Blogger 101: How to Overcome Instagram Pressure

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If Instagram was any evidence, keeping up with the Joneses is not easy. It never was. Today's society has become so engrossed with materialism and social media was no help at all. In fact, it only encouraged social approval and fueled desire for validation based on what is seen aka the material things. If you are a personal style blogger, like myself, who had to use the app (Instagram) to promote your blog, you might have felt the pressure to keep up as well. 

Therefore, I felt the need to share my thoughts about Instagram and this whole social media culture. Remember the time when catching up on each other's lives meant inviting your friends over for dinner at your own home and showing off your photos to them until they're bored? Things have changed dramatically in this era. Now, you can update your friends and even strangers who follow you about every detail of your life in real time. It sounds creepy but that's how most Instagrammers function. 

If you are on the other end of the spectrum, there is a huge pressure on your back when it comes to living up to the pressure of Instagram. How do you keep up with top fashion bloggers who are constantly jet-setting? One day they're posting sunset shots of New York City and then the next they're posting photos of the gorgeous beaches in Cancun (with a cocktail in hand, of course!). Or, maybe they're rubbing elbows with fashion designers at a fashion gala? There is no doubt a seemingly unattainable standard that celebrities, models and other famous personalities have set for Instagram. 


Don't frown just yet. It is all but normal to feel that way. A tinge of envy is part of being human. But do I let it distract me from what is going on with my life? Even I can't manage to create the perfect flat lay. But who cares? 


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Try these three methods that I've used to overcome the inherent pressure that goes with maintaining an Instagram account:


1 – I do what pleases me.

Much of the social media struggle hinges on the need for validation, for social approval. I have let go of that idea when managing my social media accounts. I do whatever pleases me. I post whatever I like or enjoy doing. I refuse to be dictated by what would consider others click the ‘like’ button. I have attained a certain level of belief in myself that my existence is not validated by a mere ‘like’ or ‘follow’. In this social media era, it is understandably easy to be consumed by this type of appreciation but do not let it define you.

2 – I follow whoever I like.

This is another healthy step to overcoming the pressure of a seemingly glamorous social media life. Choose to follow people you genuinely like. When you follow someone because of their gorgeous photos or awesome flatlays, you could be easily swayed to look life through an ideal. You will look up to them as the ideal and be frustrated when you can’t live up to that standard. Instead, I follow people for the genuineness and for the stories that each photo has to say.

3 – I try not to spend too much time on Instagram.


On an average, I probably post 3-4 times a week on Instagram (or once a day at most). I do the occasional flooding of posts when I’m on a roll. But I try to live my life, not live a life that would look good on social media. There is a huge difference!

Have you ever felt the pressure to craft an idealized version of your life on social media, particularly Instagram?


30 comments

  1. I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks this way about social media and Instagram. I'm always second guessing what I should post because it doesn't compare to other bloggers and is not "instagram worthy" on top of that so many bloggers have a theme with all of their pictures that make it interesting. Thanks for this post!

    www.jerseygirltexanheart.com

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  2. This was a great topic!
    http://fridaynightstyle.com/

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  3. I used not to care about Instagram , but now I've been obsessed with it. At the begging I was trying too hard to get good pictures but of course I wasn't pleased with the results, now i don't care that much about it but I still try to post regularly.
    x,Abril
    The Color Palette

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  4. Great post! And it´s true but for me not just about instagram, but other social media like twitter or pinterest too. But I try work on in.

    mishelleslife.blogspot.com

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  5. These are some really good tips!

    xo Jo

    http://www.whiterosesandcoffee.com/

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  6. Really great read, Abby! I'm with you on posting what I want on Instagram and not being too worried about making my photos perfect.I am all about what pleases me versus the public. I am also trying to cull those I follow.

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  7. Lovely post dear! Have a great day! xx

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  8. I do enjoy Instagram, but trying to keep up can be exhausting. I need to remember I have a full time job and don't have all day to curate the perfect pictures lol

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  9. I also post what I want to post.

    http://www.amysfashionblog.com/blog-home/

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  10. Great advice and much needed! One can certainly go crazy trying to keep up with the Jones.

    www.dressed2dnines.com

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  11. There def is so much Instagram pressure and it kind of feels out of hand sometimes!

    Annessa
    www.seekingsunshine.com

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  12. These are great tips! Instagram can definitely be intimidating!
    xo, Whitney and Blaire
    Peaches In A Pod

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  13. Great post! I actually have a similar topic on my blog tomorrow about body image and blogging...yet another social pressure! Instagram baffles me. There are some accounts that are so wildly popular and yet I don't understand why. Then others are not popular at all, when I think they have great content! It seems like a high school popularity contest. I think staying true to yourself is key :)

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  14. What a great post, this is all so true!! When it comes to social media its best to be genuine and I feel like that always shines through!
    xx
    Laura
    www.sequinsatbreakfast.com

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  15. One post on instagram takes me almost as much time as a blog post! It is exhausting at times but I think it's worth it in the end. I'm with you though probably only 3-4 posts a week max!

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  16. Great great great tips! Social media is my job, so I'm on it more than the average person (maybe haha). The key is not to compare yourself because no matter what, someone always has more followers, a nicer photo, a more expensive budget. :]

    // ▲ itsCarmen.com ▲

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  17. I've been trying to spend less time on social media in general. It's hard because I just moved to a beautiful new city, but I really want to try to experience life outside of a screen. One thing for me is taking too much time to edit pictures - I edit for so long until it's perfect! I try to edit later in the day, rather than right after I take the picture too. Just to, again, get away from the screen for a little bit. Especially when I'm with friends!

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  18. Loved this post! These are great tips :)
    xoxo

    Novelstyle

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  19. Very helpful post for so much of it. Great ideas to keep it enjoyable.

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  20. Love this post! Instagram can be so stressful!

    <3 Shannon
    Upbeat Soles

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  21. I agree with you completely, especially with doing what I want and following who I want. :)

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  22. Completely agree! Great topic to bring to light
    Kelly
    http://kellypatriciastyle.blogspot.com/

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  23. I agree..Instagram is crazy these days. And it's so hard not to compare yourself with other bloggers out there. It's a natural thing to do, but it can get exhausting!

    Shauna

    www.lipglossandlace.net

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  24. I agree..Instagram is crazy these days. And it's so hard not to compare yourself with other bloggers out there. It's a natural thing to do, but it can get exhausting!

    Shauna

    www.lipglossandlace.net

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  25. That's really great advice. It's definitely hard to compete with other bloggers on Instagram who live crazy adventurous lives. I like what you said about following people you genuinely like. It's better to follow people who truly inspire you and who you actually admire, versus following for follows or because they have pretty pictures.

    ~Andrea Tiffany~
    http://aglimpseofglam.blogspot.com

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  26. Great post! I secretly get excited when I leave my phone somewhere because the pressure/habit to check social media is totally gone. :)

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  27. In as much as I would like to say I don't obsess over that perfect square shot, I do. At times more so than others but I'm working on it. I used to try and emulate what the popular IGers were doing, hoping to gain more followers the way they did but after a while, I realised that not only was it not working, I felt incredibly iffy with myself. So I stopped. These days, I don't post according to a schedule anymore. I post whenever I feel like it, and on whatever topic that interests me. It's so much more fun that way :) and I feel as though my interest in social media has been rejuvenated :)

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  28. Good advice! I am a new blogger and I have to admit, instagram has been intimidating because of so many great bloggers with their professional looking photos. The game has changed and the competition is getting fierce. Yikes!!!

    Lydia
    chicandmodish.com

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  29. I can certainly relate to this. I didn't have an Instagram for a long time. The only reason I joined is because I would read blog posts saying how crucial it is for blog publicity. Nowadays, I love it and at least browse it everyday. I have way more followers there so I like to post my blog outfits as well as outfits that aren't shared on the blog. Very rarely do I post something in my life and I don't feel too much pressure to do that since overall, my outfits consistently get more attention. I follow only people or things I'm interested in too though. That makes it more fun!

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