TikTok is coded with more mindfulness than you think

tick tock Users feel like expressing it. But do they know what they represent?

The concept of the universe granting you everything you wish for, also known as “lucky girl syndrome,” has skyrocketed in popularity. Platform-wide mantra And a resolution for 2023.

Manifestation mania followed another TikTok trend of the very 2020s: the “shift,” or basically lucid dreaming for views. A community of “shifters” claimed that they spent many hours in “another world” and lived completely different lives, often with fictional characters. Some created guided meditations or used the meditations of others to help them transition into their dream selves.

yoga influencer, mental health and wellbeing expert, and Kind parenting account This is on the rise following a traumatic pandemic. All of these coping tools boil down to his simple, ongoing TikTok trend: Mindfulness.

Definitions of mindfulness are often as diverse as TikTok’s interpretations of the practice. I explained it earlier.Awareness gained by pausing to record your emotions,” or “The ability to observe thoughts and feelings non-judgmentally, with compassion and curiosity.. ”

scholars etc. jon kabat ginn Mindfulness is defined as “deliberately paying attention in a particular way, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” According to psychology professor J. David Cresswell,pay attention to your current situation” Meditation teacher Jeff Warren, advocate. accessible meditation practicerefers to the concept of calmnessor “allowing yourself and the world to be what they are in any given moment.”

All of this may seem antithetical to instant gratification platforms like TikTok. But the platform is becoming a tool to popularize mindfulness in one form or another.

TikTok hits the reset button

Next to the “Get Ready With Me” makeup and fashion TikTok, “Daily Reset” videos, also known as “quiet life vlogs,” are on the rise.

These TikToks are kind of routine video Records users’ daily tasks. These videos are essentially a form of present attention, inviting viewers into moments of serenity and ritual for their creators.

Many of the videos are tagged #QuietLife, alluding to a lifestyle that values ​​tranquility and simplicity. connection: “Silent Walk” The trend is a version of TikTok’s “Hot Girl Walk,” which asks participants to walk in complete silence without any agenda.

Sure, some TikToks exist An unrealistic form of self-optimizationor advertise Overconsumption. Parenting videos provide an unapproachable standard. #QuietLife videos can be viewed as a humble brag, or they may help you feel grateful for your life.

‘Stop scrolling’ video prompts pause

TikTok itself isn’t the only one trying to curb involuntary scrolling on its app. pop up video Alert the user to interrupt the screen. Creators in the health and wellness space are choosing to combat endless scrolling with unique content.

Your endless FYP viewing is likely to be interrupted by your Pilates instructor, who will ask you to stop and do a quick stretch, and remind you to step away from your phone. Other creators might just ask you to stop and look up. You may be able to meet a breathwork teacher (or companies) teach people how to do simple breathing exercises, and disability advocates teach the neurodiverse community how to adapt their environment to their spiritual needs.

In short, users are trying to turn the solitary experience of TikTok into a shared understanding that we all need to take some time out. You can acknowledge your entire consciousness, not just the part that is focused on your phone.

TikTok embraces your inner child

Following Greta Gerwig’s 2023 megahit barbie With its message of discovering yourself and honoring your past, TikTok users are obsessed with speaking directly to their inner child.on the soundtrack of Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For”users explore feelings of aging, grieve the experiences and lives they could have had, and channel their childhood imaginations to see the world anew.

Other nostalgic trends include a return to favorite childhood pastimes and niche obsessions. Parenting circles are exploring what it actually means to be a “kind parent.” Believers are encouraged to become more attuned to their own past in order to break the cycle of trauma for their children.

These trends embrace the principles of “beginner’s mind” mindfulness, or the practice of seeing the world with fresh eyes. Although it has not reached the level of Guided Inner Child Healing Meditation TikTok’s inner child trend centers around feelings of wonder and innocence, both as a place of solace and learning.

Journaling spreads rapidly

Even before the rise of TikTok shops, the platform was filled with viral products and other products. shadow work journal, is based on the concept of hidden trauma proposed by psychoanalyst Carl Jung. The journal exploded through sponsored posts and the product-oriented wellness space, even though some mental health experts saw it as a questionable product. Still, users embraced the concept of writing a diary at home as a way to process their emotions.

last year, Sadness Book: A Diary of Letting Go from modern mindset It has become more popular. There are several similar guided journaling books that offer prompts and affirmations.

Journaling content is widely popular across the app, from aesthetically driven journaling accounts to users sharing their journal readings. Many of these are effectively practicing mindfulness journaling, the act of writing down your thoughts, feelings, and experiences without judgment.

live stream silence

ASMR, whisper-based content aimed at creating a pleasurable tingle in the hearts of viewers, has also taken hold on TikTok. Some of his ASMR videos include “trigger tests”. This is different types of sounds and visuals designed to stimulate different types of ASMR reactions in her.

But there’s also a trend for intentionally uninspired live streams, where creators make very subtle sounds or perform simple activities while thousands of people tune in. Some live streamers literally sit in silence, but there is usually a sign or caption in the frame inviting participants to sit with them…and in some cases, tip them. I’ll give it to you.

One mindfulness trend is “wood soups,” or bowls of water filled to the brim with wooden beads and ornaments. The “soup” is gently stirred by a faceless hand. Tree Soup livestreams may combine meditative chants, rain sounds, and gentle music.

sleep better with meditation

Or not Calm app integration With influencers reciting meditations and sharing a wealth of life hacks and how-tos, TikTok users seem obsessed with calming their minds and falling asleep.

Viral trends include sounds designed to stimulate different parts of the brain. This is also called bilateral musical stimulation and is used in a variety of treatments, including EDMR and a practice known as “brainspotting.”

Breathing techniques packaged as sleep and relaxation hacks are also popular, along with sensory and grounding techniques that anyone who meditates will already know. Guided sleep meditations, on the other hand, make up a large part of his ASMR video above.

Of course, TikTok’s longstanding reluctance to admit that the platform misses the mark in the mental wellness space shouldn’t be ignored. Parent companies can do more to protect users and prevent misinformation and disinformation. This includes if it comes from a mental health “expert.” Infinite scrolling, lack of moderation, accusations of child endangerment: doubts about TikTok’s ability to help users on their health journeys are warranted.

Nevertheless, users are taking their mental health into their own hands. They are making a real attempt to create human connections and help us find coping mechanisms in digital spaces like this.

Silly memes and absurd audio may dominate, but if you take a look at TikTok’s more serious corners, you’ll find creators dipping their toes into mindfulness techniques that might actually be helpful.