#SelfCare
How TikTok is changing the game for your mental health, wellbeing, and happiness
—By Sophia Yzerman
The powerhouse of social media
Let’s talk TikTok, but not Addison Rae and Charli D’Amelio, Savage Remix dance. We’re talking about #SelfCare TikTok, the supportive movement that has taken over the virtual world stage throughout 2020. The pandemic has led people right to their phone’s app store and then directly to TikTok for entertainment and inspiration.
Birthed from the apps Musical.ly and Douyin, TikTok was initially released in 2016; however, as explained in Business of Apps, it was not until June of 2020 that TikTok reach its peak of 91 million monthly active users while totaling a impressive 85.3% estimated user growth rate over 2020 in the United States. Needless to say, it’s a far-reaching, popular medium.
Not just a quarantine fad
In 2020, according to the Piper Sandler Gen Z survey, TikTok moved from number 3, switching places with Instagram, to second place for teens’ favorite social media platform, as SnapChat has remained in the top spot. Alexa Kalaj, a student at the University of Michigan and a TikTok fanatic, offers her insight on how powerful this medium really is.
“I think more people I know than not have a TikTok account, and we all got it during quarantine.… [TikTok] took over and is the staple of this pandemic and quarantine for our generation.” From when Alexa downloaded TikTok in March 2020 to now, a year later, TikTok has turned into not only a source for entertainment, but a medium she will always use for learning tips to better her life in a variety of ways — from recipes, hair and skin care, workouts, simple life hacks, tools to help her with studying for the MCAT and her academic life, and so much more.
The Algorithm of all Algorithms
With the ability to create, edit, and post 15-60 second videos, TikTok not only provides entertainment, but allows for people to share their content and even much so, make millions of dollars — psst. Addison and Charli! However, the ability to grow fame on TikTok is what sets it apart from other social media platforms and allows for creators’ videos to end up on the For You Page (FYP) of millions of other accounts and partial credit can be given to TikTok’s extensive algorithm.
Explained from Later Media blogger Molly McGlew, in her article, This is How the TikTok Algorithm Works, users hashtags, locations, music choices, liked videos, user interaction, video information, and device and account settings allows for each user’s FYP to be completely unique for their individual interests.
The benefits of the algorithm are not just for users having a FYP that perfectly suits their interests, but for people trying to start businesses, share their brands, and become influencers. Users with the goal of growing their TikTok presence — followers, views, and likes — for whatever purposes, have to implement hashtags, captions, and using trending sounds and sounds for their videos to reach maximum potential for “blowing up.”
Rebecca Sejzer, an alum from the University of Michigan, began her TikTok lifestyle, self care account, @rebeccaaleigh, in April 2020 explained, “TikTok is the best place for anyone to start in general, the algorithm is much more favorable for newer, smaller accounts.” From starting her account in the beginning of quarantine her content blew up in a way she never could have imagined, in just a year she now has an impressive 90.4K TikTok followers with 2.1 millions likes, an Instagram account with 32.4K followers, and 1.5K subscribers to her YouTube account!
Universal Growing Attention to Mental Health
Rebecca also brought to light how self care is being heightened so much since the start of the pandemic in general. She explains it has been shown in a variety of ways, “the typical self care of using a face mask or taking a bath, but also your mental health and self love. I think self care can broaden into many things and I think the pandemic has really brought it out in people and social media in general.” Social media, especially TikTok, is making strides in destigmatizing mental health issues and promoting self care and looking back over the years, it really is moving in the right direction.
Senior Emily Deehan, studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan provided me with insight on mental health as a trend starting from the 1990s and 2000s. Mental health awareness has been such a bigger focus and the area of studying mental health and mental illness is very recent, that’s why the field is expanding so much because “so many people are recognizing it’s okay to be depressed or be sad.” As Emily explained how she has seen an increase in self care support and encouragement on TikTok, content showing how to improve mental health, change your mindset, and so much more. She said that it really only makes sense with everything that is happening in the world, “there’s been so many new accounts about how to do self help and learn how to focus on [yourself] too,” it really is inspiring.
Michigan’s Recognition
Nursing peer mentor at the University, Mary Dude, enlightened me about how the self care trend has not only been prevalent on her TikTok, but it has spilled over into her academic life with peer mentoring with the University of Michigan nursing program. This year being a nursing peer mentor for Mary looked a little different; the program changed their focus away from academic help to mental health help.
The nursing school is not stopping there to bring attention to student’s wellbeing and mental health. Mary also told me about a weekly form that gets sent out to the students, encouraging them to take time for themselves and their health – cook their favorite meals, go to a work out class and students can receive half of a credit for submitting. It is so amazing to see the University address mental health and wellbeing in a very supportive, destigmatizing way and that can be exemplified also through the “Wellbeing Day” — when students were given a class-free day to take care of themselves on Wednesday February 24, 2021.
A Network of Support Much Smaller than TikTok
I had the opportunity to speak to senior student Margaret (Meg) Nemickas, who is a leader in the University’s community called Wolverine Support Network (WSN), who touched on the increasing attention to mental health in the pandmeic. Meg explained, “I think a huge part of it is with everything starting from last March, there’s been a huge rise in mental health issues and suicides up, people have been feeling very isolated and alone, so I think one of those ways that makes it easy to combat it is talking about self-care. There definitely is that stigma on social media, but I think people have really taken a step back and are more open about it and how they deal with it.”
Wolverine Support Network is a phenomenal community at the University run by students to support student’s wellbeing, their mission is to, “empower University of Michigan Students to create an inclusive community and support each other’s identity, mental-wellbeing, and day-to-day lives.” Meg Nemickas enlightened me on WSN, she told me about their self-care Sundays, yoga mediation, mug painting activities, which are all held over Zoom this year, but that WSN focus this year has been ways to “engage with the community, but being still centered around wellbeing and mental health.” WSN is a phenomenal outlet for students to speak their minds and feel connected in these times.
Visit WSN website, by clicking here, to learn about their community and sign up to join their virtual winter groups!
#SelfCare
Although there is not much positivity with the pandemic, quarantining, stay-at-home orders, and 2020 in general, TikTok changed that for many people. It brought in laughs, funny video trends, endless entertainment, and importantly it began highlighting the support, encouragement, and importance of self care. Prior to the pandemic, social media was a space to highlight the best parts of your life — your favorite pictures and videos, it was surface level and edited. However, TikTok found a new side, a side of honest support, encouragement to get help, and to destigmatize mental health.
When scrolling through #SelfCare on TikTok, one will find a variety of videos ranging from self care reminders, tips on how to focus on your mental health, taking care of yourself before others, and mental health awareness, all the way to night routines, recommended beauty and wellness products, self care ideas, healthy habits, work outs, recipes and that’s just getting started. The difference in seeing that content versus unrelatic, edited photos on Instagram truly helps people love and take care of themselves.
“Your Wellness Big Sis”
Hoping on the self care trend, Rebecca Sejzer is the perfect example of an individual who channeled her quarantine freetime into making a positive impact on the lives of many through TikTok, which eventually opened up many doors for her and brand partnerships! Following her graduation from the University in 2020, she finally found the time to pursue her passion for health, wellness, and wellbeing in general, in a way that was not possible due to her busy college schedule. When scrolling through @rebeccaaleigh’s TikTok page, you will learn new healthy recipes, workouts, tips for a healthy lifestyle, self-love and confidence chats, nutrition tips, and endless more inspiring lifestyle videos.
@Rebeccaaleigh’s journey has not only been beneficial for herself, but for the millions of people who have seen her videos and she truly encapsulates the power of TikTok and self care, Rebecca has been rewarded in more ways than she could have ever imagined; “I think the intangible part that’s been my favorite has been the feeling I get knowing that I have helped so many people…when my followers or people reach out to me and tell me nice messages about how I have helped them do this, or change their mindset on this, or feel better about themselves, whatever it is, getting those messages seriously is what keeps me doing.”
Rebecca’s 5 Tips for Self Care:
- Mediation – Take five minutes to yourself to mediate in the mornings or evenings.
- Movement – Workout class or walk?! Anything to get your legs moving and blood pumping.
- Cooking healthy meals – Fuel your body with good foods.
- Mental Health check-in – Individualized to what this means to you, whether it be spending alone time or turning off social media, find a way to better your mental health.
- Gratitude – Look into your life and find ways to show appreciation.
Emily’s 7 Tips for College Students Self Care in the Q:
- Find new things to do – Find activities and hobbies that are not in your everyday routine, but one’s that build you up, get away from your laptops and screens.
- Exercise! – Whether finding a fun workout routine from TikTok or elsewhere, or simply just taking a walk outside.
- Make a routine for yourself – Segment up your days, utilize your planner, figure out your at home schedule.
- Alone time – Going stir crazy with your roommates? It’s ok! You’re not a bad friend, take some time for yourself.
- Healthy well-balanced diet – We no longer have our parents cooking healthy, home cooked meals, stay on top of your diet.
- Sleep!!!!! – Turn off your electronics and get your eight hours!
Mary’s 5 Tips for Self-Care When You Have a Day Off:
- Take 30 minutes for yourself – Disconnect from social media, allow yourself to be comfortable with your thoughts.
- Find a fun workout class – Try an OrangeTheory Class, Yoga or Pilates class, or a free YouTube workout video.
- Cook a healthy meal – Fuel your body with a healthy home cooked meal, search #FoodTikTok for recipes or inspiration.
- Do a face mask – Treat yourself and your skin to either a store bought face mask or a DIY mask from #SkinCareTikTok.
- Organize your upcoming weeks – Not only will you have a beneficial relaxing day to make yourself feel better, write down your upcoming assignments, tests, and activities to help alleviate future stress.
Thank you, TikTok
Wellbeing, lifestyle, and self care TikTok accounts similar to Rebbeca’s are helping destigmatize mental health struggles in the United States and it is so important because it results in more attention to wellbeing and self care in general. Jennifer Tzeses article, TikTok Therapy: What Happens When Mental Health Struggles Go Viral, breaks down the positive effects from #SelfCare TikTok with Thea Gallager, assistant professor and director of the outpatient clinic at the Center for Treatment, and Study of Anxiety and psychiatrist, David J. Puder.
Thea Gallagher emphasizes the importance of TikTok calling attention to mental health conditions, which brings in more awareness, especially with younger generations. “Becoming more comfortable talking about mental health and mental health issues and how to manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, OCD, or PTSD,” which described by David Puder helps to reduce stigma with mental illness, inspire people for treatment, and provide knowledge about mental health to those who do otherwise do not have access to.
We really can say, “Thank you, TikTok.” Thank you for destigmatizing mental illness and educating on mental health, thank you for promoting wellbeing and teaching self care habits, and honestly thank you so much for bringing all of us entertainment in quarantine. I think it’s time for a face mask and some scrolling on #SelfCare TikTok.
Feature photo: Courtesy of Feeh Costa from Unsplash