How to Use Instagram Mindfully & Get the Most Out of The App
How to Use Instagram Mindfully & Get the Most Out of The App
It’s no news that Instagram can be bad for our mental health. My relationship with Instagram has changed ten-fold since I first started sharing my journey with fitness and recovery. There have been some growing pains, some uncomfortable and overwhelmed moments to say the least, and times when I’ve just wanted to put it all down. BUT! – It’s doesn’t have to be that way.
As I’ve grown into my own, and grown my business, I have fine-tuned my relationship with Instagram making sure I use it the app mindfully while getting the most out of it. Our phones often feel like an extension of our bodies and apps such as Instagram capitalise on this addictive quality. The notion that we are slaves to our phones is not unfounded – we just need to remember who is actually in control.
Instagram is an incredible tool to connect, to share, to build and grow. It is home to beautiful communities, powerful messages, inspiration, motivation, and hope. But, as with all things, we need boundaries that serve us well. Balance is key. So here are 6 tools I use that I want to share with you to keep your Instagram usage conscious and intentioned.
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Set yourself some time to scroll
We’ve all emerged bewildered and foggy eyed after an undisclosed amount of time spent looking at, well, you’re not too sure what by the end of it. So, set yourself a timer and just go wild! Watch those reels, share those memes, like those pics, and once the timer goes off you know your time is up!
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Set clear intentions before opening the app
Are you looking for inspiration? Are you going to be engaging with people? Replying to comments? Be clear with yourself. Instagram is an incredible tool at your disposal, so remember to treat it as such! This is so helpful when trying to balance Instagram for work and Instagram for fun.
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Follow people who inspire you and motivate you
Ultimately, you are in control of what and who you fill your feed with. Choose people who inspire and motivate you. Choose accounts that challenge you. The moment someone stops making you feel full and energised, unfollow them! Or if they’re a friend or family member and unfollowing them could be awkward then mute them!
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Schedule your content
Instead of having to post at 7am every morning (or whenever you post) you can schedule it ahead of time and it will automatically post using something like Planoly or Later. This means that you don’t even need to be on your phone to keep things ticking over nicely.
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Turn your notifications off
The ping of a notification from the other side of the room can completely grab your attention from the present moment. Give yourself some space and turn them off so that you are not thinking about Instagram when you aren’t on it.
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Post with purpose
The internet is fully of half arsed information, so when you share it, make it amazing! Really put intention and purpose into your content that will really speak to your ideal client! Consume with purpose and post with purpose. We all feed each other.
And there you have it, six really simple ways to totally change your relationship with Instagram!
What's been a gamechanger for you? I'm intrigued!
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