We all know the feeling – in your non-curated bedroom, bed socks on and hair in a top knot, scrolling through the blue-lit feed of shiny lives on Instagram. It starts as a harmless time-waster, but at some point there’s that little niggle… Your life is not Pinterest Perfect and you suddenly feel bad for it. You must buy this thing, or wear that thing, or look this way… TBH, for an activity that is just a roll of the thumb, it can be pretty exhausting. It’s time to break up with the Instagram accounts that make you feel bad, and start using your feed to positively fuel your creativity, imagination or even admiration – if it serves your life. From travel to career and even puppy love, here’s our pick for the top positive influences on the social platform.
Many studies have found that social media can have a negative impact on people’s self-esteem. Instagram, in particular, has become a vessel through which comparisons flow and often cause feelings of envy and worthlessness. Of course, there’s a deeper issue here – like, why does it have the ability to affect us so deeply sometimes? According to a University of Michigan study, the more we expose ourselves to the shiny, seemingly perfect lives of others, the more likely we are to develop envy and, so, lower self esteem. While jealousy isn’t a new concept, we’ve never been so actively exposed to the lives of others by such an easily accessed tool for immediate comparison.
A social detox is an obvious option to counter this, but you don’t have to give up on Instagram, you can instead make it work for you. Break up with accounts that cause unsatisfying feelings and bolster comparisons. By changing the accounts you follow on Instagram, you can improve your confidence and perception. So, take note of your gut feeling when you’re scrolling, and every time you pass a pic that isn’t serving your life, immediately hit unfollow. Then, start including these guys in your socials hit…
A post shared by Kash Bhattacharya (@budgettraveller) on
Kash Bhattacharya (@budgettraveller) was named National Geographic Travel blogger of the year. What sets Bhattacharya apart from other travel bloggers is his goal to travel in style on a budget. His account displays gorgeous images and inspires travel and adventure that’s actually achievable.
#LoveAnyBODY is a trending Instagram hashtag created by @any.body_co to remind women that there is no standard body size. The Instagram account is lead by Georgia Gibbs and Kate Wasley and contains photos of the Aussie models and inspirational body messages. The purpose of the account is to promote self-love.
A post shared by Kelli – Happy Inspiration (@happsters) on
@happsters mission is to spread happiness. After looking at the account’s inspirational quo
tes and positive affirmations layered over beautiful photos or illustrations, it’s hard to feel down.
A post shared by Kate| Wellness+Beauty Huntress (@livingprettynaturally) on
@livingprettynaturally contains natural beauty and health tips. The account is dedicate to helping its followers feel and look good on the inside and out.
A post shared by Humans of New York (@humansofny) on
Brandon Stanton is a New York based photographer with the mission to capture the stories of New Yorkers. His Instagram, @humansofny, has become a sensation and inspiration to many because it displays images of people with captions of their unique stories. The captions are often uplifting and a reminder that through perseverance you can overcome obstacles in life.
@ohsheglows account is created by best-selling cookbook author, Angela Liddon. The account provides plant-based recipes and makes eating healthy easy and delicious.
Javier Pérez (@cintascotch) combines everyday objects with his art. His Instagram account is a reminder that creativity can arise even when things seem mundane.
A post shared by Kezia and Jared (@thewholefooddiary) on
@thewholefooddiary was created by Jared and Kezia Neusch. The account reflects the couples “journey in loving our bodies.” They post a daily diary of the healthy (and delicious looking) food they make. The account is also linked with their website which contains all the recipes they have created. The account preaches the importance of staying healthy while enjoying what you eat.
Macie
Really lovely read. Social media has become so toxic to people without them even realizing it
Jenna
So much positivity on these accounts – definitely need to change up who I follow on Insta