Thinking of taking a social media break? Focus on levelling up instead

Especially when we contribute to the problem by making our social media presence something we are not or something we don't actually like. This can force us to compare ourselves with everyone else doing the same.

An example is trying to become an influencer or launching a business when what you really want is a platform to enjoy some hobbies, and make friends.

So what is levelling up?

When we align our social media presence to simply enjoy existing and playing on personal terms on these platforms. You want to be able to have confidence in your social media handle to represent you to a new potential friend or contact who checks out your profile so that they have a basic understanding of who you are.

Thinking of taking a social media break? Focus on levelling up instead/Pexels Pulse

How to start levelling up

This doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't take that hiatus. You can go away for whatever reason, but in order to get out of the detox-return cycle, you need to do a little bit of profile grooming.

You might be forcing yourself to have one in order to be valued socially or professionally. You remain as awesome whether you have an Instagram or not.

That being said, social media is a valuable tool for meeting people, cultivating friendships, and finding new opportunities. It can be just as effective as sharing a business card.

If you choose to have an online presence and want to start using it to present yourself in the world, how do you balance purpose and intention and authenticity in an environment of curated posts and misleading filters?

Get clear on your 'WHY'

Are you an online person or not? Figure out who you are trying to connect with and where you may find them. It may be physical community events or on platforms that are not as popular

Let go of any external expectations of how you have to use your handle and choose how authentic, hidden, or curated you want to be.

Consider who you want to talk to and why you want to talk to them. Do you want to inspire them? Are looking to get hired? Are you looking for them to challenge you? Or is it about feeling empowered, or joyful?

Even if you don't want them to take any action, that is okay.

Thinking of taking a social media break? Focus on levelling up instead/Pexels Pulse

Look at some goals below:

Showcasing your hobbies like production, writing, music, design, art, etc.
Sharing your social media as a calling card after networking events
Connecting with your friends and family only
Building a portfolio for new work or freelance opportunities
Giving and receiving validation from friends and strangers
Connecting with folks outside of your friends and family who have similar life experiences
Making people laugh
Remaining an anonymous lurker (as long as you don't haunt anyone)

Brush up your profile

Update your profile picture to reflect what you currently look like.

Revisit your bio and see how congruent it is with your current life. Who are you at work, outside of work, what do you like, what do you post about most frequently?

Archive all photos, posts, or blog entries that you feel are not aligned with who you are now.

Highlight your most authentic self by pinning your favourite photos, updating the date on your most well-loved posts, or creating new content that reflects your current goals and lifestyle.

Review your presence to see if it’s relevant to your goals like work and relationships.

Take your time and don’t force the time and financial investment until you feel ready to do so.

Look out for any red flags, especially if you’re on the job hunt or looking to meet people. Anything that makes you seem toxic, untrustworthy, or creepy has to go.

Thinking of taking a social media break? Focus on levelling up instead/Pexels Pulse

Make space in your routine for your online presence

Most of the time we try to fit our real-life routine into our online life but that is a terrible idea. If you often find yourself stopping important life events or ignoring precious moments in favour of posting, then your priorities may be hurting.

Do you genuinely share things you enjoy and want others to enjoy too or do you want to appear wealthier, smarter, or sexier?

Remember, our online presence is not who we claim to be online but HOW we claim to be that person.

To help you use this, create a set of principles for what you post based on how authentic it feels.

Words like crafty, silly, cute, joyful, or honest can be good guidelines. Your principles will also help you know what to share when you go through important life changes.

Thinking of taking a social media break? Focus on levelling up instead/Pexels Pulse

According to Rachel Stiles, founder of Stage Creative Network, "Show up in a way that [you] actually enjoy creating a presence.” This type of authenticity is what algorithms are learning to reward with better distribution on platforms.

So what is levelling up really about? Giving visibility to who you are.