As you know Sarah I delete the app for long periods of time and now I love to use it for clarification, chatting to people who are interested in working with me, reminding people of what I sell and fun b roll of my life (that’s creative part for me that I don’t have in the same way here) ✨💞✨
I'd second (third? if Sarah's in too!) this approach, although my approach is slightly different. I don't ever actually delete the app, but I do take regular, intentional breaks, including almost every weekend and I always advocate for doing this - it's all about finding your own way to using the app in a way that works *for you* and shutting out the rest of the noise because there is SO much of it! I love that you use the app in such an informal, fluid way, Claire and I think as a result the light shines through ❤️
Yes thank you and I also use the substack media assets which I know your advice is to avoid BUT it’s a case of throwing something up quickly before the school run to connect rather than not so I feel like I can get away with it now and again plus I love the pretty colours. 🥰
I love the SS tiles - I think they're really pretty and it's very annoying they perform so badly on IG! I actually think they're fine to use as a signpost or a nudge, and often suggest clients use them in a monthly carousel format as a 'round up' - the caveat is always that they won't drive much engagement which means they won't get shown to many people, but I think they have their place in a rounded content mix.
Hi friends. Something that I struggle with is expectations / virtue signaling. Example: if theres a protest but I’m at a baseball game the my son I feel like I should be quiet and not share. And then suddenly, I don’t share anything because it feels as if nothing I say matters. And so my “fun zone” disappears.
I’ve decided that while political matters do MATTER, that’s not why I’m on social media. But I can’t quite get past the thought of others judging me (yes I know. This is something I need to work on with my therapist.)
ahhh yes - I hear you entirely. I used to run a personal account that grew to 24k - small enough to still feel like a community, but big enough to be able to make some noise - and it was *very* political. One of the reasons I decided to step back from the account was because I didn't like the way I was starting to think about some of my activism in terms of how it would play out online. I was/am deeply uncomfortable with the performative aspect to some online activism, I find all of the whataboutery frustrating and counter-productive, and the notion that if you *don't* post about it you are somehow uncaring makes no sense to me. There's a lot of policing that happens within activism circles that ultimately doesn't help anything change and after a few years of bending myself into all kinds of shapes in order to be the 'perfect activist', I simply lost patience with it! Nowadays I don't post anything political, even though I am very engaged in politics. It's a process for sure, so definitely one for your therapist as we all have to make decisions about what is right for us as individuals, but fwiw these days I apply the idea of radical acceptance - I am choosing not to post politically for xxx reasons, which means I also have to accept that in some people's eyes I will not live up to their standards or expectations, while I also know that I am just as - if not more - active politically offline.
Had to press publish before I chickened out. What I wanted to say was that IG used to be that melon scented utopia for me a dozen years ago. But now it’s like I’ve lost my keys. https://www.instagram.com/paigemeredith/
This is coming at the perfect time, Claire. I’m so looking forward to diving into this article today. I’ve pretty much stayed off instagram for about the last year. Only posting a few sort of life updates. I’m in the poet community there. I’ve made so many beautiful friends there. I miss them. With so much happening here in the U.S. and in my personal life, I just had to take space. I’m thinking of coming back. I wish to have a better fence with what I choose to share there. I appreciate you sharing this piece. Going over to follow you and all the lovely Sparklers. @the_paperbackmama
This is what I must do. Hit mute. My heart has been on a healing journey. So info on how to navigate in a new way will be so welcomed. So grateful to read and learn from this piece today.🙏🏼
Hi Mary Beth - lovely to meet you, and also thank you for taking the time to read and comment 😊 After many years of using Instagram as a politically activist space I stepped away from using it in that way in around 2022. On my work account I now don't follow any news accounts and very few political accounts. But this doesn't mean I'm less politically engaged - I still listen to podcasts, read books, engage in difficult conversations in person (sometimes too often for my husband's taste;-), and engage my activist muscles in a much more immediate and local way. I decided that if my activism had to be 'performed' to be valid, I wasn't interested in it. It doesn't sit easily with me every day but on balance I know this was the right decision for me. We have to find our own paths with this, but there is much more nuance available than we sometimes think there is ❤️
So nice to meet you, Nicola! What an interesting journey, you have had. Thank you for your candid share. I’m so impressed you were able to forge a new way. This article was both enlightening and encouraging. I’m enjoying this rabbit hole! I will be following your continued journey here and over on Insta. Thank you again for your support.
My instagram is a space that is entirely for my obsession with birds - I only post pictures of my parrot and I only follow other parrots or birders or bird photography. It's my happy place 😁 I realise I'm potentially missing out on a chance to get more subscribers via instagram, but nah i'm happy the way it is 😊
Thanks for this post Nicola! I keep stopping (ignoring!) my Instagram because I get overwhelmed trying to come up with content (and even figuring out the basics of how to make and post it!) I only have 10 followers so on top of the hard work, it feels like a waste of time 😆 So it’s difficult to motivate myself when it’s one more “chore” on top of a hectic 9-5 and my side hustle. I think focusing on fun instead might help me ease back in and show up more. ✨ Instagram.com/zestfulzen
the truth is, it *is* a lot on top of everything else so I'm always mindful of people's capacity when I'm giving advice. That said, something you might find more enjoyable to post about might be little stories about how you arrived at breath-work, what has it helped you with, what does it add to your life, how do you know? Start with you own experiences as the foundation and then build from there ❤️
I love this post! It’s inspired me to do instagram on my own terms. I love sharing photos and being creative with photography, and I can still do that. There won’t be a Reel in sight, but I’m excited to experiment, not go viral.
Experimentation is KEY so I wholeheartedly endorse this approach. Even people who've been using the platform for years - like me - continue to experiment because the platform's offer, and our audience preferences, are always evolving!
Really enjoyed this post… it truly fascinates me that there is this collective narrative around Instagram and that it’s a conversation rather than an all out rejection or boycott. I like that we want to make it work for us. I’ve almost given up so many times but can’t bring myself to sever the few yet beautiful connections I have there. I suppose it’s about finding and forging a new way!
Yes and I think that way shifts and changes all the time especially if we’re good with our consumption v creativity balance. If we think about our connection through Lauren and then being connected there and here it just makes me happy to know I might “bump” into you. ✨✨
'finding and forging a new way' ✨ I fundamentally reject the dominant narrative about what it means to use Instagram - both in terms of what it says about us as people, and also in terms of what we prioritise - so cheers to walking to the beat of our own drums!!
I used to really enjoy Instagram—until reels took over and it started to feel exhausting. I think part of it was the overstimulation, and part of it was this constant pressure to keep up. And aomewhere along the way, it stopped being fun. But lately, I’ve been trying to shift my mindset and bring the joy back. I’m sharing more of my everyday life—the little things that light me up—even when it’s not tied to promoting an offer. And I’m starting to think of it like a cozy little shop window: whimsically decorated, full of heart and real life, inviting people to step into my world. https://www.instagram.com/xuanklevecka
Yeah, I think taking the pressure off performing, and just being present and making connections is what’s making it feel fun again. It’s less “look at me!” and more “hey, come sit with me for a bit.” That shift has made all the difference.
I've found a new resurgence in my Instagram by posting more feminist content in support of women's rights, along with the rights of other marginalized people. You can follow me here:
YES!! Aligning what we post about with what we care about is THE best way to make the platform feel better aligned and more fruitful and easeful to use. Thanks for reading and commenting, Dawn ❤️
Thanks for sharing some prompts to help me change my mindset about IG Nicola! And thanks Claire for inviting her to guest-post. I was good about posting daily for awhile over on IG but it got so exhausting that I abandoned it. This will help me get going again.
Thanks for highlighting this. Will definitely dig more into exploring cadence. Daily posting is tough and I easily get caught up in the “shoulds” and “best practices.”
Yes I just throw things up there honestly and it connects more than it ever did. I have lovely chats in the DMs and I’m so happy to work that way over there. ✨💞
Claire & Nicola, this is such a wonderful post, thank you! I’ve had such a love/hate relationship with Instagram since my original account was wrongly disabled a couple of years ago. It’s then been such a slow to get the ball rolling again. Over the last few months I was feeling fed up of not growing and my efforts not being seen (whilst gaining followers isn’t my main goal, I still want to feel like the effort I’m putting into my content is seen).
I’ve recently rebranded and tweaked a few things, I’ve even planned my content for the month, and I’ve felt a lot less pressure and stress in doing so.
Here’s my Instagram for anyone who loves poetry and romanticising the everyday, with a touch of travel in there too! 🤍
oh no that must have been so frustrating and demotivating - I'm so sorry. I love your description of your account here so I had a quick peek - it's really beautifully done! I wondered - have you ever thought about turning some of your words into videos (Reels) with voiceovers as that might help with the visibility and reach ❤️
Thank you so much Nicola, that’s really kind 🤍 Doing spoken word poetry is something I really don’t enjoy (it terrifies me — speaking to the camera in general does if I’m honest). I have tried it a couple of times on my TikTok instead and I know I need to keep trying to push myself out of my comfort zone more there x
Oh I love your new brand Jenna! So sorry you lost your account that’s so so hard and I imagine would have been super emotional too. It’s a complete disconnect from the user when they do that. ✨💞🥹
Thank you Claire! Yes, it was an emotional time. But I’ve tried to remind myself that some wonderful opportunities opened up when I created my current account 🥰
Hey folks, incase we're not connected, here's my IG, I'd love to connect over there - https://www.instagram.com/creatively.conscious
I would love yo connect with you all!
www.instagram.com/jenniferedewaard
Following already 😊
I’ve almost deleted my Instagram account a number of times over the last year because I can’t dance to the tune 🎶 of the algorithm so this resonates with me. I’ll stay a little longer with my own beat https://www.instagram.com/sarahdrees.co.uk?igsh=MWV0cnk1c3FkNXNoeQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
As you know Sarah I delete the app for long periods of time and now I love to use it for clarification, chatting to people who are interested in working with me, reminding people of what I sell and fun b roll of my life (that’s creative part for me that I don’t have in the same way here) ✨💞✨
I'd second (third? if Sarah's in too!) this approach, although my approach is slightly different. I don't ever actually delete the app, but I do take regular, intentional breaks, including almost every weekend and I always advocate for doing this - it's all about finding your own way to using the app in a way that works *for you* and shutting out the rest of the noise because there is SO much of it! I love that you use the app in such an informal, fluid way, Claire and I think as a result the light shines through ❤️
Yes thank you and I also use the substack media assets which I know your advice is to avoid BUT it’s a case of throwing something up quickly before the school run to connect rather than not so I feel like I can get away with it now and again plus I love the pretty colours. 🥰
I love the SS tiles - I think they're really pretty and it's very annoying they perform so badly on IG! I actually think they're fine to use as a signpost or a nudge, and often suggest clients use them in a monthly carousel format as a 'round up' - the caveat is always that they won't drive much engagement which means they won't get shown to many people, but I think they have their place in a rounded content mix.
So measured yes I see that.
That’s a good idea though I might try in, I’m thinking of just doing one IG post a week and the odd story for fun
Hi friends. Something that I struggle with is expectations / virtue signaling. Example: if theres a protest but I’m at a baseball game the my son I feel like I should be quiet and not share. And then suddenly, I don’t share anything because it feels as if nothing I say matters. And so my “fun zone” disappears.
I’ve decided that while political matters do MATTER, that’s not why I’m on social media. But I can’t quite get past the thought of others judging me (yes I know. This is something I need to work on with my therapist.)
Also- how the hell do I make reels?
ahhh yes - I hear you entirely. I used to run a personal account that grew to 24k - small enough to still feel like a community, but big enough to be able to make some noise - and it was *very* political. One of the reasons I decided to step back from the account was because I didn't like the way I was starting to think about some of my activism in terms of how it would play out online. I was/am deeply uncomfortable with the performative aspect to some online activism, I find all of the whataboutery frustrating and counter-productive, and the notion that if you *don't* post about it you are somehow uncaring makes no sense to me. There's a lot of policing that happens within activism circles that ultimately doesn't help anything change and after a few years of bending myself into all kinds of shapes in order to be the 'perfect activist', I simply lost patience with it! Nowadays I don't post anything political, even though I am very engaged in politics. It's a process for sure, so definitely one for your therapist as we all have to make decisions about what is right for us as individuals, but fwiw these days I apply the idea of radical acceptance - I am choosing not to post politically for xxx reasons, which means I also have to accept that in some people's eyes I will not live up to their standards or expectations, while I also know that I am just as - if not more - active politically offline.
Had to press publish before I chickened out. What I wanted to say was that IG used to be that melon scented utopia for me a dozen years ago. But now it’s like I’ve lost my keys. https://www.instagram.com/paigemeredith/
This is coming at the perfect time, Claire. I’m so looking forward to diving into this article today. I’ve pretty much stayed off instagram for about the last year. Only posting a few sort of life updates. I’m in the poet community there. I’ve made so many beautiful friends there. I miss them. With so much happening here in the U.S. and in my personal life, I just had to take space. I’m thinking of coming back. I wish to have a better fence with what I choose to share there. I appreciate you sharing this piece. Going over to follow you and all the lovely Sparklers. @the_paperbackmama
I hear you re the swathe of political stuff and I’ve had that here too and just muted it all… we have to take care of ourselves don’t we. ✨💞✨
This is what I must do. Hit mute. My heart has been on a healing journey. So info on how to navigate in a new way will be so welcomed. So grateful to read and learn from this piece today.🙏🏼
Hi Mary Beth - lovely to meet you, and also thank you for taking the time to read and comment 😊 After many years of using Instagram as a politically activist space I stepped away from using it in that way in around 2022. On my work account I now don't follow any news accounts and very few political accounts. But this doesn't mean I'm less politically engaged - I still listen to podcasts, read books, engage in difficult conversations in person (sometimes too often for my husband's taste;-), and engage my activist muscles in a much more immediate and local way. I decided that if my activism had to be 'performed' to be valid, I wasn't interested in it. It doesn't sit easily with me every day but on balance I know this was the right decision for me. We have to find our own paths with this, but there is much more nuance available than we sometimes think there is ❤️
So nice to meet you, Nicola! What an interesting journey, you have had. Thank you for your candid share. I’m so impressed you were able to forge a new way. This article was both enlightening and encouraging. I’m enjoying this rabbit hole! I will be following your continued journey here and over on Insta. Thank you again for your support.
Yay! Can you post the url as people are more likely to click over?
Nicola is excellent! Thank you for the shout out. Here’s to more joy with Instagram! 🙌🏼
the feeling is mutual 😘😘😘
Cheers to that - share you handle url lovely?
Oh yes! It is here https://www.instagram.com/theburnoutrebel
My instagram is a space that is entirely for my obsession with birds - I only post pictures of my parrot and I only follow other parrots or birders or bird photography. It's my happy place 😁 I realise I'm potentially missing out on a chance to get more subscribers via instagram, but nah i'm happy the way it is 😊
I love this approach 😊 cheers to using it in ways that add to our lives, rather than taking away 🥂
That sounds really really nourishing!! 🦜
Thanks for this post Nicola! I keep stopping (ignoring!) my Instagram because I get overwhelmed trying to come up with content (and even figuring out the basics of how to make and post it!) I only have 10 followers so on top of the hard work, it feels like a waste of time 😆 So it’s difficult to motivate myself when it’s one more “chore” on top of a hectic 9-5 and my side hustle. I think focusing on fun instead might help me ease back in and show up more. ✨ Instagram.com/zestfulzen
the truth is, it *is* a lot on top of everything else so I'm always mindful of people's capacity when I'm giving advice. That said, something you might find more enjoyable to post about might be little stories about how you arrived at breath-work, what has it helped you with, what does it add to your life, how do you know? Start with you own experiences as the foundation and then build from there ❤️
I love this post! It’s inspired me to do instagram on my own terms. I love sharing photos and being creative with photography, and I can still do that. There won’t be a Reel in sight, but I’m excited to experiment, not go viral.
Here’s my new account: www.instagram.com/sophieinglebyva
Yay - welcome back Sophie - let's get a beautiful blend of connection and community going across our online spaces.
Thank you, Claire! Yes, I’m excited to be creative over there again 🥰
Experimentation is KEY so I wholeheartedly endorse this approach. Even people who've been using the platform for years - like me - continue to experiment because the platform's offer, and our audience preferences, are always evolving!
Really enjoyed this post… it truly fascinates me that there is this collective narrative around Instagram and that it’s a conversation rather than an all out rejection or boycott. I like that we want to make it work for us. I’ve almost given up so many times but can’t bring myself to sever the few yet beautiful connections I have there. I suppose it’s about finding and forging a new way!
https://www.instagram.com/slow_tarot/
Yes and I think that way shifts and changes all the time especially if we’re good with our consumption v creativity balance. If we think about our connection through Lauren and then being connected there and here it just makes me happy to know I might “bump” into you. ✨✨
'finding and forging a new way' ✨ I fundamentally reject the dominant narrative about what it means to use Instagram - both in terms of what it says about us as people, and also in terms of what we prioritise - so cheers to walking to the beat of our own drums!!
I used to really enjoy Instagram—until reels took over and it started to feel exhausting. I think part of it was the overstimulation, and part of it was this constant pressure to keep up. And aomewhere along the way, it stopped being fun. But lately, I’ve been trying to shift my mindset and bring the joy back. I’m sharing more of my everyday life—the little things that light me up—even when it’s not tied to promoting an offer. And I’m starting to think of it like a cozy little shop window: whimsically decorated, full of heart and real life, inviting people to step into my world. https://www.instagram.com/xuanklevecka
Love that explanation Xuan! It really is a beautiful shop window for our world and work. 🪟
Yeah, I think taking the pressure off performing, and just being present and making connections is what’s making it feel fun again. It’s less “look at me!” and more “hey, come sit with me for a bit.” That shift has made all the difference.
Yes!! Love that so much - totally! ✨
oh gosh I love this characterisation, Xuan. Thank you so much for sharing it!
I've found a new resurgence in my Instagram by posting more feminist content in support of women's rights, along with the rights of other marginalized people. You can follow me here:
https://www.instagram.com/dawnlevitt_author
✨🥰✨
YES!! Aligning what we post about with what we care about is THE best way to make the platform feel better aligned and more fruitful and easeful to use. Thanks for reading and commenting, Dawn ❤️
Thanks for sharing some prompts to help me change my mindset about IG Nicola! And thanks Claire for inviting her to guest-post. I was good about posting daily for awhile over on IG but it got so exhausting that I abandoned it. This will help me get going again.
IG handle is @yoginiashleyjosephine
https://www.instagram.com/yoginiashleyjosephine
hi Ashley - thanks so much for reading and your lovely comment. Fwiw, posting cadence can flex depending on your capacity, and daily posting is a really high bar to set yourself! I've written before about using different cadences for different purposes here in case you'd find it useful: https://open.substack.com/pub/nicolawashington/p/faq-6-how-often-should-i-post-to?r=4mw0i&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Thanks for highlighting this. Will definitely dig more into exploring cadence. Daily posting is tough and I easily get caught up in the “shoulds” and “best practices.”
Yes I just throw things up there honestly and it connects more than it ever did. I have lovely chats in the DMs and I’m so happy to work that way over there. ✨💞
Good to know!
Claire & Nicola, this is such a wonderful post, thank you! I’ve had such a love/hate relationship with Instagram since my original account was wrongly disabled a couple of years ago. It’s then been such a slow to get the ball rolling again. Over the last few months I was feeling fed up of not growing and my efforts not being seen (whilst gaining followers isn’t my main goal, I still want to feel like the effort I’m putting into my content is seen).
I’ve recently rebranded and tweaked a few things, I’ve even planned my content for the month, and I’ve felt a lot less pressure and stress in doing so.
Here’s my Instagram for anyone who loves poetry and romanticising the everyday, with a touch of travel in there too! 🤍
https://www.instagram.com/lettersfromawildheart?igsh=NHQwenBpM3JpZHp5&utm_source=qr
oh no that must have been so frustrating and demotivating - I'm so sorry. I love your description of your account here so I had a quick peek - it's really beautifully done! I wondered - have you ever thought about turning some of your words into videos (Reels) with voiceovers as that might help with the visibility and reach ❤️
Thank you so much Nicola, that’s really kind 🤍 Doing spoken word poetry is something I really don’t enjoy (it terrifies me — speaking to the camera in general does if I’m honest). I have tried it a couple of times on my TikTok instead and I know I need to keep trying to push myself out of my comfort zone more there x
Oh I love your new brand Jenna! So sorry you lost your account that’s so so hard and I imagine would have been super emotional too. It’s a complete disconnect from the user when they do that. ✨💞🥹
Thank you Claire! Yes, it was an emotional time. But I’ve tried to remind myself that some wonderful opportunities opened up when I created my current account 🥰
Sure, here is the url https://www.instagram.com/the_paperbackmama?igsh=MXNvM3ZseGFrNzZvMA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
✨✨✨✨🙏
Nice suggestions, and perfectly doable.👍
😊 I’m pleased you like them and ‘doable’ is my kind of feedback!! Thank you!
What a great post, thank you! I love those two questions to help frame how I show up on Insta (and other platforms!). https://www.instagram.com/clairetomkinswriter?igsh=OW8wczQ2Y3ptNGVj&utm_source=qr