Protecting Your Peace: How to Self-Manage Social Media for Better Mental Health
Following on from my last post I felt it important to discuss further the impact social media can have on affecting our peace! Let’s be honest — we all scroll.
From beauty tips to wellness trends, before-and-after shots to “what I eat in a day” videos, social media is a constant stream of influence — some helpful, much of it harmful if consumed without care.
If you're a young woman trying to navigate self-image, health, identity, and self-worth, it can feel overwhelming. There’s always someone thinner, more organised, more glowing, more successful… or at least that’s what it looks like.
But here’s the reminder: social media is a tool — not a truth.
And you can take control of how it affects your mind, your mood, and your self-esteem.
At EverWell, I care deeply about helping women reconnect with their own body and identity — and that means learning how to protect your mental space in an online world.
Why Social Media Can Harm Mental Health
Social media is designed to trigger emotions and keep you engaged. That’s how the platforms profit — the more you scroll, the more they win.
But for you, too much exposure can lead to:
Comparison: “Why don’t I look/feel/live like her?”
Pressure: “I should be doing more to be healthy, productive, fit…”
Overwhelm: So much conflicting advice, you don’t know what’s right anymore.
Low self-esteem: Feeling inadequate, unattractive, or behind.
You’re not weak for feeling this — you’re human.
But with awareness and intention, you can change the impact it has on you.
6 Ways to Self-Manage Social Media & Protect Your Peace
1. Audit Who You Follow
Unfollow or mute accounts that:
Make you feel “less than”
Promote unrealistic lifestyles or body ideals
Sell shame-based solutions (like “detox teas” or crash diets)
Instead, fill your feed with:
Body-positive, diverse, and real-life creators
Mental health professionals and educators
Creators who make you feel calm, informed, or seen
2. Limit Your Screen Time
Use the tools available:
Set app time limits (e.g., 30 mins/day)
Turn off notifications
Keep your phone out of reach in the morning and before bed
Start with one small boundary — like no scrolling until after breakfast — and notice how your mindset shifts.
3. Create Before You Consume
Instead of scrolling first thing, try:
Journaling one page
Stretching or walking
Making a slow breakfast
Give your mind a chance to wake up with intention, not comparison.
4. Know the Signs of a “Scroll Spiral”
If you catch yourself thinking:
“I should look like her…”
“I’m not doing enough…”
“I need to change my body/life right now…”
Pause.
Put the phone down.
Ask: “Is this true? Or is this just a trigger?”
Breathe. Ground. Come back to your truth.
5. Remember: It’s Not Real Life
Even the most “authentic” influencer curates their content. Behind every effortless morning or transformation is:
Planning
Editing
Selective sharing
You’re seeing a moment, not the full picture.
Your real life — with its mess, beauty, and complexity — doesn’t need to look like a filtered square.
6. Speak Kindly to Yourself
What you think becomes how you feel.
Try swapping thoughts like:
“She’s so much better than me” → “We’re on different paths — and that’s okay.”
“I’m not doing enough” → “I’m doing my best in this moment.”
“I need to change” → “I am allowed to grow without hating myself first.”
Self-compassion is your superpower.
EverWell Is Here for the Real, Not the Perfect
At EverWell, I work with women — especially young women — to build confidence and health from the inside out. Not through filters. Not through trends. But through real connection, education, and personalised care.
If social media is making you feel “not enough,” you’re not alone — and you don’t have to navigate that noise by yourself.
You don’t need to be like them.
You just need to be well.
And I’m here to help.
With calm & clarity,
Ellie
Founder, EverWell
