🐻 The reason I almost quit Instagram last week

Hi friends,

Something happened last week that I want to share with you.

My anxiety was up. I was questioning the content I was posting on social media, my overall direction at work, and (if I’m being completely honest) my worth as a creator.

So I brought it up in therapy.

And after a long conversation, my therapist and I were able to uncover something interesting:

It’s Instagram. Or more specifically, consuming content on Instagram.

Let me explain.

Instagram is the only platform where I consume short-form content. I don’t use TikTok, so this is it for me. And even though I’m a conscious consumer (I follow only 30 people and never scroll the feed), something about the pace of Instagram messes with my mind.

Because I’m not just watching content. I’m analyzing. I’m thinking about trends. I’m wondering if I should drop everything I’m doing and post something right now so I don’t fall behind.

And that’s the exact feeling that’s been haunting me:

I’m behind.
I’m not doing enough.
I’m not enough.

There’s a wonderful quote from Alice in Wonderland that perfectly illustrates what Instagram has felt like to me lately:

“It takes all the running you can do to stay in the same place.”

And the final trigger?

A story Q&A from a creator I admire. Someone asked her, “How do you get everything done?”

And she said, “I barely sleep.”

When I read that, I felt something break inside me.

No. Not this again. Another person hustling their health away.

That’s not the life I want. That’s not the version of success I believe in.

Sleep is the foundation of everything, not just for me, but for most of us. And yet, so many people are burning themselves out in a race they created for themselves. I don’t want to be part of that race.

So this week, I’m taking my power back.

Here are the two actions I’m taking:

TRACKING MY WORK HOURS WITH TOGGL TRACK

Toggl Track is a time-tracking app that visually shows you how you spend your workday. (Not sponsored, my friend recommended it to me.)

As a visual learner, this has been so helpful. I can see how much I work. And more importantly, I can feel that I’m doing enough.

No more questioning. No more guilt. Just data, clarity, and peace.

NO SOCIAL MEDIAS AS A CONSUMER

This week, I’m not watching any content on Instagram. No scrolling. No stories.

I’ll still post my own content (Monday to Friday like usual) and respond to messages. But I’m done letting other people’s lives dictate my pace.

Because I want to build my life.
Not theirs.

I’m tired of feeling like I have to be everywhere at once.
I want to stay close to myself.
And that starts with the courage to slow down.

Next week, I’ll report back and let you know how this experiment goes. I’m curious what I’ll learn and maybe you can try a version of it too, if you want to.

Talk soon,
Veronika 🤍

P.S. I’d love to know: how do you manage your relationship with social media? Any boundaries or rituals that help you stay centered?