IG, IS IT FOR ME?

When Mike and I first discussed writing a blog together, I wasn't on social media. I quit Facebook a couple of years previous, and Instagram was never something I got into. I knew I would have to create a presence for myself if the blog was going to thrive.

I stopped social media because I didn't want my kids to see their mom do anything but spend her time on a phone/device. What kind of role model would I be if I tried to limit the amount of time they spent on devices to turn around and spend all of my time on one. Also, I have interests and hobbies. Spending time on Instagram means spending less time on the things I really enjoy.

That said, I started my Facebook page back up (can you ever really leave Facebook? I tried, trust me, but my profile was there, waiting, just as I left it). I started to invest my time into reading books about Instagram. That alone shows my age. Haha. No kid is picking up a book to figure out how IG works. But I was late to the game. I was SO overwhelmed when I first started to explore the world of Instagram. I'm certain Mike laughed at me a lot, but he was very supportive as I dug through the maze that Instagram is.

I learned that posting AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE was the way to gain an audience, which makes sense. But where do you get all of the content to post? I found I was scrolling and searching and spending endless time online. Wasn't this exactly what I fought to avoid?

Since we first started our blog in April, we have managed to write 2 blogs a week. My interest in Instagram waned after some time but my interest in the blog never has. I've enjoyed both writing these blogs and reading what my husband has written. Whether the blog is the reason or not, Mike and I have grown closer than ever in the past 6 months. I feel so fortunate to have a partner who's even willing to write a blog with me.

While I struggled through the last few months to stay connected on Instagram, I'm giving it more effort these days. I'm not as overwhelmed as I was, but I'm still not a fan of spending a ton of my time on social media. Truthfully I forget about it sometimes. It doesn't drive me, but I respect what it does for others. And I'm grateful for the few people I follow that I consistently share their posts. I wouldn't know what to post otherwise! More importantly, I'm grateful for the people who continue to follow us and read our blog.

Do you wish your house would clear out for a day so you could spend it all on Instagram, or are you like me and think it's more of a necessary task to check off the list? Leave a comment and let us know.

Shannon, The Herdmother