We’ve all been guilty of scrolling on our phones until well past bedtime, says Marla Ahlgrimm. There are many downsides of having unlimited access to the outside world. However, with balance, access to news outlets, social media, and other online portals can be a good thing for women.
The Downside
According to Marla Ahlgrimm, time on our phones comes with many things that fit squarely into the con category. These include:
- Added stress. As women, we wear many hats and can struggle with time management. Between juggling our family, work, and personal needs, we’re already stressed out. Add our desire to scroll through the night, and lack of sleep can stress us out even more. Marla Ahlgrimm says that pressure to live up to social media standards can also add to our overall stress levels.
- Reduced physical activity. It’s much harder to exercise with the phone in your hand. Marla Ahlgrimm says that overreliance on social media/screen time can lead to reduced physical activity.
- Societal pressures. We’ve already mentioned living up to social media standards, but it’s worth its own bullet point. Marla Ahlgrimm explains that constantly scrolling social media can leave women feeling less than adequate, despite the universal knowledge that not everything we see on our screens is a direct reflection of reality.
- Harassment. It’s a sad fact, but women are much more often than men targets of online bullying, sexual harassment, and other digital disturbances. Marla Ahlgrimm says that being the butt of a cruel joke online can leave women feeling inadequate, lonely, and unsure of themselves.
- Social media addiction. Social media addiction may be difficult to spot. Women may find that they simply “can’t” put down their phones and engage in real life. Marla Ahlgrimm recommends limiting screen time to no more than two hours each day and insists that it is best to put your phone down at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
On The Bright Side
Although social media has many negatives, Marla Ahlgrimm says there are some positives to Facebook, Instagram, and other social media portals. These include:
- Social connections. Social media can help women feel more connected to one another. This may be especially important to seniors who can’t always leave their homes for social hour.
- Online support groups. There are many online communities that offer support for everything from starting your own business to mourning the loss of a child. Marla Ahlgrimm says these online support groups can be a huge benefit to women needing a community of like-minded individuals.
Finding Balance
The key to enjoying social media without succumbing to its dark side is to find balance. Marla Ahlgrimm says there are many ways that this can be achieved, including setting time limits, curating your newsfeed to only include uplifting sites/posters, and prioritizing real connections.
Ultimately, Marla Ahlgrimm says that social media does have its place in today’s ever-connected world. But she cautions that women must find balance and avoid comparing themselves to others. Remember, social media does not always reflect reality, and too much time focusing on the outside world can leave you with less time to focus on yours.
Marla Ahlgrimm has co-authored two ground-breaking books,