What are you really consuming?
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’m consuming.
And no - I don’t mean food.
I mean the stuff I let into my head and my energy: the social media content I scroll, the conversations I engage in, and even the people I choose to spend time with.
As someone who spends most of the day engaged - coaching, talking, helping people - my downtime is often spent just trying to switch off. And for me, like a lot of us, that means scrolling. TikTok, Instagram, reels… you name it.
But here’s what I’ve noticed.
It's Not Just a Waste of Time
Sure, it’s easy to say scrolling is a time suck. But what really hit me is how it affects my mood. Even when I think I’m just zoning out, I’m still taking things in.
I follow plenty of stuff that’s useful - mindset tips, ADHD parenting content, breathing exercises, a bit of astrology for fun - but there’s also the heavier stuff: US politics, social justice issues, controversial opinions that draw me straight into the comment section (which is where my good mood goes to die).
I’d find myself annoyed by random internet strangers… and giving away my energy to people I don’t even know.
So I did a little TikTok detox.
I deleted the app for a week. And yes, that sounds dramatic, but if you’ve ever been on it, you know the grip it can have. For the first few days, I’d habitually reach for the app - only to remember it was gone. And honestly? I didn’t miss it as much as I thought I would.
I did end up re-downloading it, because one of my daughters and I share funny videos and it’s how she connects with me - but I’ve set a boundary: I don’t touch it during work hours.
And that small boundary has made a big difference.
It Was Stealing My Creativity, Too
One of the less obvious things I realised was how much it was impacting my creativity.
I’d go to write something - an Instagram post, a Reel, anything - and instead of hearing my own voice, I’d find myself recycling ideas I’d absorbed without even realising. It’s like I’d been taking in so many “inspo” posts that I wasn’t sure where my own ideas ended and others began.
And that’s not how I want to show up.
My content should come from me - my thoughts, my voice, my experiences.
Not recycled noise.
The Comparison Trap Is Real
Let’s talk about comparison, too - because even when you know better, it sneaks in.
If you follow me, you probably know I’m a mum of four, I run a gym, I live in the country, and I train pretty hard. But if you see a 30-second clip of me deadlifting 155kg, you’re not seeing the years of coaching, the rehab, the nutrition support, or the warm-ups I do religiously just to make those lifts feel good.
And you’re definitely not seeing the five months of weekly runs that finally don’t suck anymore.
Social media makes it way too easy to compare your right now to someone else’s highlight reel - with no context, no struggle, no backstory.
And that’s assuming what you’re seeing is even real in the first place.
Sometimes, it’s not.
We’re so bombarded with information and images now that even when we are aware, things slip in under the radar. And then suddenly, you’re questioning your progress, your worth, or your direction - based on filtered, edited, perfectly angled snapshots of someone else’s life.
Curate Your Consumption
So this is your nudge to look at what you’re really consuming.
Not just on your phone, but in your relationships, too.
Are the people around you lifting you up - or draining your energy? Are you giving your time to things (or people) that leave you feeling worse afterward?
You're allowed to curate your own environment.
You're allowed to unfollow, mute, delete, or step away.
You're allowed to protect your energy and your attention.
It’s not selfish.
It’s self-care.
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