I am feeling pretty fed up with instagram and social media generally. Sure it can be really fun and there's a fabulous supportive community of quilters but the fast pace and option of just hitting like ❤ isn't cutting it for me anymore. There are so many photos, so many great accounts and just so much to see. I don't feel as much joy though. Too much of a good thing?
There won't actually be a social media break for me, those dopamine hits are too addictive (seriously!) and mostly because I LOVE the Saturday Night Craft Along I co-host each week and the brilliant community that has built up. There are other nice bits too, I'm not completely hating on social media but I am overwhelmed by it, annoyed by it and feeling a bit icky about where it's going.
I am completely on board with the idea of JOMO - joy of missing out. If you're not on social media all the time it lets you enjoy real life more. And you get extra sewing time in! Disconnecting is ok, more than ok, and in this fast paced world it is really important to switch off. All the things on social media will still be there and no one expects you to race along with it. I believe Ferris Bueller said it best, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it".
It is so addictive; checking in, liking and scrolling but along with that comes some pressure. I want to like and comment on people's posts as much as possible, I genuinely want to see what people are making and celebrate their finishes and talents. I also feel pressure to post my own photos sometimes, though this blog has been going since 2011 so taking photos of my sewing and quilts is sort of second nature. It is enjoyable taking the pictures, the pressure is more about how they look. Other people's pictures have such pretty colours and compositions on white backgrounds, staged with beautiful props and don't get me started on all the amazing sewing rooms and backdrops!! For the most part I can't recreate that look and also don't have time. You are 'supposed' to have a curated instagram feed, people want to see a certain look, to define your brand and style. The way I define my style is miscellaneous so that's what my instagram feed is. If I try to make it cohesive and have a theme, it doesn't actually work or feel like 'me' because I don't have one approach or defined characteristics to my projects. I like what I like, make what I enjoy and the pressure to somehow turn that into 'branding' seems to be everywhere.
I feel pressure to engage on facebook as well but I set up a Charm About You page, when I had too many followers as a personal account, and many groups etc. won't let you comment as a page. My personal facebook is just that though, with pictures of my kids, politics etc and I am keeping that separate from my craft stuff - also people I went to school with don't want to see all my sewing.
And all of it is making me feel a bit 'not good enough', a sure sign that changes are needed.
So here's what I'm doing about it.
• Posting what I want and when I feel like it. If I even hear myself think 'I need to post on social media', I must immediately go and do something else.
• Absolutely post the things I really like.
• Unfollow people that make me doubt myself, even if I like their style, because it's ultimately not helping me.
• Conversing with people - I'm using 'conversing' rather than engaging because I would like conversations and engagement is so business like!! The vast majority of my quilty friendships were made through blogging and many through instagram. Conversations are what's important.
• Do more of what I love, not worry about what anyone else is doing. If I can create projects I love, regardless of style, then it's still my style isn't it?! It wouldn't suit me to define myself with any particular quilting labels. It doesn't benefit me to put myself in a category. Just continue to be myself, making things I enjoy.
It is so addictive; checking in, liking and scrolling but along with that comes some pressure. I want to like and comment on people's posts as much as possible, I genuinely want to see what people are making and celebrate their finishes and talents. I also feel pressure to post my own photos sometimes, though this blog has been going since 2011 so taking photos of my sewing and quilts is sort of second nature. It is enjoyable taking the pictures, the pressure is more about how they look. Other people's pictures have such pretty colours and compositions on white backgrounds, staged with beautiful props and don't get me started on all the amazing sewing rooms and backdrops!! For the most part I can't recreate that look and also don't have time. You are 'supposed' to have a curated instagram feed, people want to see a certain look, to define your brand and style. The way I define my style is miscellaneous so that's what my instagram feed is. If I try to make it cohesive and have a theme, it doesn't actually work or feel like 'me' because I don't have one approach or defined characteristics to my projects. I like what I like, make what I enjoy and the pressure to somehow turn that into 'branding' seems to be everywhere.
I feel pressure to engage on facebook as well but I set up a Charm About You page, when I had too many followers as a personal account, and many groups etc. won't let you comment as a page. My personal facebook is just that though, with pictures of my kids, politics etc and I am keeping that separate from my craft stuff - also people I went to school with don't want to see all my sewing.
And all of it is making me feel a bit 'not good enough', a sure sign that changes are needed.
So here's what I'm doing about it.
• Posting what I want and when I feel like it. If I even hear myself think 'I need to post on social media', I must immediately go and do something else.
• Absolutely post the things I really like.
• Unfollow people that make me doubt myself, even if I like their style, because it's ultimately not helping me.
• Conversing with people - I'm using 'conversing' rather than engaging because I would like conversations and engagement is so business like!! The vast majority of my quilty friendships were made through blogging and many through instagram. Conversations are what's important.
• Do more of what I love, not worry about what anyone else is doing. If I can create projects I love, regardless of style, then it's still my style isn't it?! It wouldn't suit me to define myself with any particular quilting labels. It doesn't benefit me to put myself in a category. Just continue to be myself, making things I enjoy.
• Focus on blogging. I intend to write more here and also read other blogs. It's more in depth, I like reading about people's whole process of creating their quilts / projects and it is far more interesting than the glimpses you get on social media.
I've gone back to Feedly - a RSS feed reader for blogs and other articles. I have used Blogger but the app is super glitchy on my phone and was driving me bonkers. Originally I used the blogger/google reader and was gutted when that went. Feedly is the best alternative for me and after trying a few apps, it's the simplest to use and I like the layout. I haven't read blogs for a couple of years, since instagram I've noticed a big dip in the number of comments I get so I know I'm not the only one. I miss reading posts and people are still writing them so I'm hoping to really get back to the blogging community. Feedly has a great search tool, so you can enter key words and easily find blogs you want to follow. If you write a blog, please let me know in a comment below and I will come and visit!
Many of the blogs I was following have gone. Literally gone. Either deleted or removed or sites not paid for maybe? Of the 325 blogs I followed, 55 were unreachable and 186 were inactive. I know things change (I might not like it but it's inevitable!) but there's still loads of talented makers writing interesting posts and I love learning from this community.
I ended up decluttering the lists of blogs, removing all the ones that were unreachable and inactive. I found a few blogs that had changed their names/sites and added them. And then I went on a bit of a clear up mission generally. Deleting apps on my phone I don't use, deleting old photos and files I didn't need on my laptop. Went through my bookmarks, removing sites I didn't visit. And then looked at my bookmarks bar, made some changes...
and made a visually pleasing icon rainbow!!
This post might have been ranty, I appreciate that some of it is obvious stuff but I needed the reminder and maybe some of you have felt similar things about social media. Sharing is great and technology can be a wonderful thing (when it's not Terminator 2) but, like everything in life, there has to be balance.
I'm back to really enjoying writing here. To be able to document stuff, rant if I want to, but mostly to share all the sewing, be creative and tell the story of my projects.
There are patterns in the works, planned tutorials (probably on YouTube, so bookmark or follow me there) and quilt finishes!
I will be back in the new year sharing my word for the year, as has been my tradition. Wishing you joy, happiness and all the best in 2019!
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Thanks for your thoughtful post. I too was gutted when Google Reader went away, and haven’t found another way to follow blogs that I like. I’ll look at Feedly now, thanks.
Sounds like your having a total return to self I too only follow limited blogs to be able to enjoy the content happy new year
I agree totally with lots of what you are saying, the pressure to hit like on Facebook because you don't want to offend someone is awful. I would like to do one of the craft sessions on Instagram but am not familiar with how it works so feel I maybe miss out on something that could be good. I will have to try and update some of my tech skills to see how to do this.
Hear Hear Lucy! I totally agree with you, this blog struck many a chord. May I wish you and your family a happy and peaceful new year and I look forward to continuing to follow you in 2019.
Do what you want, when you want - that's my motto. Way too much self imposed pressure to keep up on social media. Mind you, I like social media, but on my terms. A great post, Lucy. Happy New Year.
I really enjoy your blog Lucy and admire your honesty within your posts. I’m fairly new to Instagram and the sewing world and for a little while it got me down that people were posting such pretty projects and amazing fussy cuts and I realised I wouldn’t have the funds to recreate something similar as the fabrics are quite expensive. Especially when you only use tiny bits of it! I realised that a lot of these people are ‘given’ the fabric to promote it or promote their designs and that there’s a lot more to life! I’ve found a happy balance now and treat myself when I can and I am enjoying using up my stash and being ‘creative’ with what I have. Best wishes for 2019 x
I really enjoy your posts and look forward to them. I don't have a blog myself because I have never felt comfort with technology, and also I know that I would feel under pressure to post and create often and I don't need pressure. I too am sad that so many blogs I loved are no longer around, especially Flying Blind on a Rocket Cycle, and Canadian Abroad. I have chosen not to go on to Instagram. I do use Facebook but have deleted many pages that no long inspire me. We all just need to find our happy place. I look forward to seeing whatever you create next year. Wishing you a year of happiness and no drama. x
Serendipity or what? I've been playing with Instagram for the last few months and constantly feel as though I'm missing something. Images and likes are all great but I come from the late nineties era of Yahoogroups and early blogs, which were all about the conversation, so I thought I'd check to see if any of my favourite Instagrammers had blogs I could engage with and here you are talking about focussing on your blog - hooray!
I totaly agree it’s all getting a bit much, we don’t have the personal connection we once did. fb isn’t the same but I can’t bring myself to get rid of it. I don’t do twitter or Pinterest & I’ve cut down who I follow on Instagram. I’m glad your going to continue with Snca, thats one thing I love being part of. I’ve made a few friends there & love seeing what others are working on. Hope you have a happy new year x
I definitely find it hard to keep up with all the great projects people post about on instagram, both with the crappy algorithms IG uses and with the sheer size of the community and people I follow. I like the idea of disconnecting and using the time for more sewing, its not like I'm short of projects to start or finish. Your post has made me think about changes I could make this year, and also I need to create a visually pleasing icon rainbow too!
I like your ideas and may implement some of them myself. I agree that it feels that it's too much "post now" and I want to get back to more blogging and connecting with the people that matter to me.
Hear hear! I am hoping to get back to my blog next year (I've just published my only post of 2018), I just need to sort the photo thing out as all of my photos are hosted through Flickr. I hope 2019 is a good year for you and yours xx
I withdrew from f/b totally this year. It was unhealthy all the time I spent looking at people's 'news' and yet nobody was knocking on my door or contacting me just for me. It was all give and no take and that made me feel less worthy. I can't do that to myself. I'm still on ig but not incessantly by any stretch and I feel more in control of my time. I have always believed passionately in the importance of human connection face to face, so I had to stop being pulled in the other social media direction. I have moved house and area, so now it's time for meeting new friends and creating a new sewing community, where people will be encouraged to knock on my door and have a natter and a brew. Share our real worlds.
Exactly! I find it easier to be creative when you have limited options. It pushes you to think differently and create individual pieces. You keep making yourself happy with what you have! Happy New Year!
Hi Lucy,
I was also gutted when Google reader was removed. Have you tried The Old Reader? It looks exactly like google reader and I love it. (they aren’t paying me to say this!)
See you soon at Viv’s retreat. Happy new Year!
Lizzie
Oh Lucy - this post “spoke” to me in so many ways! I’ve not been posting on IG or on my blog at all this past few weeks/months because I keep saying to myself “no one wants to see this”! A lot of it has to do with the beautiful pictures and projects I’m seeing everything and not feeling like I measure up somehow. Definitely not healthy. I too cleaned up my IG feed this last week - I want to be inspired and I want to spend my online time meeting people and making connections. So I plan on getting back to blogging and commenting on the blogs I follow and maybe IG isn’t where I’m going to be spending a lot of my online time anymore. I love your blog and how honest and “real” you are on here. So I’m really happy to read that you’ll continue to come here. And I’ll try to leave comments more often. :-)
Sounds good, all the best for the New Year!
Thanks for the post. There are so many points I was saying yes, me too. I too enjoy blogs, they are so much more personal and informative. With Instagram and Facebook deciding what I see, when I see or if I see it, blogging is my choice. I've used bloglovin to follow others, may need to check out Feedly. Looking forward to your 2019 posts.
I stopped blogging a number of years ago when I started working full time because I didn't have the time. But now IG has become quite time consuming so it's like being caught between a rock and a hard place. I've fallen out of the habit of reading blogs but it's something I want to get back into in the New Year. Best wishes to you in 2019 and I look forward to reading your blog posts more regularly x
I feel the same way. There was a challenge that Vitamin Water were doing where you give up your smartphone for all of 2019 and they give you $100,000 and I was VERY tempted. When I get bored at work - or even if I am doing stuff at work (because my job involves some social media use) I was looking at depressing stuff on Facebook way too often. I'd like to be off Facebook entirely but I don't want to lose touch with people from years ago. Instagram is more my happy place, but like you, I've been chosing to unfollow people who are harshing my buzz in some way. Generally, I've been enjoying sewing listening to podcasts more, and that's why I didn't go for the challenge of getting rid of my phone. :) I'm hoping to blog more too, I predict blogging will come back, maybe in a slightly different way to how it was, but they'll be back when people want more than a pretty photo.
OMG I forgot all about Yahoo Groups!!! And I used to love the Crafteroo Forum (and of course Flickr).
I was hoping there'd be similar communities on Reddit but they're a bit quiet.
I applaud your desire to limit social media and focus on blogging. You're right, blogs are where the in-depth stories are that generate conversations. I'm looking forward to following your adventures in quilting in 2019. Happy New Year!
I can totally relate Lucy. I get very overwhelmed with IG and sometimes panic that I'm not getting enough done! Every now and again I have to have a word with myself and realise that what I do is enough. I have eased off IG over the Christmas period and guess what I loved it! Hope you have a fab 2019. Xxx
I would much rather receive one email a week or tice a month than every day. Some of my favorite bloggers have stopped and gone to Instagram. Seeing a photo every day is just not the same as reading and seeing a quilter's progress, mistakes, etc. thanks for speaking up!
My blog auto-posts to my FB Business Page, but I joyfully gave up reading my FB news feed just over 6 years ago and felt so much better for it. On IG I follow a slightly odd mixture of photographers, crafters and dogs. The dogs make me feel good since it's not practical to have a real one in a small flat with no outside, the photographers inspire my travels and the crafters, well, I follow my friends - they may not have perfectly curated feeds, and they may not make perfect crafts in perfect spaces but meh, neither to do I!
As for interactions, well I'm guilty of fly by liking on IG, I read the captions, but since I tend to do a bulk review when eating dinner of an evening, or waiting for my machine to fire up in the morning at work, I don't have a lot of time/ability to comment. If a smart arse one comes to me though, be sure I'll leave it ;o)
Helen - oh, do try some of the crafty things on instagram - don't be afraid of not knowing. The hosts are all very helpful if you are unsure. The only way to start is to start! Have fun!
Happy New Year Lucy! What?! Bookmark bar as a rainbow? OMG! :D
I enjoyed your post, I really enjoy JOMO, there is no pressure to follow or like, and I have so much more time now. I'm trying Feedly now and so far so good.
Hooray for you speaking up! I started on IG just over a year ago because I am a Moda Bake Shop Chef (not a very prolific one - ha!) and a social sewer for a few fabric lines. Can't be a social sewer with out being on social media, hey? I know this may shock some, but I am NOT on FB. There...I said it! There is so much pressure for me to be on FB from a fabric company perspective but honestly, IG is exhausting enough to keep up with. And to what end? I am not ready to sell my soul to reach a zillion followers. I have met some of the most amazing people on IG. I adore the ease at which you can block or unfollow. It is too easy to feel unworthy when there is so much paint brushed perfection on the feeds. It breaks my heart when I see people start their post with, "I am sorry for the wonky whatever", or "so sorry for the terrible lighting", or whatever it is they are apologizing for. We are all real people with real limitations and resources! I try to leave comments when I can but as you know, sometimes you can only "like" the post because that is all time allows. Now I am ranting but I just wanted to say THANK YOU for being real, and for giving me the courage to say, "nope! I ain't being coerced into joining FB even if it means I will never be one of the cool kids!" My time is limited and precious, and I just don't have what it takes to juggle yet another social media platform. Happy (uncluttered) New Year Lucy - let's make 2019 what WE want it to be!
Lucy --- I'm sending you a virtual hug. Of all of our friends who started blogs in 2011 you are one of the few still going strong and for that I am so proud of you. Yesterday was my first day back in the sewing room in ages and I was debating whether to take a pic of my make (an all AMH Rainbow pillow) and post it...but instead I moved on to doing something else. But this morning, as I looked at the beautiful pillow that only my family and I will enjoy, I was sad to think that others (like you) would most certainly celebrate its making with me if I were still blogging. That said, follow your gut. I trust that you will find a balance and clearly, given the comments below, people appreciate what you have to share in whatever capacity you are able to do so. We love you and your work! Trust that you will find the right balance. Happy 2019 my friend!!!
Happy New Year, Lucy! Thanks for writing this piece. I'd love to be able to place accounts I follow on Instagram, in groups, I have trouble finding an account sometimes - search things would be good! I'm trying to encourage anyone who posts a price on INSTA to include currency. I realise there are photographers, and (for want of better description) "popular group"just like at school!! Best wishes, ps. I love #saturdaynightcraftalong too, thank you for your hosting. From Ruth @kilnofintention (Australia)
I will still be there enjoying you making laugh and inspiring me to create! Happy New Years!
I hear you Lucy. The styled photos/grid curation etc are deterring me too x
I always read this blog and love this post. I have a blog and although it has come 2nd to instagram I really want to write more this year. I love Instagram for making friends and seeing so much inspiration in one place but do feel overwhelmed by all the wonderful projects and amount of projects some people manage to create every month. I know my limits an£ know it is not achievable for me but still makes me feel inadequate for some reason. My plan for this year is to be kinder to myself in all areas possible. Happy new year to you and your family x
Great Post Lucy and know exactly what you mean . We fly through IG clicking like but don’t really absorb what’s in the content . As for blogs and their decline it just reinforces we aren’t taking enough time anymore . I used to love writing my blog even though it was small and didn’t have lots of followers . I planned to relaunch last year but put it off and off and here we are again in 2019 and I’m no further forward . You may well have given me that little shove to get onto it and not just go for the quick fix . Happy new blogging to you all
I don't think you've been ranty at all! Rather very realistic. It's not all cut and dried....it's good to take time and be thoughtful about. I struggle with that too.
Absolutely! I think not absorbing things is what's throwing me. I can't remember who made what or even what I've seen half the time!! I think enjoying writing is a good reason to reignite your blog! Let me know when you do :)
That is a marvellous plan! ❤️ Happy New Year and thank you for always reading! Xx
I've found instagram killed my comment. I used to read blogs pretty religiously, I kept up to date and had my favourites, but once instagram took over the blogs died. And it became so much a thing just to tap like and scroll, that even when I was reading the blogs, I stopped commenting. I still blog, but I only get 1 or 2 comments (or none) on a post. Not that I was ever a big fancy blogger with a following, but the whole experience is very different. I don't have any solutions, just agreement that the amazing quilting community I met through blogging continues on insta, but it's... less engaged. And insta really does make you focus on the numbers and the engagement and the brand, when I just want to be me and share the pretty things. Ah well, this rant makes me feel like I got old!! lol.
What a great post. It really resonated with me. I’ve had an enforced IG break because my ipad and IG fell out and but with a new ipad I’m back in the swim and looking forward to getting back to SNCA. In fact I missed being in touch with my crowd... Also with an arid period of sewing for part of last year my blog (the lilaccat.com) had fewer posts.
Loved your action list and I must give some thought to that as well. I’m brutal about unfollowing ‘aspirational’ IG accounts. Once they get too stagey and too picture perfect I’m off. I want real pictures of real, mainly, sewing life I can relate to. I prefer blogs that are also real, like yours, I don’t want awesome perfection and everything is rosy. Because that’s not my life..... I do want to understand what is behind someone’s creation, their design inspiration, the problems they faced etc which is where IG leaves me a bit cold. Too much display, too little analysis.
Keep on doing what you do and enjoy it. I for one don’t stylised material, the commercial world has that in abundance, I like thoughtful analysis and creativity. I’m conscious with your new full time role you will have to squeeze a lot into your life but keeping space for yourself will be key.
If I have already commented, apologies, I have been meaning to comment. I love the instancy of instgram, but i MISS the depth of blogging. I have always continued to blog, sometimes more frequently than others. but am going to get back into it. My pictures are certainly not perfect, my life isn't perfect, but it is my life and I do like sharing. Whatever that says about me. Hopefully not that i am shallow, but that I am chatty and friendly.
Oh, Lucy, I loved this!! So exactly how I have been feeling on many levels. Some of what you stated may seem obvious, but until you hear someone else say it, you kind of think you’re the only one feeling that way. I, too, miss blogging and the deeper writing and connections there. I’m glad you’re still doing it!