Why Everyone Should End 2020 On A Mute Cleanse
By Daniela Cantillo
I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely ready to bid farewell to this seemingly interminable, yet oddly short year. Though it allowed me to reconnect with my creative side, appreciate those who matter most, and forced me to finally learn how to cook (and do it well), 2020 was, simply put, a shit show. Spending even more time behind screens and in front of mirrors truly took a toll on my mental health and self-image perception. My already-concerning habit of mindless scrolling grew even worse - I remember there was one long, lonely summer day in prime quarantine where my screen time hit over 10 hours!
Not only did this hinder my productivity, but it also further crippled self-esteem. Seeing models post their all-too-familiar “woke up like this” photos of their radiant skin and tiny waists made me fall back on an all-too-familiar self-loathing spiral I thought I’d left behind in high school. Seeing celebrities urging me to do my part and “stay home” while slurping on a fresh margarita at their infinity pool became increasingly exhausting - as if spending all your time at a luxury mansion was some admirable sacrifice. Don’t let me get started on how much easier it became to fall into the stalker black hole.
Honestly, my phone became my biggest companion and coping mechanism - but also my worst enemy. While it’s unrealistic to completely drop social media (though I fully support and admire you if you work up the courage) I have decided to do my mental health a favor and go on a much-needed mute cleanse. What’s that, you ask? In simple words, it’s a small, yet rewarding social media trick that can help your mental health while not upsetting anyone - THE MUTE BUTTON! Use it to your advantage, and see how much your mood changes.
When you start muting accounts that harm your self esteem and excitement for life, you make room for so much more. It’s crazy how much your mood improves when you stop seeing shame-inducing posts from people who’ve become feverishly obsessed with home workouts and vegan cooking, or Victoria’s Secret models on a luxury yacht in Aruba while you bundle up on your tiny studio waiting for the handyman to come fix your heat - again. And don’t get me started on your ex who’s thriving and posting all the cute selfies with his new girlfriend that he somehow never wanted to post, with you. In other words, you don’t need all that! And the best part about hitting that glorious mute button is that you won’t upset anybody - nobody will know! So you can sit back, relax, and mute your cousin who’s become a hair product pyramid scheme evangelist. I promise there’ll be no awkward exchanges at your next family reunion.
This holiday season, give yourself the greatest gift of them all - time for yourself, your mental health, learning new things, and detoxing your brain from all the tone-deaf content you involuntarily scroll through every day on social media. Join me on my 2020 mute cleanse!