I Created a “Mindful” Instagram Account, and It Changed the Way I See Social Media

By now, we’ve all heard that social media can take a toll on your mental health, and for me, that’s certainly been true. The more I scroll, the more I compare myself to others, thinking about what I don’t have, what I don’t look like, and what I’m not doing, instead of all I have to be grateful for. I’ve tried everything to mitigate these negative feelings online. Then, finally, after many failed attempts at a social media cleanse, I decided to create a mindful Instagram account.

That wasn’t the idea at first. Instead, I tried deleting social media altogether — but while this did help me in many ways, I often found myself missing the influencers and accounts that genuinely motivated and inspired me. So, I downloaded the apps again, and this time I was determined to unfollow any accounts that made me feel bad about myself. That ended up being a bit more unrealistic than I expected, so I thought, Why not just start fresh? That’s when my mindful Instagram account was born, and it’s been so beneficial.

So, what exactly is a mindful Instagram account? For me personally, this account is a “safe space.” It’s a place I can go to be inspired to take action to be the best version of myself. I only follow people whose posts actually help me become a better person every day. For me, this means meditation coaches, positive affirmation accounts, healthy recipe bloggers, favorite podcasts, and more.

While I’ve chosen to keep my account private, so that no one other than myself can follow it, I (sparingly) post my favorite quotes and recipes, and share my progress. Because no one else sees what I’m posting, this has been a great way for me to focus on how I’m feeling, instead of how I look in the eyes of others. On days when I’m feeling extra blah about myself, it’s a safe space for me to check in and see my progress, as well as some inspiring content.

The longer I’ve had this mindful Instagram account, the easier it’s become to prioritize my health and well-being. Instead of having to scroll through all of my friends’ vacation photos, I can log into Instagram and go right to that chocolate protein pancake recipe I’ve been dying to try. It has helped me feel connected to the things that truly matter: my health, both physical and mental. I feel better about myself simply because I’ve taken this step to reduce all of the other *noise*. I’m happier and more present. Instead of mindlessly scrolling, I’m able to focus on myself. I’ve stopped comparing myself to others, and it feels good.

I’d be lying if I said I post regularly, because I really don’t. But I’ve learned that you don’t always have to be doing something or posting something to better yourself. The same way you feed your body with nutritious foods, you can feed your mind with content that actually makes you feel good. I’m committed to keeping up my mindful Instagram account. It’s made a world of difference for me, and I think it can for you, too. So, go on — try it.