Kate! I fondly remember you from our Jack Morton days. You were a kid; I wasn't. I think I'm offiically a "super grown up" now , fully owning my preference for attractions like Disney's Carousel of Progress. (air conditioned/long enough for a nap)
Social media is making us all...antisocial. I admit it's a cesspool all the while scrolling and deeply considering another "game changing" concealer. Removing the app from my phone has proven fruitful.
I was so happy Jeff Hiller won. Mostly because he was amazing on that show but also because his picture suddenly filled my social feeds - a much needed breath of fresh air.
I have been “trying to get off of Instagram” for years. I still want to have access to it (in case I need to check whether a restaurant I want to go to is randomly closed, for example), but I want to spend zero time scrolling on it. I finally figured out that I could hide the app icon on my iPad, which has been a game-changer. I’m on day 3 or 4 of a 30-day Instagram fast that I’m hoping will become permanent, and I really don’t miss it at all. Also, yay for Jeff Hiller! I loved everything about Somebody Somewhere. I will raise a teeny ‘tini in his honor 🍸
Did you take the app of your phone completely? I've tried hiding it and still go on it just as much, sadly. I would love to hear how this 30 day fast goes! Keep me posted.
Oh yes, taking the app off my phone was the first step. Before I did that, I would scroll before going to bed and first thing when I woke up, which I felt probably wasn’t the best thing for my wellbeing? At first I used the NYT Games app as a substitute, but then I was getting too addicted to that, so I deleted that one, too. Now I mostly do Duolingo and a guided meditation or two on Insight Timer (and maybe some scrolling on Pinterest) at night and in the morning, and I feel pretty good about that. It definitely helps that most of the content on Instagram has become so…unappealing.
I was at Disney the weekend before you! I had gone on Guardians of the Galaxy in 2019, and this time I joyfully accompanied my best friend to the end of the line and then said "I'll meet you at the exit" because I STANK of FEAR after I rode it six years ago. Goofy's Sky School is about my limit of thrill rides! (The one exception for me is Space Mountain, because somehow not being able to see what's coming makes it LESS scary for me, and not more - what can I say, my brain and body are weird!)
Thank you for that gift link, I am fuuuurious about that article! As someone who does not live near any of the parks, I can't imagine taking my kids and either having an incredibly slow, second-rate time, or being expected to pay through the nose (and participate in the system that results in other riders having a slow, second-rate time). Ugh, capitalism.
I'm definitely trying to put guard rails around my social media usage. I put a limit on my IG app (which I might need to drop further, honestly), and I know myself enough to know that Tiktok is just going to be a bad situation for me, scroll-wise. I like that you noticed you were being sold to, I sometimes don't clock that and could stand to pay more attention to it.
It's really frustrating. We go to Disneyland a couple of times a year and have since around 2014, and it is wild to see how things have become increasingly "worse."
I hear you about the guard rails. I am trying to figure out how to use my instagram more as a landing page for folks looking for info about my work, almost like a website. Still pondering it!
Also, to show that this can absolutely be a thing that works for authors (I'm just coming at it from a business perspective because I'm a freelancer), my friend Whitney used to use it on her IG to promote her graphic novels. If you scroll down further down her feed, you can see how some of the posts interlock from top to bottom and have color themes based on what she was promoting (cover reveal, pre-orders, etc). IG did change from perfectly-square posts to a different aspect ratio, so side-to-side isn't perfect on hers anymore, but with the right Canva template, you can work around that pretty easily.
Oh man, I have the answer for how to make IG like a landing page! You want to create a static grid. They can be gorgeous and branded and interlocking and cool, but basically you can have a set of posts that feature different things about you and your business, but ultimately let people know where to find you other than IG. I have one for my business (I have to update it because I've pivoted who I serve, but that's...further down on my long list of things to do) and I like that I have no pressure to post from my professional account. My friend Deanna has a great post about it here: https://deannaseymour.com/static9grid/
Oh wow, amazing! dd is the BEST, I'm sure she'll do an amazing job helping you figure out the right approach and designing something beautiful for you.
Ha! You're a brave woman to take on ANY Disney ride other than those at "It's a Small World."
which is one of my faves, i should note!
Kate! I fondly remember you from our Jack Morton days. You were a kid; I wasn't. I think I'm offiically a "super grown up" now , fully owning my preference for attractions like Disney's Carousel of Progress. (air conditioned/long enough for a nap)
Social media is making us all...antisocial. I admit it's a cesspool all the while scrolling and deeply considering another "game changing" concealer. Removing the app from my phone has proven fruitful.
Keep being funny and smart. :)
Hi Rosanne! It's so nice to see your name pop up there. I look back on my JMW days so fondly. And god, I WAS young then! LOL.
I was so happy Jeff Hiller won. Mostly because he was amazing on that show but also because his picture suddenly filled my social feeds - a much needed breath of fresh air.
He was pure joy at the Emmys, it was so wonderful to see!
Isn´t it weird how the online-world of 2008 seems so appealing now? ah, bring it back
The super-early days of Tumblr were really amazing. I also miss, like, the moment we all got in Friendster in 2003.
Okay this felt like an old casual chat/forever 35 catch up in the best way! Look forward to more!
Also, the social media struggle is so real. I think I may finalyyyy buy a Brick this week. Have you tried?
Aw, thanks! I am striving for an informal, conversational vibe here, and trying not to stress about being super polished. (But I always stress, lol.)
I have a Brick and I like it. I think it's more effective than software programs like Opal, One Sec, Freedom, etc.
I have been “trying to get off of Instagram” for years. I still want to have access to it (in case I need to check whether a restaurant I want to go to is randomly closed, for example), but I want to spend zero time scrolling on it. I finally figured out that I could hide the app icon on my iPad, which has been a game-changer. I’m on day 3 or 4 of a 30-day Instagram fast that I’m hoping will become permanent, and I really don’t miss it at all. Also, yay for Jeff Hiller! I loved everything about Somebody Somewhere. I will raise a teeny ‘tini in his honor 🍸
Did you take the app of your phone completely? I've tried hiding it and still go on it just as much, sadly. I would love to hear how this 30 day fast goes! Keep me posted.
Oh yes, taking the app off my phone was the first step. Before I did that, I would scroll before going to bed and first thing when I woke up, which I felt probably wasn’t the best thing for my wellbeing? At first I used the NYT Games app as a substitute, but then I was getting too addicted to that, so I deleted that one, too. Now I mostly do Duolingo and a guided meditation or two on Insight Timer (and maybe some scrolling on Pinterest) at night and in the morning, and I feel pretty good about that. It definitely helps that most of the content on Instagram has become so…unappealing.
I was at Disney the weekend before you! I had gone on Guardians of the Galaxy in 2019, and this time I joyfully accompanied my best friend to the end of the line and then said "I'll meet you at the exit" because I STANK of FEAR after I rode it six years ago. Goofy's Sky School is about my limit of thrill rides! (The one exception for me is Space Mountain, because somehow not being able to see what's coming makes it LESS scary for me, and not more - what can I say, my brain and body are weird!)
I love Goofy's Sky School! Thunder Mtn is my absolute fave, but it's closed right now :(
Big Thunder Mountain is another one I like, too! I was bummed not to get to go on it this trip!
UR SO BRAVE, that is the one Disney ride I will not do.
I will never set foot on it again, Lynn!
Just wanted to say thanks for writing Kate. I miss blogs dearly and this felt like the good ol’ days of late 2000s blogosphere.
I miss blogs too! I've been thinking a lot about this, and the style of online writing I miss and aspire to. Appreciate this feedback.
Thank you for that gift link, I am fuuuurious about that article! As someone who does not live near any of the parks, I can't imagine taking my kids and either having an incredibly slow, second-rate time, or being expected to pay through the nose (and participate in the system that results in other riders having a slow, second-rate time). Ugh, capitalism.
I'm definitely trying to put guard rails around my social media usage. I put a limit on my IG app (which I might need to drop further, honestly), and I know myself enough to know that Tiktok is just going to be a bad situation for me, scroll-wise. I like that you noticed you were being sold to, I sometimes don't clock that and could stand to pay more attention to it.
It's really frustrating. We go to Disneyland a couple of times a year and have since around 2014, and it is wild to see how things have become increasingly "worse."
I hear you about the guard rails. I am trying to figure out how to use my instagram more as a landing page for folks looking for info about my work, almost like a website. Still pondering it!
Also, to show that this can absolutely be a thing that works for authors (I'm just coming at it from a business perspective because I'm a freelancer), my friend Whitney used to use it on her IG to promote her graphic novels. If you scroll down further down her feed, you can see how some of the posts interlock from top to bottom and have color themes based on what she was promoting (cover reveal, pre-orders, etc). IG did change from perfectly-square posts to a different aspect ratio, so side-to-side isn't perfect on hers anymore, but with the right Canva template, you can work around that pretty easily.
(lol, forgot to share the link after that whole paragraph: https://www.instagram.com/heywhitneywrites/?hl=en)
Oh man, I have the answer for how to make IG like a landing page! You want to create a static grid. They can be gorgeous and branded and interlocking and cool, but basically you can have a set of posts that feature different things about you and your business, but ultimately let people know where to find you other than IG. I have one for my business (I have to update it because I've pivoted who I serve, but that's...further down on my long list of things to do) and I like that I have no pressure to post from my professional account. My friend Deanna has a great post about it here: https://deannaseymour.com/static9grid/
um this is amazing, i am setting up a meeting with her asap!
Oh wow, amazing! dd is the BEST, I'm sure she'll do an amazing job helping you figure out the right approach and designing something beautiful for you.
Yay, you have a static grid up! May it give you the freedom to thoroughly ignore Instagram whenever you want!