Tired of Fear Mongering?
“Your cooking utensils are killing you”
“Tired? Well then you are part of the 80% of women with messed up hormones.”
“If you aren’t following my exact formula to build muscle then your workout is a waste.”
As I was scrolling through Instagram the other day, it dawned on me just how negative and fear based so much of it has become, especially in the wellness space.
It is nearly impossible to go on social media these days without coming away thinking that you have five different issues that you didn’t even know existed until this moment.
Of course the catch with all of these is that someone is usually trying to sell you their unique and amazing program that will absolutely solve this problem for you.
I don't know about you, but I find it exhausting.
While there can be some truth to a lot of these things (you really should get rid of plastic cooking utensils), it is also usually overblown and wrapped up in the scariest possible package in order to catch your attention in a very crowded landscape.
Besides closing your apps and trying to limit your screen time, there are some things that I think are worth keeping in mind when you find yourself going down the inevitable rabbit hole.
Find a trusted voice. If you are curious about a certain product or issue, but aren’t sure if it will apply to you, try reaching out to someone you know who is knowledgeable about the space. I regularly receive texts from friends asking if they need to start taking greens powder or if they should buy someone’s weight loss program or if they really do need to ditch their morning coffee (hint - 90% of the time the answer is no). I am happy to be that person for you as well.
Listen to your BS detector. The wellness industry is a 6 trillion dollar industry and is only expected to keep growing. Like with anything, there are lots of great people and information in the space, as well as bad. You know when something seems off. If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is. My biggest red flag is if someone isn’t willing to be challenged or be open to other possible points of view. Also while credentials aren’t everything, they can be helpful to note.
Remember that you know yourself best. Never forget that you know your body. No matter what some other “expert” is trying to tell you, you are the expert on yourself. Especially if you are suffering and frustrated, it can be tempting to outsource that trust to someone else in the search of answers. Accountability and support are both great things, but ensure that you feel heard and safe and never lose that connection with yourself. Tune into yourself and know what feels right and what doesn’t.
Unfollow liberally. I have started to unfollow a lot of those fear mongering accounts and it truly makes a huge difference. There are plenty of people who are willing to provide more nuanced views and while it may not be as splashy, it is usually much more helpful. It also allows me to actually learn something while scrolling.
Let me know your favorite way to make social media work for you and hopefully we will all start to see some more positive and balanced information make its way on to our feeds!
