Tips to Avoid Insta Burn out
I've got this under control, I think.
This past summer, I took several months off of Instagram. I had said goodbye to Facebook over a year ago, so it was a much-needed break to be utterly void of social media. After three months, getting back on Instagram was more complex than predicted. While not my first break (I had enjoyed a year off the app in 2014 and again in 2016), I quickly realized that my brief sabbatical was less about needing a break from my phone and more about needing a break for my mind to rest. The app was draining me. What surprised me was after about five minutes back, I was feeling drained again. What happened? What’s wrong with me?
Since September, I’ve been working on this post, so I found it remarkable that Facebook had a whistleblower come forward as I was finishing. Yes! Finally, someone reputable sharing what we’ve known all along: Facebook (Instagram) is not healthy. Facebook’s profits rise as the unhealthy posts rise. Facebook knows this, and now it’s been confirmed. The New York Times has broken the “startling” revelations down very well in their podcast The Daily if you’re interested in knowing more.
At any rate, I wanted to highlight a few ways I have set some boundries around Instagram so I can enjoy the app and not loose my mind.
I do not overthink the platform. I think “don’t overthink it” is my father’s life motto, so I cringe a little at this writing. But in all seriousness, I don’t take the app too seriously. Who follows or unfollows or likes or doesn’t like- all of this matters much less to me now that I have decided for it to matter less. Ha! Intentionality! I also don’t take the engagement (or lack thereof) personally. I have wanted Instagram to be a conversation starter. A place to interact with humans that I wouldn’t usually be able to, but I’m finding people don’t constantly interact. Nothing personal, I refuse to overthink it- it’s just an app on my cellular device.
I do not post in real-time. This is a big one for me. I used to think it was disingenuine (I still think “TBT” caption is rather annoying, and “thinking back to…” or “wish I was…” captions are the actual height of annoying) to post after I had experienced something. I have now decided, however, to enjoy life in the present. There is no way for me to enjoy it if I’m behind my phone working hard to figure out how to capture it. I live life, I take it in, and if I take an image I like, I’ll try to remember to post it at the end of the day. I’m a little more sloppy on stories, but even then, I try to post an hour or two after what I’m experiencing has passed.
I have set a time limit on my iPhone. But, here’s the hard truth, I should not be left to my vices. I need accountability! So who better to hold me accountable than my phone? I have a 30-minute-a-day timer for Instagram. When the time is up, I’m off for the day. I’m proud to confidently say I use the app for under an hour (if that) each day. Curse you, algorithm!
I remember why I am on the app. Oh dear, I’m overthinking again. Okay, okay, but hear me out. I’m not going to give any of my time to something that I don’t have a purpose in doing. If I’m going to be on Instagram even for 45 minutes a day, there must be a reason. My reason is twofold: keep up with art (museums, artists, film studios, theatres), start a conversation. Simple. To accomplish my task, I don’t need to scroll endlessly for 3 hours each day (the average amount users spend on social media is 2 hours and 24 minutes a day).
All that said, I want to keep the essential things life offers in perspective, I want to be present, I want to stay focused on the use of my time (including on Instagram), and I want my life to be intentional. I refuse to let Instagram get me down, and neither should you. Set your boundaries, be stubborn with them, and let’s flourish in this social media age.
-L
Oh, and here’s a great article comparing social media attention to alcohol. Yay!