Instagram for Creatives: A More Intentional Approach

Rethinking how I show up and stay visible online

I use Instagram—though not always comfortably.

As a creative, it often feels less like a choice and more like an expectation. I’ve stepped away from Facebook and have no desire to join TikTok, so Instagram has become my main place to exist online outside of my website and Substack. The irony of writing an article about mostly wanting to get off Instagram – that will be shared on Instagram is not lost on me...! 😉

Still, here we are.

Instagram is not what it used to be.

Like many people, I remember when social media felt genuinely social. It was a way to keep up with friends and family, to share snippets of life, to feel a little more connected across distance. There were annoying moments, of course—but overall, it felt human.

Now, that feeling is harder to find.

Most days, my personal feed is filled with adverts, suggested content, and polished posts from a handful of creators. I rarely see updates from people I actually know. It feels less like a conversation and more like a stream of announcements—things to consume, like, or move past.

On my art feed, it’s slightly different. There’s less of that disconnect, but instead I find myself overwhelmed by the sheer volume of updates—so much good work, so many posts to take in. Rather than feeling connected, I often just feel exhausted trying to keep up.

I’ve realised I’m grieving how it used to be.

‘Tiggle has thrown a sheep at Bramble’ - remember the good ole days of social networking?

Why I find it challenging

Part of the difficulty, I think, is simply that our brains weren’t designed for this.

We’re processing huge amounts of information in short bursts, constantly switching attention. Even without spending much time on reels, I still feel the impact of how the platform is structured—fast, fragmented, and designed to keep attention moving.

There’s also the subtle mental load of it all.

Scrolling isn’t passive anymore. Every post asks something of you—Is this an ad? Do I care about this? Should I respond? That constant micro-deciding can leave me feeling oddly drained after not very long.

And then there’s comparison.

On a good day, I can appreciate other people’s work and feel inspired. On a lower day, it tips into something else—questioning my own progress, wondering if I’m doing enough, measuring myself in ways that aren’t particularly helpful.

I suspect I’m not alone in that.

So why do I still use it?

Honestly, partly because everyone else is there.

There’s a sense of not wanting to disappear entirely—to still be visible, to stay connected to other artists, to share what I’m making. And I do enjoy parts of it: creating posts, documenting progress, looking back through my work over time.

It’s not all bad. It’s just… complicated.

If my business takes off, I suppose I could consider paying to remove ads, though I feel like Meta will keep putting the price up and up, and I resent paying for what Cory Doctorow refers to as ‘enshittification’! 😉

Rethinking how I use it

For a while, I assumed the problem was me—that I needed more discipline, more resilience, better habits. Lately, I’ve started to question that.

Instead of trying to force myself to use Instagram in the “usual” way, I’ve been experimenting with using it differently—more quietly, and with clearer boundaries. Nothing extreme. Just small shifts:

• I check Instagram in scheduled blocks in the week rather than throughout the day

• Notifications are muted

• I batch content when I feel creative, and schedule it

• I don’t respond all the time – I don’t have the energy. When I do, I want it to come from a focused place. Hopefully this means I can interact more meaningfully and personally when I do go on.

The biggest change is internal: giving myself permission to engage when I have the energy , rather than feeling like I should always be “on.”

What I’m moving towards

Over time, I’d like to rely less on social media altogether.

I’m more interested in building something slower and steadier—through my website, Substack, and longer-form work. Spaces that feel a bit more intentional, and a bit less noisy.

But for now, Instagram still has a place. I’m just choosing to use it in a way that works better for me—even if that looks different from how others use it.

Not as a constant presence. More as an occasional tool.

What aspects of your creative business/life are you doing differently, or putting boundaries in place around?

And do you feel it has helped?