Why We Need To Reinvent Our Friendships And Social Media Habits In 2020 Or Risk Burning Out
By: Youssef El-Manea
Tags: Pandemic Diaries, Millennial Burnout, Mental Health, Social Media

Why We Need To Reinvent Our Friendships And Social Media Habits In 2020 Or Risk Burning Out

It’s true what they say. Life comes at you fast in your twenties. You feel like there’s so much to do yet so little time. The pressure to stay ahead of the curve is huge, and so is the responsibility of being an anchor for those around you. Naturally, a positive character will always embrace the challenge; when the tough gets going, they double down and figure out ways to withstand the sometimes overwhelming storms of life.

Yet, in a chaotic world that demands our intense focus and constant energy in the midst of its many distractions, being emotionally invested in everything that’s happening around us is taxing – fighting on so many fronts leaves us vulnerable to exhaustion; and as I sit back and process the events of the past decade for the first time, I realise that we, as a generation, are at a crossroads.

On a personal level, 2019 was a year of growth. It had its highs and its lows, but it was productive. There was one minor problem though – my “busy getting busy” lifestyle was wearing me out. It wasn’t sustainable. I was in desperate need of taking a step back to gather my thoughts and regain my strength.

After all, life is a long game; the challenges that lie ahead are too big for us not to be at our optimum health.

What is ‘millennial burnout’?

With the new year approaching, I was spending some time thinking about the changes I wanted to make in 2020, when I happened to come across an article that caught my attention. It explored a new phenomenon known as ‘millennial burnout’, which explains how a growing number of millennials (22–37 year olds) are suffering from chronic exhaustion – usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.

Typically, individuals who find themselves constantly having to navigate complex, contradictory and sometimes hostile environments are vulnerable to burnout; given the somewhat constraining and unexpected nature of life nowadays, young people are facing more problematic environments that are becoming more stressful to deal with.

According to experts, factors contributing to this phenomenon include rising social pressures, work-life imbalance, challenging economic conditions, and the birth of a new “hustle” culture that promotes passion and risk-taking over stability.

Beware of toxic people

In addition to what’s already been mentioned, another factor that drains our energy tanks is surrounding ourselves with toxic individuals, otherwise known as ‘energy vampires’, who suck all the positive energy out of us to fuel their relentless hunger for negativity – the intrusive, overly dramatic, overly critical, chronic complainers who always see the glass half empty. Then there’s the insecure narcissists who try to compensate for their lack of emotional resilience and inferiority complex with hostility.

These days, toxic people are everywhere. We cannot always avoid them, but we can certainly limit the time we spend with them.

From my personal experiences and observations, I’ve come to realise that dealing with negative people is a major issue which is keeping many of us paralysed and unable to progress. In recent years, I’ve witnessed how some individuals within my social circles – once very energetic and ambitious characters – lose their passion and positive-approach to life after being worn down by negative environments.

…then there’s social media

Another aspect extremely relevant to this conversation is social media.

A digital media and business enthusiast myself, I cannot deny that social media is the most exciting and influential tool of our generation. That being said, I have long believed that social media is becoming a draining instrument in our lives. And a dangerous one too.

Sure. Staying in touch with our loved ones has never been easier thanks to social media. Growing our businesses has never been easier… showcasing our talents to the world has never been easier… staying up to date with the news has never been easier… expressing our opinions to large audiences has never been easier… yet, with these “benefits” in mind, I find myself asking, To what extent is social media polluting our minds… hearts… hindering our focus levels… the quality of our connections… our sleep… our lives in general? Could our social media addiction lead to dangerous chronic mental conditions that we are still unaware of?

Studies on the negative impacts of social media are becoming more frequent as researchers begin to develop new methods for analyzing the effects of digital technologies on our brains, and while many will argue that criticism of social media is over-exaggerated, I’m personally finding that being more mindful of my social media usage – which includes going off-line completely for periods at a time – is enabling me to limit distractions and declutter my mind to refocus my thoughts and energy on the important stuff.

In a nutshell…

It’s never been easier to get lost in the day-to-day activities and stresses of the external world – people, places, work, information… we have become permanently-connected to our environments. Setting boundaries and healthy coping mechanisms will not only protect us from burning-out, but will ultimately empower us to unlock our potential and take advantage of the countless opportunities we are blessed with in this fascinating period in history.