healthy use of the forums
Hello everyone
has anyone got any tips to how to use the forums in a healthy way?
Comments
Hey @scared01, this is a great question! It's important that we sometimes take a moment to look at how we engage in the community 🙂
I guess one way to start of with the question is to define what "healthy" looks like to you when it comes to the forums. On the flipside too, what does unhealthy look like?
I think it's great that you're so aware of your use of the forums @scared01.
One way of monitoring it could be looking at how often you use them, and maybe make a goal for how many times a day/week you log in. What do you reckon?
hello @letitgo@Chessca_H@mspaceK
these are all great suggestions
i havent had time or been in the right headspace to write abit more other than starting the thread.
the way i run with the forums and making sure i get the best use out of being here as well as in life form are:
1. i make sure all my chores are done before logging on.
2. i make sure my homework and study sessions are done for the day and i use these forums as a reward. i finsish study then im allowed to come on here.
3. i limit the amount of hours i spend on here. i come on here everyday but im not allowed to spend anymore than 5 hours on here so i generally try to make it between 5 and 10 or something like that. theres only one exception for being on here for a later amount of time and that is if im really needing that extra support or if someone im talking to requires more support until someone else is able to chat or start to offer some better advice.
4. i make sure i try to read and understand the post before i comment and offer advice. if i cant respond straight away ill write when i can e.g in a better headspace, when my times not rushed or until i understand the post.
5. if there is others offering advice i try to take a step back unless tagging into the conversation as sometimes i think too much support can be overwhelming for some people.
6. when in a bad headspace i only stick to minimal threads and/or the easy going threads such as the games threads or things that arent triggering to me.
7. before i ask for help with whatever my problems are ill try to use my coping strategies first and see if i can avoid crisis state unless its something thats more of a discussion rather than getting coping strategies.
8. if im reading through new threads and i dont ahve any experiences in the area then i wont comment as much as they need the experience that i dont have to get the best support possible.
thanks @Bree-RO@N1ghtW1ng i needed to input these pretty much right from the start as i was finding i was spending too much time on here but it wasnt benefiting me nor anyone else
I wanted to also say what helped me when I found myself in a similar situation... if I wasn't feeling well I would start with the Negs to Pos thread then go onto three positives for today, what are you grateful for etc. So that I was able to put myself into a positive frame of mind and then partake in some games or other chats before logging off 🙂
still using my methods @Bee and i pretty sure im sticking to them. i can genrally tell if ive gone over time as ill get the feeling 'ive spent too much time on here' sorta feeling
Love this thread @scared01. Love all the methods you shared especially the first 3. Sometimes I find myself spending too much time on here because I'm addicted and get side tracked with time. 
Yep i found i was doing that too @honky and while its great being here. To get the most benefit you have to balance the real world and the virtual world. Thats when i knew i had to put up boundaries or my own guidelines to follow.
Very well said @scared01- I totally agree with you 
But sometimes it's hard to fight the urges, as I could be on here for hours and hours
Set a timer for an hour at a time or use here as a rewardm you do something your putting off you get an hour on here @honky
Awesome idea @scared01, will definitely be taking it on board, thank you 
hey @scared01. i'm looking for the same advice too. but when i think about it I try to remember to talk to in real life face-to-face people and friends as well as here, just so that I remember that there are supports outside of these forums so I don't become dependent on coming on here. but when I am in a space where I don't feel like i can talk to anyone irl then i prefer to come on here. i think it's about trying to find a balance and coming onto the forums with an intention. is it to hang-out? get advice? help others? vent? i've been trying not to come on here just for the sake of coming on here but I think finding a balance is important.
