How to Beat Instagram Burnout (& Still Growing Your Account)

Hey babes! Last week I talked about how I finally achieved 10,000 Instagram followers and how it has been a long time goal of mine. Well I started to write about how I got there and ended up breaking it down into a couple different posts because it was getting a little/lot too long.

Today I wanted to talk about one of the things that is the hardest for my to overcome with Instagram, burnout. As a blogger, Instagram is one of the main ways to let people know about your blog. My Instagram at least, is a little mini sampling of what you can find here on NorthwestBlonde. So because of that, Insta becomes one of the most important social media platforms. However…

For me at least, Instagram slowly became just another aspect of the blogging rat race. Just like there are hundreds of blogs out there (thank you for taking your time with this one), there are thousands of Instagram accounts to follow. Which means I was spending almost more time actively trying to grow my Instagram than my actual blog.

Any time that I wasn’t on the app felt like it was time wasted. What if my ideal follower was currently online and I was missing her? What if all my followers lived on the East coast and were already well into their work day when I posted? This account if growing faster than mine, she must be spending more time on here than I am! I basically became super neurotic about it all. But after talking with some friends and fellow bloggers I found out this is not uncommon.

So after doing just about everything wrong once (or twice), I’ve developed a system that has helped me finally cross the 10,000 follower mark without the burnout or stress that used to accompany. So if you feel stressed, overwhelmed, by Instagram and want to avoid Instagram burnout while still growing your account, just keep reading!

Schedule blocks of time to be active on Instagram.

I like to set a timer for 15-30 minutes either during my bus ride into work, during my lunch break, and in the evening to be active on Insta. I don’t just mean scrolling and looking but actively engaging with your followers and people you follow. Leave comments, reply to comments, researching hashtags. Pick one action and go hard for a set limit of time then stop. I find this to be the best way to be active without becoming a little (lot) crazy about it since you’ve scheduled one time as well as off time. Which leads me to my next point…

Turn It Off.

When I start to feel overwhelmed, stressed, or burnt out by Instagram, the best thing I can do is set my phone down and walk away. By heading off the stress before you’re ready to delete the app off your phone entirely, you’ll be able to come back in an hour or a day and jump right back on the horse instead of needing a week+ and the motivation to find your groove again.

Test different tactics but don’t get attached.

There are so many different methods and hacks and tips and ways of growing your social media accounts it’s mind boggling. You can test out any and all the different ones you’re interested in, lord knows I have, but whatever method you choose, commit to following it for at least a solid week. This way you’ll have a bit of a habit established so you can get more accurate results on how those techniques/strategies worked out for you. But on the flip side, don’t feel like you have to stick 100% to the plan or else it won’t work. You can take techniques from all the different guides and make them work for your life.

Find ways to stay inspired.

When you’re feeling inspired, it’s easier to stay engaged because you are excited and proud about what you’re posting. This can mean scheduling in some Pinterest time into your week, or reading a fashion magazine, or my favorite way of staying inspired is to keep a journal. This way you can write down and save an idea or outfit for later. Just try to keep your form of inspo off the ‘gram.

This time next week, we’re talking about goal setting and how little ones can lead you to even greater achievements (all in the context of Instagram, or course)! I’m breaking down my Instagram goal timeline for you and what I’ll be doing moving forwards. You know what they say, there’s only one way to eat an elephant, one bite at a time!

What has been your biggest struggle with Instagram (or social media in general)? Do you get burnt out by it all? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to commiserate with you babes!

Until next time,
Ana Luiza

DRESS: Zara, last year (similar here) // SHIRT: Nordstrom (for sale under $50) // SHOES: Christian Louboutin (similar under $100 here) // BAG: Aldo, old (similar here)