Finding Comfort in Online Rituals
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The Strange Solace of Social Media Rituals
A splash of tropical color to brighten your day
I’m usually an intermittent Instagram user, but I’ve developed a deeper affection for the social media app since the pandemic started. I find it comforting to have this window into what my friends, their children, and their pets are up to during these uncertain times. Since the quarantine began back in March, I’ve developed a weekly ritual of posting a video of myself dancing solo in my cramped office or breaking it down on my sun-baked patio. Not only do these videos document the weeks of social isolation as they creep by, they also document the progress of my pregnancy (or, #pandemicpregnancy, in Insta-lingo).
The dance videos bring me joy – both in creating them but also in sharing them. I get a much-needed dopamine jolt with each heart or emoji that I get from my friends. It’s not the same thing as seeing, hugging and dancing with my crew, but it’s something. The first video was a one-off and I never intended to turn it into a weekly ritual, but lots of friends and family members tell me that the videos bring them joy, too; their positive feedback has been my encouragement to keep doing them.
In order to curtail the mindless feedback loop created by scrolling, posting, and liking, I delete my Instagram app every week after I’ve posted the video. Of course, I have other ways of getting on Instagram via their website, but somehow, I’m less inclined to fall into the black hole of scroll when I’m not using the app.
I’m not the only one using social media to create rituals of connection during the coronavirus pandemic. Sarah Peck, creator of The Startup Pregnant Podcast, has spoken about her daily ritual of posting a selfie on Instagram and Facebook as a way to “pop in, say good morning to people all around the world, check-in with my neighbors and parents and friends, and then start the day.”
Some social media rituals precede the pandemic. An acquaintance of mine posts a picture of her balanced breakfast every morning—and has been doing so for over a year—as a way to give herself accountability around creating healthy eating habits. An artist I know posts a doodle once a week and there are plenty of yogis who post a picture of themselves doing one pose a day (#yogaeverydamnday). Some writers in my community make a habit of posting a favorite poem on their page; during the month of April (poetry month), I tried to write and post a daily haiku but I couldn’t make the habit stick, unfortunately.
Before pandemic times, these rituals might have centered around creativity or accountability; during the quarantine, we might turn to social media rituals as a way to stay more connected to our community. The cool thing about these rituals is that they’re done with intention, which I believe is the main thing that’s lacking in most of our online interactions.
Tip of the Week
Perhaps you have one already, or maybe there’s a ritual you’ve been toying around with establishing in your social media feed. Maybe it’s a way to share a new obsession with the world—your succulent plant collection, for example, or prescient passages from a book you’re reading. Or maybe it's simply a selfie to say hello to the world. Whatever it is, it should be something that feeds your soul and makes you happy above all else!
Respond to this email and tell me about your social media rituals! I love hearing from you all. Stay safe and healthy out there!
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