4 Healthy TikTok Habits We Should All Be Following
Because literally half my free time is spent scrolling.
by CASSI KENNEDY ★ MARCH 2, 2022
Sometimes I wonder if TikTok is called TikTok because of how easy it is to spend SO much time on the app. Jokes. Kinda. TikTok has been the cause of some great things but has also had its share of controversy surrounding its potential to affect the mental health and productivity of an entire generation. It’s easy to see other people living perfect (unrealistic) lives and to want the same for yourself, and it’s easy to pay attention to the negative opinions of internet strangers. So, here are a few habits you can start practicing so you can use TikTok in a healthy way!
#1: Be Aware of the Amount of Time You Spend Mindlessly Scrolling!
This may sound straightforward, but we all know how it goes: we say we’ll scroll on TikTok for five minutes, and before we know it thirty minutes have passed. When you find yourself aimlessly scrolling through TikTok, use this as an opportunity to pick up a new hobby that you enjoy just as much! I love going on walks while listening to a podcast (maybe not during Syracuse winters), reading books (Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is a must), calling friends from home, and working out. You can also use some of the time you spend on TikTok to catch up on work you know you forgot to do last weekend. Setting a time limit through settings is also a great way to limit your screen time if you want to choose a certain amount of time to use TikTok or even social media in general.
#2: Try Not to Obsess Over Becoming “That Girl”
Credit: Refinery29
We all know and love (or hate *sent with invisible ink*) her. The girl on your For You Page who you aspire to be, with the perfect aesthetic life who seems to have everything together. The “that girl” trend has taken TikTok by storm, with thousands of girls posting “Day in My Life” or “What I Eat in a Day” videos. While it’s sometimes fun to be inspired by the way other people live their lives (start romanticizing EVERYTHING!), it’s important to remember not to get wrapped up in what you think you “should be doing” with your life based on other people. Waking up at 5:30 am and immediately hitting the gym works great for some people (how?!), but it’s not completely realistic for others, especially in a busy college environment. People put content on TikTok that shows how they want to be perceived by others. Nobody’s perfect, so stay true to yourself and remember to be proud of everything you accomplish every day!
#3: If You’re a Creator, Don’t Let the Comments Get to You
Credit: @whoisaddison on Twitter
You’ve got to hand it to TikTok influencers for having the self-control to stay out of their comment sections and not let the hate get to them! It’s natural to want people to love the content you put out as much as you love it yourself, and it’s also natural to be upset when people don’t love it quite as much. (Strangers on the internet are relentless!) A lot of the time, people will comment hateful things on other people’s TikToks out of their own insecurity or to get a rise out of someone else, so feeding into hate will only keep the cycle going. Once you’ve mastered the mindset of posting content because it makes you happy, your target audience will find you.
#4: Start a Business or Share Your Ideas
Credit: Later
Sometimes the controversy and negativity surrounding TikTok overpower something TikTok is really great for: starting and growing businesses! TikTok is the perfect platform to expand and market your small business, or even to just share creative ideas you have with a community of people with similar interests as you. Taking advantage of the latest trends, sounds, and aesthetics is a sure-fire way to reach the greatest number of users (queue “drivers license” being stuck in my head for six months). Most of all, consistency is key. TikTok has business tools that allow creators to view their analytics, so it’s easy to see when your followers are the most active and when the best times to post and promote are.
TikTok is one of the most creative platforms out there, so I hope these four tips will help show you how you can use it in a healthy way!
Cover Photo Credit: Pinterest