43 Comments
May 6, 2023Liked by Sara Tasker - Me & Orla

This is really thought provoking 🤔 I’m taking a break from Instagram whilst I figure out my relationship with it but this has made me consider it from a different perspective. My old Instagram account back in the pre-algorithm days grew at a crazy rate and I mainly used that to create community and make friends, but perhaps I do really need to be just viewing my new account (which has been growing slower than a snail in slow motion) purely as a business marketing tool and showing up to use it as such 🐌

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I still love Instagram Sara, thanks to the Insta retreat 🥰. I’m still there seeing beautiful content from inspiring creators and although I didn’t experience the glory days, it’s still my Instajam 😂😂 since the course, I post only what I love and what lights me up, even if no one else ever looks at it, I’d still be happy with it (the same strategy I’m using here too)

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May 6, 2023Liked by Sara Tasker - Me & Orla

I definitely don’t love instagram, at least not all the time BUT I do love my business and I do love my clients so I’m very much ready to throw myself into changing my relationship with Instagram, already on the Insta retreat and really looking forward to starting it this time from the perspective of, ‘How can I enjoy this space’ and use it to connect rather than feel like it’s an unwanted chore at the end of the list of things I’d rather be doing! If I’m going to change the relationship anywhere then it’s going to be here! 🌻🌱🥂

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Thank you for such a thought provoking and pragmatic post. As always, what you say makes so much sense, and yet somehow I failed to figure it out myself.... I've had a long break from Instagram, after the worst possible coincidence of events, which made me question very seriously indeed whether I should spend any time at all on social media. But I'd like to get back into it to help promote my business, so I'm going to work through the Insta retreat again this time. x

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So much good advice here Sara. I always love Instagram as a source of inspiration, like the perfect magazine in my pocket and use it to find recipes, coffee shops, interiors ideas etc but had fallen out of love with posting. I really missed the connection and community that used to bring me so much joy when I posted and commented on others. I am trying to re-kindle the joy, will keep you posted! 💛

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May 6, 2023Liked by Sara Tasker - Me & Orla

Such great advice! I’m all signed up for Insta Retreat and really looking forward to it and had already wanted to use it to make IG more joyful rather than using it begrudgingly!! Can’t wait to kick off next week 😊

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Ive been in a bad mood with Instagram for well over a year.

Recently i join Substack, which I'm loving and ticktock which I'm also loving. Why do i love them, because i do them for me personally and not for my business, yet i still share bits of my business there because you never know when someone might be interest. Which has made me realise that i treat Instagram like a chore, when actually i can use it as a business notice board and a fun place i share some personal content. I think I'm going to start sharing my cat & nature videos (that i share on tiktok) on my reels grid but not my posts grid. Theres no rule to say i cant make my reel page mostly about cat love and my post page an aesthetically pleasing business board. Whats the worst that can happen? I hate insta a little more :D

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May 6, 2023Liked by Sara Tasker - Me & Orla

Thank you Sara, this really resonnated with me. Mindset is responsible for so much. I think my positive action/sharing approach took a hit when a friend said "there are only so many ways to show garlic". Gah! Your post (and others), has made me realise that said more about them and that my people might think differently. I'm off to go through a CTFAR right now! Gratefully Lee.

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May 6, 2023·edited May 6, 2023Liked by Sara Tasker - Me & Orla

Very interesting, I've given up Instagram as having taken a lenten fast the side effects were decreased irritability and not downturn in new clients or loss of subscribers to my work. I hadn't thought I wasn't enjoying it as I've always loved those squares, I think the stories got a little bit much for me.

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May 6, 2023·edited May 6, 2023Liked by Sara Tasker - Me & Orla

I have one for my business but honestly I rarely use it now... I posted a lot about my work before... and when I go to IG, I dread making stories, highlights, etc... it's weird. It feels like a very competitive environment for me. I do appreciate the goodness that can come from it. Now that I'm reading this post, I am really slowly allowing myself to release from the pressures I feel... just because a lot of people recommend and use IG. As I'm typing this, yup let's be real... IG is probably not for me. Haha.

Wonderful post, thank you darling! x

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I dunno, I still feel like I used to love Instagram more. Now, same effort gives massively reduced reach, and I have no desire whatsoever to be involved in short-form video content. I'm curious about the Insta retreat, maybe in the autumn. But if the advice will be "make reels", I won't get much from it 🤔😅

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May 6, 2023Liked by Sara Tasker - Me & Orla

This is such good advice, Sara. You're so right. I've found myself disconnected with it and I definitely lack consistency, but there is still a little place within me that loves it and wants to grow. I guess we just have to keep coming back to that each time we want to quit. I've been feeling the same joy I once felt about Instagram on Substack so have definitely been pouring my time into here more, but I want to get back into Instagram soon. I might just have to do this round of the Insta Retreat! (maybe my 4th time going through it?! Haha) Thanks for this post.

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May 6, 2023Liked by Sara Tasker - Me & Orla

Yes, it is for me. I am new to Instagram and when I first started I was not a fan because the feed was not all relevant . But in Jan/Feb I gave myself a little challenge to post daily until the end of the school year so I'm on it more, and now the feed is much more relevant and inspirational, and I am really using it as source of creative expression. So, I am using it to serve my own immediate needs, and it's working out so far. It's nice to get some feedback on my daily goal of creativity, and that's enough for me for now. I'm not selling anything so I don't know how it will work for that, but I think as long as I see it as a tool that serves my primary interests, I think I can make it work. And if I can't, I'll stop.

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May 6, 2023Liked by Sara Tasker - Me & Orla

Thank you, this is such a helpful post. I have def fallen out of love with it and we've been on a break and then not on a break and we are currently back together but I am def harbouring some resentment that it's not like the good old early days, ha. But you've really made me think with this.

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I’ve definitely fallen into a trap of creating too many rules for myself with Instagram. It’s taken all the joy out of it. At the moment I’m not their consistently but when I am posting I try to do so from a place of joy and spontaneity. My account is primarily an art account and I do find that when I’m in a rut with my art practice I tend also to be in a rut with Instagram - I’ve always seen Instagram as an extension of what I’m doing, rather than a “suppose I better take a photo” app.

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This was so interesting to read - Instagram's really tired me out these last few months, and pushing myself to be more active on there has definitely been a detriment to my work and mental wellbeing, 🫠 so I'm taking a wee break at the moment and posting mainly old work. I'm trying to figure out what my next steps on it will be because reach and interaction on the platform is proving to be really challenging but it's always such a great source of inspiration and connection with creative communities! 😊

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