Social Media Might be Causing Your Hermione’s Syndrome. What is it and How to Deal with it?
We’re currently living in a fast-paced digital era that doesn’t stop for anyone. For this reason, most people are hung up on ‘keeping up with the times,’ especially the young generations. If you’re checking your social media accounts first thing in the morning, you’re in that group.
Social media has become essential to connecting, networking, keeping updates on your loved ones, and even working for some. However, like everything else, there’s a villainous side to it, too, and many don’t realize when they’re falling into it. One of the drawbacks of social media that have emerged in recent years includes Hermione’s Syndrome, but more on that later.
In this blog, we’ll delve deeper into understanding Hermione’s Syndrome, its profound impact on individuals, and most importantly, discuss effective strategies to overcome its detrimental effects. Let’s embark on the empowering journey of #BecomingFlawesome together!
Understanding Hermione’s Syndrome
Hermione’s Syndrome draws its name from the popular Hermione Granger character from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. Before we move toward its actual meaning, let’s briefly discuss Hermione Granger.
Since childhood, Hermione was portrayed as an overachiever who didn’t miss a single moment when it came to tirelessly pursuing perfection, whether in terms of her personal or wizard life. Throughout the series, Hermione depicts the shining student with a ‘know it all’ personality, safe from making any major blunders.
Coming to Hermione Syndrome, the term explains the need to achieve unattainable flawlessness in every aspect of life. Kristina Mand-Lakhiani, in her book “Becoming Flawesome: The Key to Living an Imperfectly Authentic Life,” coins a similar definition of the syndrome describing it as a relentless pursuit of perfection fueled by unrealistic standards propagated through social media.
The Impact of Social Media
Social media platforms, specifically those targeting younger generations: Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, have become breeding grounds for comparison, self-doubt,aself-image distortion. Not just that, but the influencer culture is elevating the ‘perfect lifestyle’ visualization to new heights.
If you’ve scrolled through social media recently and only found flawless bodies, enviable lifestyles, and endless achievements showcased, you’re not alone. It’s easy to forget that these images only show a selective part of an individual’s life. Moreover, they’re carefully selected from a batch of 100s of photos, edited, and filtered to present an illusion of perfection.
For most individuals, the representation of flawless ideals can lead to feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, and even a distorted perception of reality. Furthermore, being coerced into achieving these unrealistic metrics is another consequence of social media exposure.
Strategies to Deal with Hermione’s Syndrome
While Hermione’s Syndrome can affect your life, it’s possible to get back on track and let go of the struggles to achieve perfection. All of the strategies to accomplish this is offered in detail in the “Becoming Flawesome” book. Till then, here’s how you can get started:
- Take regular breaks from social media and reconnect with your present.
- Dedicate time to building genuine relationships off the online grid.
- Take out more time for self-love. Engage in activities you love. Read a book, go for those swimming lessons, or get the paintbrushes out of the closet.
- Appreciate yourself for all your mind and body do for you every day, even if all you’ve done today is take a break from productivity.
- Develop a critical eye towards the content you consume and realize that it’s only a highlight that fails to capture the full spectrum.
- Instead of beating yourself up on a failure or imperfection, celebrate them! Take those steps toward self-empowerment. Making peace with your flaws contributes to your long-term growth.
What Else?
The most important trick to managing your Hermione’s Syndrome is accepting yourself despite all your flaws. With that said, the process is tricky and not exactly straightforward.
Everyone needs some help getting to the end goal of embracing their flaws. For this reason, Kristina Mand-Lakhiani, in her book “Becoming Flawesome,” offers valuable insights into overcoming Hermione’s Syndrome. Through an all-in-one guide, the book walks you through the significance of self-acceptance, embracing imperfections, and, most importantly, embracing a positive mindset. The book also provides details into recognizing flaws and vulnerabilities innate to humanity and the steps to embracing them.
Conclusion
While Hermione’s Syndrome is a recent phenomenon, it’s had a mass global influence in recent years. The pursuit of perfection because of social media is becoming increasingly glorified. It’s important to challenge these norms and break free from these clutches. Don’t forget to order the book if you want to take the first step towards succeeding in life by accepting your flaws.
