The holidays are often painted as a time of joy and connection, yet for many, scrolling through social media can trigger feelings of comparison or loneliness. With feeds filled with festive gatherings, milestones, and “year in review” highlights, it’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind. It’s important to remember, simply surviving this year is enough. Here are ways to navigate social media during the holidays with more compassion for yourself:

1. Recognize Social Media’s “Highlight Reel”: Social media showcases the brightest moments of people’s lives, often leaving out the struggles and setbacks. Remember, everyone has challenges—what you see online is just a fraction of the full picture.

2. Set Healthy Boundaries:

    •    Limit screen time: Use apps to set time limits or take breaks from social media altogether.

    •    Manage your feed: Unfollow or mute accounts that make you feel anxious.

    •    Step away: Disconnect to recharge and focus on the present moment.

3. Celebrate Your Resilience: Recognize that surviving the year is a victory. Your strength in facing challenges and showing up each day is something to honor. Your worth isn’t defined by milestones or expectations.

4. Practice Gratitude: Reflect on what brought you joy or growth this year, no matter how small. Gratitude doesn’t have to be about big wins; it can be as simple as appreciating moments of peace, connection, or progress - as the little steps contribute to the big change.

5. Embrace Your Own Timeline: Your journey is unique. It’s okay if your path doesn’t look like someone else’s. Life isn’t a race, and your progress—no matter how small—is meaningful.

6. Focus on Authentic Connections: Prioritize meaningful interactions. Reach out to loved ones and nurture relationships with people in your life.

If you find social media and/or comparing yourself to others overwhelming during this season, give yourself permission to step back. Set boundaries, practice self-compassion and reach out to a trusted professional for extra support. Take a deep breath, honor your progress, and remember: your journey is valid, no matter how it looks compared to others.