Less, But Better: What Three Months Away From Instagram Taught Me
Is this the change we all need?
I never planned to stop posting on Instagram. But one day became a week, a week became a month… and then, somehow, three months had passed.
At first, I felt a flicker of guilt — that quiet pull to show up, to share, to post something… anything! But once I gave myself permission not to, I felt something else instead: relief.
I felt lighter. Calmer. More grounded in my real life — which, as it turned out, had plenty going on.
In the space of a few weeks, my son fractured his arm, I broke my foot (which still hasn’t healed), we moved out of our house for a month, and we threw ourselves into preparing our home for sale. During this time, I also helped my eldest daughter create a book about rescue dogs, became a full-fledged soccer mum, and continued mentoring some incredible women (here and here) through their creative work.
It was a full, beautiful, messy season — and I loved immersing myself into completely.
I once read: “Make your real life better than your highlight reel.” And that’s exactly what these past months have been about. It might not have been photo-worthy, but it felt so good and the best kind of rewarding.
But, now what? This is where I go from here…
The Changing Landscape
The more I’ve stepped back, the more I’ve noticed a subtle shift happening across the creative world.
For years, social media was where we built everything — our businesses, our communities, our creative identities. It was exciting. Accessible. A window to the world.
But lately, something feels different. The energy has changed.
The pace, the noise, the endless push to post more, share more, be more — it’s left many of us questioning what we actually want from these platforms.
Do we want to be constantly visible, or connecting in a more aligned way?
Do we want to chase numbers, or cultivate something that endures?
I’ve noticed other creatives asking these same questions too. Writers like Emma Gannon and Sara Tasker (Me & Orla), who both built significant followings on Instagram, have both stepped away and grown thriving communities on Substack —free from the pressure of algorithms. My friend Shira Gill has reconsidered her approach, editing her Instagram feed into a mini website — less noise, more thoughtfully curated.
It feels like we’re collectively moving toward a new rhythm. A quieter one. One that values depth over reach.
The Response That Surprised Me
When I finally shared a post on Instagram this week, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But what happened next was proof of this shift.
I received many messages reflecting a similar experience:
Jaclyn Bishop wrote: “I think your goal of less but better is what everyone is hoping for from Instagram in general.”
Another, with a sizeable following, sent me a DM: “I have done the exact same thing with time. Family over scrolling, time over posting. I still look daily, then I move on. It’s been quite freeing.”
So many are navigating this in-between space: between old identities and new ones, between visibility and a more grounded, fulfilling rhythm, and between connecting with others and reconnecting with ourselves.
It feels like a collective exhale.
What “Less But Better” Looks Like
As I consider how to move forward, I keep coming back to one of my favourite mantras: less but better.
It means creating and sharing from a more considered place, rather than from pressure. It’s about sharing when it feels meaningful to do so. While I have always had this intention, it’s easy to get caught in the cycle of posting for posting’s sake.
Instead, I want add value, insight, or inspiration. Sometimes I just want to connect with liked-minded people around the world, rather than feeling an obligation to show up.
For now, my “less but better” filter is simple:
“Is this worth someone’s precious time?”
“Is it worth mine?”
Only when the answer is yes to both, do I post.
The Takeaway: Reclaiming Our Agency & Time
Taking a three-month break from social media was the reset I needed.
It helped me focus my time and energy on what truly matters.
It helped me redefine boundaries.
And it helped me reconnect with myself, and with my family in a deeper way.
Social media will keep changing, but perhaps this is our moment to change too.
Here’s to less but better.
To living the story, not just sharing it.
And to creating in ways that feel deeply aligned, intentional, and good.
READER PROMPT:
What’s your current relationship with social media? How has it changed?
I’d love to hear — share in the comments below. I read every single one.
THIS CREATIVE LIFE IS 100% FREE
You can show your support—big or small—with these simple acts:
Tap the heart, leave a comment, share with a friend, or explore my books to go deeper.
It’s fascinating to see the patterns that emerge when you mentor and coach hundreds of creative business owners. One of the most important parts of business is often one of the most neglected: networking.
I understand. Even the word can sound sleazy. But it doesn’t have to be. In fact, cultivating connections can be incredibly rewarding in many ways. I am still connected to inspiring creative business women who I first met almost 20 years ago.
Sometimes just one connection can change everything for you, and your business.
It can open doors to clients, partnerships, or press that you wouldn’t access on your own. Or, it can just help you feel less alone in business.
If you have your own business, I’d encourage you to consider a relationship that has helped you on your journey. And set yourself the goal of creating a new connection this month. After all, when we think of networking as a way to cultivate aligned connections, we can remove the ick factor.
If you’d like to explore this further, I’ve recently created a training and added conversation starters inside Design & Grow. Learn more here.
On a more personal note:
Listening: Can’t stop listening to Olivia Dean. Don’t think I’m the only one though! Some of my favourite songs: Dive, The Hardest Part, Okay Love You Bye, Reason To Stay.
Reading: I feel a pang of sadness that my 9yo son is reading some of the books that I had bookmarked to read together, including Where The Red Fern Grows. Now, it’s on my bedside table.
Wanderlust-ing: My friend Magdalena Roze is currently travelling through Europe with her family. She has the best recommendations so if you’re in the UK, or plan to travel there soon, check out her foodie guide to London and more on her Instagram.
➤ STYLE WITH CONFIDENCE: Discover how to infuse your personal style into your interiors so that you can transform any interior with confidence. | Learn More
➤➤ START OR SCALE YOUR CREATIVE BUSINESS: If you’re ready to start or scale your creative business, access a customised mentorship experience to make meaningful progress on your goals. | Apply Here
➤➤➤ ACCESS STRATEGIES, SYSTEMS & SUPPORT: Business doesn’t have to be hard when you know where to focus. Join other female founders making an impact in the world of interiors, wellness & more. | Join Now
Discover my best-selling books filled with insights and inspiration to design a home & life you love. Buy This is Home, Still, Style and Home By The Sea today. Signed copies available here.
I am amazed by how many know alls there are, telling others how to do it and what is best for them. Instagram has destroyed an imaginative world and put money making as the only form of success.
To me it is like a church, preaching, as to what is best and putting fear and guilt into the congregation.
Let the voyeurism and the self go and bring back the community.
Thank you so much for this inspiration. Ive done the exact same. My current situation is different (completing a PhD and being a mum of a 4 and a 1 year old) but I have also left Instagram and Facebook and have found it very freeing. It’s shown me how much time I’ve been wasting even just by scrolling not posting (I stopped that about three years ago or so). I feel more rooted in the moment and focused on what’s actually in front of me. Life feels calmer. It’s also taken anxiety stemming from comparison on social media and from taking on the weight of the world.