The past few weeks in class have been focused on the benefits of social media and wellness and the perks that are involved. We have been shown multiple ways to make more attractive social media posts as well as how to reach a larger audience, how to promote our accounts and what platforms to use.
One technique we were shown to make an attractive post is to do a double video post. In this kind of post you can have a side to side comparison that catches the viewers attention. Another example we were shown was making something fun, relatable and un-intimidating when introducing a health topic. An example is the MeddyTeddy. This account has an adorable little teddy bear that does yoga and meditation and gives tips and tricks involving meditation. It was a smart way to increase awareness in a non-threatening way.
Additionally I read a very interesting article called “4 Innovative Ways to Use Social Media for Wellness Engagement”. I found this article to be very informative and informational for this class and even a future career in wellness.
One of the valid points made was in the workplace a valuable tool is using social media group and promotion to help with employee wellness. I think this is a fantastic idea. Creating closed groups on facebook with employees for various health needs is a way to engage workers while giving them useful information. I am actually part of a Facebook wellness group and it helps keep my goals on track having others around me who are doing the same thing. I think this is an underutilized tool that could help people on their journey to make them feel supported and less alone.
Another tool mentioned was gamification of wellness and social media. Creating a little bit of healthy competition is a great way to keep people motivated. Using tools such as leaderboards was an example given. I again have seen this used in the social media wellness word for a lifestyle program I am doing. The coaches use leader boards to help push their new coaches to the next level.
Another great tool that can be used is flipboard. Prior to this class i had never heard or seen this before. Now, I see that it is a great way to share articles on a platform and keep it looking clean and organized. It has inspired me to make one of my own and put articles that I relate to in the wellness realm. Below is a screen shot of the flipboard by Dr. Yang that he shared on the syllabus page.
Another article I found to be noteworthy was titled “Gamifying life (May Possibly) Work for Me!”. In this article a mom wrote about her experience into seemingly being “tricked” into the gamifying wellness word and…it actually worked for her. She talked about how after gaining 25lbs she joined weight watchers and used and app with a points system, so it is kinda like a game. She became successful with counting points and making it something that was like an activity. She eventually even turned to the Wii fit in order to get more “points”, again another game. Even though she wanted this all not to work, it did. I think making health less counting calories and instead making it fun can make it more of a maintainable lifestyle for people instead of just constantly starting and stopping health routines. If you really find something that makes it fun you’re going to be more likely to stick with it.
Christine 