Why LinkedIn Makes You Feel Behind – And What to Do About It

 

Monday morning. You’re idly scrolling through LinkedIn with your coffee. Sarah from your old job just got promoted. Tom’s showing off about his new company. Everyone seems to be getting pay rises, better jobs, or starting their own business. And there you are, same desk, same job, wondering where you went wrong! We’ve all been there. That sinking feeling when everyone else seems to have it all worked out while you’re just trying to get to Friday.

 

What Those Posts Don’t Tell You

Here’s the thing: Sarah applied for nine jobs before she got that promotion. Tom’s new company has him working every weekend. And that person with the perfect-sounding job? They probably rewrote that post five times to make it sound good.

Social media is everyone’s best bits. Nobody posts “Had a terrible day, messed up badly, wanted to quit.” They post the good stuff – the wins, the celebrations, the moments that make them look successful. It’s not exactly lying, but it’s not the whole truth either.

 

When Comparison Steals Your Confidence

We’ve always compared ourselves to others – that’s normal. But now we do it every time we pick up our phone. If we compare our normal Tuesday to everyone else’s best moments, it’s no wonder we feel like we’re losing.

Here’s the real problem: feeling behind can stop you moving forward. You don’t apply for that job because everyone else seems better. You don’t share your own good news because it seems too small. You stay in a job you hate because at least it looks okay to other people.

Try This: Next time a post makes you feel bad, remember: you’re seeing one tiny bit of their life. Their good news doesn’t make you a failure.

 

Using Social Media Without Feeling Worse

You don’t need to delete LinkedIn or quit Facebook. They can actually help with work and finding jobs. You just need to be smart about using them. Pick set times to check – maybe 15 minutes at lunch. When you scroll without thinking, you end up comparing yourself to everyone. But when you go on looking for something specific (like job adverts or useful tips), you stay focused.

  

What Does Success Really Mean?

Here’s something worth remembering: success means different things to different people. Maybe your colleague’s promotion sounds impressive, but would you want their 60-hour weeks? That person starting their own business might be struggling to pay bills. The “perfect job” someone posted about might come with a nightmare commute.

Your version of success might be having time for your family, feeling secure in your job, or actually liking Mondays! There’s no rule that says success has to mean climbing the ladder or earning a huge salary.

Pro Tip: Write down three things you’re grateful for in your work life right now. Could be small things like nice colleagues or bigger things like flexible hours. This helps you see what you have, not just what you think you’re missing.

 

Turn Envy into Energy

When you see someone doing well, you have two choices. You can feel bad about yourself, or you can get curious. What exactly appeals to you about their situation? Is it the job title? The company? The confidence in their post?

Once you know what you actually want (not just what looks good), you can make a plan. Maybe you need to update your CV, take an evening course, or just start speaking up more at work. Turn that uncomfortable feeling into action.

 

Share Your Own Story (or Don’t)

You don’t have to play the LinkedIn game if you don’t want to. Plenty of successful people rarely post anything. But if you do want to share, remember that your everyday wins matter too. Finished a difficult project? Helped train a new colleague? Finally figured out that complicated system at work? These things count. Your story doesn’t have to sound like everyone else’s. In fact, it’s better if it doesn’t.

Next time you’re scrolling and start feeling that familiar worry about being behind, remember this: everyone’s running their own race. The person whose life looks perfect online might be looking at your posts, thinking the same thing.

Focus on your own path. Celebrate your own wins, however small. And remember that real life happens offline, where nobody’s keeping score.