I deleted my main Instagram account.
It was a pretty rash decision. But one that I’ve been going back and forth on for weeks now.
I know a lot of you really enjoyed connecting with us through Instagram and I have to admit, that was one of the best parts of it for me, too.
But something had to change. As you noticed, I’ve been struggling to write on this blog consistently due to most of my time going to spending time with Lexi and the addition of Daily Mom. I have a lot to share and talk about but only 24 hours a day and a toddler that literally needs me 20 of those 24 hours, as well as a fairly large website to run. So something had to give.
Instagram wasn’t ever meant to be an extension of my blog, which it was becoming. I was finding myself resorting to posting on Instagram when I should have been posting on the blog, connecting with followers there rather than here. My Instagram account was meant to be private and personal, like my personal facebook account. Only people I know in real life or have become friends on the Internet. However, it morphed into something more and it was really nice for a period of time. In fact, I would probably continue it if it wasn’t for the need to cut something to give me more time. Since Instagram is the one place where I “hung out” most, it had to be it.
So anyways, I am now Instagram free and I didn’t think I would last more than a few days without posting (I do have a personal account but it’s meant for following my friends, not posting). It’s been almost 2 week now and I have not uploaded a single picture or spent much time looking at friends’ feeds. It was sort of an addiction and I feel I have a real chance of turning it around and saving some time there.
It has also been pretty purifying. Just dropping it. No turning around. It was kinda awesome! I don’t feel the need to constantly check Instagram or upload new photos, my focus is finally where it should be. I much more prefer blogging to quick photos there.
That is not saying that Instagram doesn’t have its own place and isn’t a great social website. I just can’t do it right now.
So I feel a bit sad for just leaving some of you guys, but I really hope we are just going to get to connect here instead.
Maybe in the future (when Lexi is pre-school or something), I will start it over again, but in the meantime, this will actually allow me to post more short posts on the blog, as well as spend more time with Lexi that isn’t interrupted by Instagram uploads or comment responses.
Cheers!
P.S. If time allows, I might post some of the photos and videos I would have otherwise posted on Instagram here instead.
I understand completely and have considered deleting my Facebook for the same reason. Social media is wonderful, but it can really take up a lot of time. Love your blog!!
You can de-activate your FB. For all intensive purposes your account is deleted. However, if you ever decide you want to restore your account, you can and all your friends and pics and such will still be on there. I think this is the way to go…just in case! Thought you might want to know this is an option!
Thanks! The only reason I don’t is because my mom and MIL would kill me (I use FB to post pictures of my daughter and it’s the easiest way for the family to all see them). I did de-activate it for a period of time while working on comps for my doctoral program, though. I just couldn’t risk wasting the time and it worked really well!
It’s actually “for all intents and purposes”, rather than “for all intensive purposes”. 😉 (I see this a LOT. How would a purpose be intensive, anyway?)
I don’t have the necessary technology to get an instagram account so I’m glad to see more pictures of Lexi here. 😉
It’s completely understandable, Elena! I have also chosen to give up on Instagram as there are only 24 hours and many many thing to accomplish.
I did not have an Instagram account so I was never able to follow your posts though I imagine they were beautiful. So happy to see more pictures here!!! I really missed your posts! 🙂
What a curious decision! I think social media is absolutely eating my time up, greatly. However my goal is to learn how to use it all more sufficient. Thank you for your post, enjoyed as always and hope to still in keep in touch no matter where :))) xx
You poor thing! if my children needed me 20 hours a day, I’d probably give up all social media also! I’m glad to see you updating the blog more often though 🙂
I totally understand giving up some social media. It has become an addiction for a lot of people, me included. However a 2 year old child should not need you 20 hours out of 24. She should be able to occupy herself safely for longer periods of time. And she certainly should be sleeping all night at this point.
It’s great that you think that all kids have a one fits all approach but many women with high needs, high energy kids, as well child developmental psychologists would strongly disagree with you.
A child is supposed to be dependent and constantly attached to his mother for the first few years of his life, as well as breastfeed through the night for many years. That’s what nature intended and forcing a separation on a child that is not child initiated is filled with consequences. It’s sad that so many people have pulled away from fulfilling the needs of children due to an erroneous assumption of what a child SHOULD do at any given point and what is considered a norm in society (even though it’s far from being normal)
My 2-year-old is also very high needs and does not sleep through the night yet; she rouses to nurse after about 6 hours of sleeping (but then sleeps another several hours with intermittent nursing). Throughout the day, she likes to have me close, and when she is with the nanny for any length of time while I’m out, she will want to be close (and “reconnect” with me) afterwards for up to an hour. On days when it’s just me and DD, she can only do about 15-20 minutes of independent play before she wants me to engage with her. In my experience, she needs me for about 16 hours a day (2 hours to nap and 6 hours of night sleep when she isn’t nursing).
It is an unfortunate trend in Western society to promote “independence” at such an early age that solid foundations of attachment are compromised. I would suggest reading “Hold on to Your Kids” by Dr. Gordon Neufeld for a different, and compelling, argument for maintaining attachments for longer periods of time.
I missed you on Instagram, so had to come find out how you and your cute family were doing. I understand needing to cut out something; while Instagram was (perhaps) a good use of time, a busy life requires that you pick the those engagements that are the better or best uses of your time. Best wishes to you in your endeavors! I am still checking in (though less often, as I’m at my computer less) to read your posts here and with Daily Mom.