SALT LAKE CITY — It's a common sight in many houses: women sitting in front of the computer, surrounded by the day's mess, scrolling through Pinterest and sighing dejectedly, a ritual that can be summed up as the “Pinterest blues.”

According to Forbes, the now-ubiquitous site boasts over 11 million users, most of them pulled in by the endless array of inspiration. At its best, Pinterest can be an organizational dream for a variety of users.

However, Pinterest has a definite downside. Much of the content on Pinterest leave users, especially women, longing for things they really don't need. Below you'll find a few tips for avoiding damaging practices.

Reality, Pinterest style

Pinterest can leave users envious of things they would otherwise be unaware of. Pins of perfectly staged homes, pulled together outfits and professionally photographed meals can leave women feeling grossly inadequate. Add on the endless pictures of toned women and all the mothering advice, and Pinterest can turn into a perfect storm of longing, jealousy and depression.

Users have to gain some perspective on what Pinterest really portrays and how they should relate to the site's content. Pins are designed to showcase a corporation or blogger's best work. The originators of pins spend hours planning, testing, fine-tuning and staging their work before it ever goes live. Unfortunately, daily living does not often afford the luxury of such extensive preparation.

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Pinterest has broken through to the top of social media sites, what with its 104 million users as of April. With so many users generating content on the site, a look at acceptable use and etiquette may be in order.

Very rarely does a “how-to” blog feature a project gone wrong. It is the same principle with parenting blogs. Mommy bloggers write parenting advice that chronicles their best days and biggest successes. The food on Pinterest has its own stylists, and fashion stylists are coordinating most of those outfits. Pinterest is a beautifully deceptive world that approximates, but does not perfectly mirror, real life.

The danger of comparison

There is an inherent danger in comparing our worst days to others' best work. It is not fair to be searching Pinterest amid screaming kids and a messy house and feel bad about not living up to someone else's finest moment. Everyone has their days where the house is clean, the kids are calm and the meal turned out perfectly. It is only these perfect moments that make it to Pinterest.

The advice, projects and images from Pinterest need to be taken as suggestions, designed to be adapted to everyday living. There is no unknown, perfect woman who is the living epitome of all things Pinterest. No one could possibly maintain Pinterest-worthy decor, clothing, cooking and parenting all the time.

Gaining a healthy perspective

The solution, however, is not to write off Pinterest completely. Users need to take it easy on themselves. No one can be perfect all the time, and the world would be a very boring place if we could. By taking the good from Pinterest, leaving behind the anxiety-producing and ignoring the unattainable, the site can be a haven for real creativity.

If you know you can't afford the backyard oasis with the in-ground pool, don't pin it. If the thought of knitting your baby's wardrobe stresses you out, don't feel obligated to do it. However, if you need a new recipe for dinner, take a look and find something doable. It should be that simple.

Pin with care

It is possible to eliminate the “Pinterest blues.” Pinners need to be reasonable and understand that very few people need flashy jewelry or a red-carpet ready wardrobe. And, while it would be nice to have the same body as the girl from the "30 Days to Washboard Abs" pin, it is more important to be kind to ourselves. Pinterest can help users manage their households and raise their families effectively and creatively, so long as users have realistic expectations for themselves.

Let's soldier on with Pinterest, fully warned that the site has both useful and harmful content for its users.

Heather Hale is a fourth-generation Montanan, mom to two crazy boys and wife to one amazing husband. You can learn more about her eco-conscious lifestyle at moderatelycrunchy.blogspot.com.

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