Nadine J Walters – My Life

Question for myself: What are you tired of?

My answer: I think I’m a little tired of advertising and self-promotion.

I know this might sound like it’s going to be a negative post, but I hope it won’t come across that way. The reason this question came up is because I really enjoy checking Instagram to see what people—and especially the artists I follow—are doing. I love the idea of sharing without competition, just showing the work or the moment for its own sake.

But this morning, when I opened the app, I noticed something frustrating: the way my algorithm is set up now, it feels like everyone is trying to outdo each other—and maybe even outdo themselves. There’s always a new, more complicated yoga flow (you know, the kind where you somehow wrap your leg around your neck while balancing in a handstand), or another showcase of extreme physical fitness, often again involving a handstand. Then there are the dramatic makeovers, the staged airplane “Karens,” and still more handstands. Rarely do I see what I actually came for: artists simply sharing their work.

I realize this is partly my own doing. I’ve followed a lot of accounts over time that don’t really reflect what I’m actually interested in. When you want to see a certain type of content but are trapped by your past viewing habits, it can be really frustrating.

Since I have a little extra time today, I’m planning to go through my account and unfollow any pages that don’t truly interest me—no relationship, no inspiration, just random noise that slipped into my feed.

I’m glad I asked myself this question today. It helped me realize that I have the power to make my online spaces feel better and more authentic. I’m looking forward to clearing out the clutter and making more room for the things—and people—that genuinely inspire me. I’ll let you know how it goes.