your family. Dilemmas such as how much to share on social media profiles, including pictures of kids or life experiences and finding the best social media setup for a family at each phase of life certainly arise. Also, many mothers don't have time to keep up with social media and be a mom or find themselves often distracted. Setting a timer when you're on your phone can be one way to limit use if needed.  

Being intentional around social media use is a key takeaway in feeling in control of your scrolling. Align your use with your values, be thoughtful in ways you aim to use social media, and allow yourself the flexibility to change if needed!