Don’t let aesthetics stop you from posting on Instagram, post whatever the f*ck you want
It’s often said, the person who views your Instagram story the most is…you. Honestly, I couldn’t agree more. Once you’ve posted a story it can lead to you staring at yourself far longer than you’d like to admit.
Let’s face it, social media is a game made for attention or approval, whether we like to admit it or not. Meta even commissioned a study on how Instagram was affecting teens in the US and UK, and gen z blamed Instagram for increasing rates of anxiety and depression.
So, what do we do when we find ourselves endlessly scrolling or rewatching our own posts, fixating on that stray hair or wondering if our smile is a little bit off? Here are some tips to help you post without falling into the trap of overthinking, constantly checking or obsessing over every detail.
1. Post for yourself
Literally no one cares what you’re posting on your feed… to a certain extent. I know it’s tempting to post the hottest selfie ever with a song you hardly know (we see you stalking his Spotify playlists) but it’s honestly not even worth it. If you can’t resist, you need to stop checking those views! Chances are the person you want to see it probably won’t, instead they’ll see the photo your friend posted where you’re giving flashback mary.
2. Remember everyone’s faking it
It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing your feed to your situationship’s ex-girlfriend, or a crazy rich model, who has just finessed the messy girl aesthetic. You have to remember, what you see online is often a carefully curated version of reality. I know blah blah, love yourself for who you are and all that.
Don’t just take advice from DITCH, take it from one of our idols, Chicken Shop Date’s Amelia Dimoldenberg (who literally made her name on Youtube and Instagram). She says, “Social media is amazing at showing all the different sides to your identity.” In her case, it’s that sarcastic, awkward vibe that we can’t get enough of. So maybe stop comparing yourself to other people and post whatever the f*ck you want!
3. Take a break
I’m not gonna lie — the moment I post on Instagram, my screen time goes through the roof. Sometimes it gets so bad my eyes actually start to ache. Sometimes you just need to take a step back, stop scrolling through the carousel and put your phone on silent. Let someone else stalk you, cause quite frankly it’s getting a bit sad.
4. Stop overthinking the caption
Stop sweating over trying to craft the “perfect” caption. Your friends don’t care what emojis you’re using and they are sick of you saying, “I can’t think of a caption.” Just keep it simple and say whatever comes into your head, unless it’s live laugh love, then you need to take a good look at yourself.
5. Realise the way your feed looks doesn’t matter
The perfect aesthetic is overrated. Your feed doesn’t need to be as perfect as your Pinterest inspo board. Post what feels real and authentic, the likes will come, or they won’t. That’s what the ‘hide like count’ button is for.
