Avery - 00:00

While social media offers avenues for connection, expression, and exploration, we all know that its influence isn't always to our benefit.

In fact, it's really important for us to look at how social media contributes to burnout rates because neither is going anywhere.

From incessant comparison to the relentless fear of missing out or FOMO, social platforms have a profound impact on our mental health, often making our stress worse rather than leave us feeling better after taking a break to scroll through our favorite platform.

The complex relationship that we have with social media shapes our perceptions of success, happiness, and self-worth.

And there are five key ways that social media perpetuates burnout and by confronting these realities head on, we empower ourselves to reclaim agency over our digital experiences and create a more balanced life because awareness is the first step.

Hi, I'm Avery Thatcher, a former ICU nurse, and this is not your standard stress management podcast where we just focus on those band-aid solutions like the benefits of meditation, mindfulness, and self-care.

You already know that you need some kind of recovery strategy to deal with your stressful life.

Avery - 01:12

But what you may not know are all of the sneaky ways that society, our upbringing and our high achieving nature, and so many other factors contribute to our risk of burnout.

That, my friend, is what we talk about here on this podcast because you can't do something about a situation that you're not aware of, right?

So if you're ready to get out of the pattern of burning out, feeling better, only to burn out again, it's time for us to shut the light on the truth about burnout.

The first way that social media causes burnout is social comparison.

Social media platforms are built for comparison because the algorithm rewards a curated public view.

This can have a profound implication for individuals' wellbeing, contributing significantly to burnout rates and unhealthy mental health experiences.

Constant exposure to carefully crafted portrayals of success, beauty, and happiness on social media can lead individuals to engage in upward social comparison wherein they measure their achievements and attributes against those that others are putting out there and they perceive to be better than

Avery - 02:26

them.

As individuals strive to keep up with the seemingly perfect lives of their peers, they may experience heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and dissatisfaction with their own life.

The pressure to maintain a flawless online persona while simultaneously grappling with the realities of daily life can be overwhelming and isolating, making the feelings of burnout and exhaustion so much worse.

Not to mention, the likes, comments, and shares creates a constant pursuit of validation and approval that can become a source of chronic stress and anxiety.

The constant need for affirmation and recognition can perpetuate a cycle of validating seeking behavior ultimately leading to emotional exhaustion and burnout.

The second way that social media can cause burnout is FOMO, the fear of missing out.

So just as it was with social comparison, FOMO cultivates a sense of inadequacy and anxiety.

Avery - 03:21

The pressures to keep up with the seemingly endless stream of social engagements, travel adventures, and milestone achievements can be overwhelming, leading to chronic stress and emotional exhaustion.

This relentless pursuit of new experiences driven by FOMO can result in a constant state of busyness and over-commitment, Leaving individuals feeling drained and depleted.

The fear of missing out on opportunities for social connection or professional advancement drive individuals to continuously check in on their social media feeds, sacrificing precious time for rest and self-care in the process.

The third way that social media causes burnout is the online harassment and bullying experience.

There is a pervasive culture of online harassment that creates a toxic environment that fosters feelings of fear, distrust, and disillusionment which further exacerbates burnout rates among users.

In fact, the rate of being targeted by online harassment has increased significantly in just four years, jumping from 35% to 41% of people in the US experiencing some form of online harassment.

Understandably, this can have profound implication for individuals' mental health and wellbeing contributing to these heightened levels of burnout.

Avery - 04:36

For victims of online harassment, the constant onslaught of abusive behaviour can lead to heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and emotional distress.

The fear of being targeted or humiliated online can consume individuals' thoughts and emotions, leaving them feeling isolated, vulnerable, and overwhelmed.

The relentless pressure to have an online presence while trying to avoid harassment can take a significant toll on individuals' mental health.

Again, exacerbating those feelings of burnout and exhaustion.

And also, the emotional toll of witnessing the suffering of others, coupled with feelings of helplessness and frustration, can contribute to secondary trauma and compassion fatigue.

Once a safe place to go and relax, the online bullying prevalent on social media perpetuates this cycle of negativity and conflict, making it so much harder for individuals to find that moment of respite.

The constant exposure to hostile and inflammatory content can also erode individuals' sense of safety and wellbeing, which again leads to heightened levels of stress and emotional exhaustion.

Avery - 05:43

The fourth way that social media can be causing burnout is the impact of influencer culture.

Social media influencers wield significant influence over their followers, shaping trends, lifestyles, and consumer behaviors.

However, the pervasive influence of social media influencers can also have a profound implication for individuals with mental health and well-being, which contributes again to those heightened levels of burnout.

The curated portrayals of success, beauty, and happiness showcased by influencers on social media platforms can create those unrealistic standards and expectations for the followers that we talked about in that comparisonitis.

As individuals strive to emulate the seemingly perfect lives of their favorite influencers, they may experience heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and self-doubt.

The pressure to achieve similar levels of success and fulfillment can be overwhelming and lead people to push themselves through emotional exhaustion and into burnout.

This drive for affirmation and recognition from these influencers can also leave individuals feeling insecure and inadequate, especially if they write to these people and don't get a response, which again just makes those feelings of burnout and emotional distress even worse.

Avery - 06:57

Also, the commercialization of social media through influencer marketing can contribute to the heightened levels of consumerism and materialism among their followers.

This pressure to keep up with the latest trends and purchase products endorsed by these influencers can lead to financial strain and feelings of dissatisfaction with one's own life.

Just look at the Stanley travel mug trend.

This pursuit of material possessions and external validation can detract from meaningful experiences and relationships, ultimately contributing to burnout and emotional exhaustion.

And finally, the last reason why social media could be contributing to burnout is the weaponization of self-care strategies.

Self-care has become a popular buzzword on social media with countless posts and articles promoting various self-care strategies as a remedy for burnout and stress.

However, the portrayal of self-care on social media is often oversimplified, misinformed, or even shaming, which contributes to that heightened level of burnout and emotional distress because they don't feel like they're, quote, doing it right.

Avery - 08:03

Many self-care strategies promoted on social media platforms focus solely on superficial acts of self-indulgence or pampering, such as indulging in spa days, treating oneself to luxurious items, going for a massage, or engaging in elaborate beauty routines.

And while these activities may provide temporary relief or distraction from stress, they fail to address the underlying causes of burnout and emotional exhaustion.

Self-care is not a cure-all for burnout and can inadvertently shame individuals who struggle to prioritize their well-being or engage in self-care practices that align with their needs and values.

The pressure to adhere to societal expectations of self-care can leave individuals feeling inadequate or guilty for not measuring up to these unrealistic standards set by influencers and social media influencers.

I say it often that I really wish I could meet the person that said that you must do 30 minutes of self-care every day.

And I want to ask them why?

Why would you set such an unrealistic standard for so many people in this fast-forward modern world?

Avery - 09:07

Carving out a solid half hour to indulge in self-care is not possible for the majority of us.

Finally, the commodification of self-care on social media platforms can again contribute to that culture of consumerism and materialism where self-worth is equated with the ability to purchase products or experiences that are marketed as self-care essentials.

The emphasis on internal fixes and quick fixes distracts from the really true essence of self-care which is really rooted in nurturing one's physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

So, from this relentless pressure of comparison to the pervasive fear of missing out, social media exerts a profound influence on our mental health and wellbeing.

And in the prevalence of online harassment and the sway of influencers and the commodification of stress management strategies, social media further amplifies the challenges that we face in maintaining balance and resilience in this fast-forward digital age.

But by acknowledging these complexities, we empower ourselves to navigate social media with mindfulness and intentionality, reclaiming our agency over our digital experiences and fostering a culture of well-being in this digital realm.

Because it's always through awareness, empathy, and collective action that we can begin to mitigate the detrimental effects of burnout culture and cultivate a more nurturing, sustainable relationship with social media.

Avery - 10:35

What do you think?

Do you think that social media contributes to burnout culture?

Send me an email.

Let me know.

Avery at BecomingAvery.com Hey, hey.

Do not press that skip button yet.

Yes, this is the end of the episode, but I still have something else I think you're really going to like.

Avery - 10:54

I know you're already an expert at setting goals that push you out of your comfort zone.

Let's be real, you're a high achiever after all.

But how often do you sabotage yourself on the way to achieving those goals?

Perfectionism, procrasti-planning, over committing, holding yourself to a double standard.

All of these things can sabotage our progress by either slowing it down or making it impossible for us to achieve our goals.

Like we talk about so often on this podcast, awareness of what's causing the issue is the first step.

So take that first step by going to thetruthaboutburnout.com slash quiz to take our free quiz to discover your self-sabotage style.

Avery - 11:34

And of course, I won't leave you stuck.

Once you complete the quiz and discover your primary self-sabotage style, I'll follow up with an email giving you ideas about what to do about it so that it stops holding you back.

Go to thetruthaboutburnout.com slash quiz to get started.

That's it for now, until next week.