Jet lag is a bitch isn’t it. And I don’t mean the oohhhhh I’m soooooo sleepy kinda jet lag. I mean the kind that sits on your shoulder from 10am – 10pm like “Go to sleep now Elle. Oh, you’re not sleeping? Well BRB whilst I get some bricks and put them on your eyelids then.” And then from 10pm to 5am “COME ON BITCH WAKE UP, WE HAVE AN ALL NIGHT RAVE TO GET TO!!!!”
So yeah, this is me, with 2hrs sleep, googling “Can you die from lack of sleep” and subsequently “how to get over being a drama queen”.
Happy Thursday to you all too kids.
Anyway, this post – the first in a month which I’m generally mortified about but I’ll get to that soon – is not a big ole moan about jet lag, it’s about my trip to Mexico where I spent 10 days with my favourite person on earth, Ally, drinking Pina Coladas, laughing until I cried, ignoring my phone, forgetting that my job and life outside of my Mexican all inclusive resort even exists and honestly… living my best ever life.
This post is about how I ignored social media and how my life became 34983589x happier for it, and how even though I’m back into the swing of work (20 emails down before 5am, sometimes Jet lag, you’re not a bellend), I’ll never, ever let social media/namely Instagram, effect my mental health and my overall happiness ever again.
Yes I said mental health. Yes, I let Instagram affect my mental health and to any non Bloggers that may sound extremely extreme, but to 99% of full time bloggers/bloggers who’s blogs/platforms take over their lives too, I know you’ll get it.
So, let’s begin, how I gave up giving 2 tiny little fucks about likes and managed to be the happiest I’ve ever been….
I want to start by saying that I’ve not had a proper day off since I went full time with my blog a little over 3 years ago. That sounds dramatic doesn’t it? It’s not. Even on Christmas day I wrote a blog post (yes it was because I actually felt inspired and yes I adore writing so it didn’t feel like work, but yeah… it’s still work). It’s not that I don’t want to… I guess it falls down to the fact that a) I have been extremely, extremely lucky to have worked consistently for the last 2 years or so, and now more than ever, so I physically haven’t felt able to take a day off for fear of falling so far behind and ending up in a black whole of 359385 emails and tears. And b) because I guess when you’ve worked so tirelessly on this hobby that’s turned into a career and your own business that you, and only you have made work… it’s hard to walk away from that you know. Even if only for a day.
I know from an outsider how that looks/sounds. Oh diddums poor you that you have to fanny around in front of a camera or say yes or no to travelling around the world. And I also know that to bloggers/people that get it that you’ll understand entirely which honestly, is why I’m writing this.
I know that so so many of you will also feel the same (some less so, some more so) so I hope it inspires you to change the way you look at social media. I hope it allows you to step back and realise that taking some time away won’t stop the world from turning…
Something changed for me in Mexico and in all honesty, this whole year. Last year, and trust me when I say that I am genuinely, wholeheartedly embarrassed to admit this… Instagram completely ruined my life affected my life to the point of, it had the capability to make my day good or bad. I never at one point didn’t hate that it had the ability to do this and I never at one point lacked perspective enough to know that how I felt was ridiculous. Ridiculous, illogical and completely irrational. But, no matter how many times I saw stories of young kids with terminal illnesses or terrible disasters happening all over the world, I couldn’t completely snap myself out of the sheer panic that my photos were “dying” or my followers were declining for long enough. I’d say “life’s too short to care”… and then 3 days later, there I was caring again.
Again, everything you may or may not be calling me right now is nothing I haven’t called myself before.
But Mexico was different. Mexico I paid for myself – as opposed to a lot of trips I go which are press trips and therefore have obligations for content in return – I went with my best friend and absolutely zero work obligations. We booked all inclusive specifically so we only had to move from Beach to pool to restaurant to pool bar. We decided, basically, that we were only going if this was 100% a holiday and not a “mostly holiday but also half the time I’ll be stressing about taking photos for instagram” holiday. And that’s exactly what we did. I had a back up of London photos and I took 4 photos the whole time I was there.
4.
4 photos in 10 days.
For reference, I usually go out and shoot a minimum of 2 outfits (approximately 100-200 photos per outfit) every single day at home.
I replied to max 4/5 urgent emails per day, I decided to post on Instagram every other day so I didn’t have to wake up at 4:30am every morning (screw you 6 hour time difference).
I basically laughed every second of every day, I made some of my favourite ever memories, I watched the stars at night from the beach, I swam with turtles and snorkelled through cenotes. I flirted with Mexican men (absolutely no shame, it’s what Ally and I do best because together we are insufferable and totally shameless), I turned myself from human to 99% Pina Colada and 1% regret.
What I didn’t do, was stress about Instagram. I didn’t get even slightly down or sad or panicky or stressed that the algorithm has changed and my engagement is now half of what it used to be. I didn’t go to some of the most stunning places in the entire world and see it through my phone, I saw it with my eyes.
Barely because I’m as blind as a bat but I tried anyway.
I finally, genuinely, lived my best ever life.
I just didn’t care. And most life changingly (pretty sure that’s not a word, pretty sure I couldn’t care less)… I still don’t care.
I still wake up feeling unbelievably grateful every single morning that I get to do the job I do. I still work just as hard as I ever did. I still create the same content that I did before. From the outside, apart from slightly less posts than before, absolutely nothing will change.
But from behind the rainbow coloured grid, this girl will actually be living her best life rather than saying she is whilst actually having a minor breakdown.
I’m sorry this was the most rambly, repetitive, probably shockingly written post… but if I’d have read something like this a year ago whilst I was struggling so badly with social media every single day, I’d have found it a great source of hope. So I hope that if you’re struggling too, you can realise that one day… you really just won’t care.
Life is too short to give a tiny little shit on God’s green earth whether you got 2000 likes or 5000 likes. You’ll be grateful for your health and your loved ones and your happiness.
Just how it should be!
Love this Elle. I don't blog, I have a very normal job, but I can imagine the pressure of social media platforms for all people in your industry must be immense. I follow a lot of bloggers, you tubers and instagrammers and see people constantly change up what they do to try to engage more people. Copying others that have always done well instead of staying true to what they've always done. It's important to remember to stay true to yourself, and more importantly, don't let a tiny app on your phone be your whole focus. Life's for living, see the world through your eyes and only occasionally through your phone. Missed reading your blogs, glad your back and more importantly glad you managed to switch off and have a great holiday in Mexico. Lots of love xxx
Ahh thank you so much Jade, it's so lovely to hear that you can understand even though you don't blog… I sometimes worry that it'll come across hard done by or "princessy". Sadly there's so much copying going on nowadays and because it works for people the don't think to stop even though it could harm the people they're copying. But thank you so much, this has made my day!
xx
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Thank LORD JUMA for bringing my Husband back to me. My Husband told me it was over and walk away without any reasons, I was confuse and didn't know what to do. I was desperate, I want him back, I went over the internet looking for ways to get my Husband back. I read about many different ways of how to but LORD JUMA caught my attention, I immediately contacted him and explained my problem to him. It was amazing and surprising that 11hrs after the spell was cast, my Husband called me and was begging me to forgive him and accept him back, Couldn't believe that it was happening some time later he came to my house and fell on his knees asking me to take him back which did. I am testifying on this forum just to let people know that LORD JUMA is real and genuine. don't hesitate to try him out. thank you LORD JUMA your such a kind man.. Contact him now if you need your Husband back or your husband moved to another woman, do not cry anymore .. Here’s his contact: Email him at: merfullsolutionhome@yahoo.com or merfullsolutionhome@gmail.com , you can also call him or add him on Whats-app: +1 (859)-203-2241 ,
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Read more about him on his website: http://urgentspellcast.website2.me/ and Blogs: https://urgentspellcast.blogspot.com/
Hi everyone I'm Olivia Hannah and am here to share the wonderful work Dr Raypower did for me. After 5 years in marriage with my husband with 2 kids, my husband started acting weird and going out with other ladies and showed me cold love, on several occasions he threatens to divorce me if I dare question him about his affair with other ladies, I was totally devastated and confused until a old friend of mine told me about a spell caster on the internet called Dr. Raypower who help people with relationship and marriage problem by the powers of love spells, at first I doubted if such thing ever exists but decided to give it a try, when I contact him, he helped me cast a love spell and within 48hours my husband came back to me and started apologizing, now he has stopped going out with other ladies and his with me for good and for real. Contact this great love spell caster for your relationship or marriage problem to be solved today via email: urgentspellcast@gmail.com or Call or WhatsApp: +14243308109.
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I had the same revelation recently, and although I still enjoy it, I give far less fucks than before about Instagram! Good for you lovely!
Also… you wear glasses?! MESSAGE ME WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE PLS 🙂 xxxxx
YES GIRLLLLLLL!!! So so with you!!! And sorry I've just seen this, messaging now 🙂
xxxxx
wow, absolutely loved this post! everything you have written about is just so true!! im so glad you had a great time and that quote at the end, i absolutely love and think more people need to realise that family, friends and health come first xx
cristynottingham.blogspot.co.uk
Thank you so much lovely. I only feel sad that I didn't realise/put it into practise sooner!
xx
MATE I COULND'T LOVE THIS POST ANYMORE IF I TRIED!!!! I've said this before and I'll say it again, your content is AMAZING, always! You put your heart and soul into everything and it shows (not only that but you're the most loveable person in the whole world!). Everyone deserves time off love and I actually can't tell you how happy I am to hear that you actually had a break and are feeling refreshed!! Couldn't agree more with you about how there's MUCH more to life than social media; preach lady!! <3
Love you millions!!! xxxx
I COULDN'T LOVE YOU ANY MORE IF I TRIED!!!!!!!!!
xxxx
I'm amazed when I read people discovering there's life … and a great life … outside the net! I was born before Internet became public and started to be like it is now … I went through all stages and I'm so happy that I was a child without a mobile phone and internet 😉
https://4highheelsfans.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/in-the-mix/
Haha I think sometimes it's more about being able to separate internet life from normal life and appreciate life away from the internet more than stressing about life in it. I'm so happy I grew up mostly without a phone too!
xx
I'm pretty over social media as a whole. I open all the apps, have a quick scroll, then go read a book (or stream Netflix – that's still a problem)
I feel like everyone is copying everyone else, constantly hauling rubbish clothes that will fall apart after one wear, chasing capricious followers that will be into the next thing in a heart beat.
Your content always felt a little.different because we saw you WEAR all the clothes you bought and you took us along with you on your trips (which I felt a little bad about as you were vlogging for us and maybe not 100% in the moment?)
So my waffling comment is just me trying to articulate that: I'll always 'like' your instagram post, watch your YouTube video and read your blog. But maybe take some regular time off in future so you don't explode ❤
Paula I couldn't agree more with you on this. Unfortunately the copying culture isn't something that I think will change for the forseeable future as it benefits people so much. I totally agree with the vlogging trips too, places like NYC I LOVE vlogging and watching back but some work trips would definitely be more for viewers benefits than my own. It's such a balancing act but I think I definitely need to be a little more selfish and put myself first in future. More time off to avoid explosion is 100% happening 😉
xx
Yasss to this Elle, I relate so much to this post! I recently stopped any kind of routine I had with my blog and Instagram and now I just post when I feel like it, it was too much stress and too much pressure when I wasn't being consistent or getting the likes I so desperately craved. I soon learned and came to accept, like you, that it really isn't all about the likes and blogging now feels much more stress free with that mindset! Glad you and Ally had a great time in Mexico, the photos looked great! 🙂
Heather Xx
100waysto30.co.uk
URGENT EFFECTIVE LOVE-SPELL TO GET YOUR EX HUSBAND/WIFE BACK FAST CONTACT: MERCYFULLSOLUTIONHOME@GMAIL.COM , HE'S CERTAINLY THE BEST SPELL CASTER ONLINE, AND HIS RESULT IS 100% GUARANTEE .
Thank LORD JUMA for bringing my Husband back to me. My Husband told me it was over and walk away without any reasons, I was confuse and didn't know what to do. I was desperate, I want him back, I went over the internet looking for ways to get my Husband back. I read about many different ways of how to but LORD JUMA caught my attention, I immediately contacted him and explained my problem to him. It was amazing and surprising that 11hrs after the spell was cast, my Husband called me and was begging me to forgive him and accept him back, Couldn't believe that it was happening some time later he came to my house and fell on his knees asking me to take him back which did. I am testifying on this forum just to let people know that LORD JUMA is real and genuine. don't hesitate to try him out. thank you LORD JUMA your such a kind man.. Contact him now if you need your Husband back or your husband moved to another woman, do not cry anymore .. Here’s his contact: Email him at: merfullsolutionhome@yahoo.com or merfullsolutionhome@gmail.com , you can also call him or add him on Whats-app: +1 (859)-203-2241 ,
you can also visit his website: http://mercyfullsolutionhome.website2.me
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Hi everyone I'm Olivia Hannah and am here to share the wonderful work Dr Raypower did for me. After 5 years in marriage with my husband with 2 kids, my husband started acting weird and going out with other ladies and showed me cold love, on several occasions he threatens to divorce me if I dare question him about his affair with other ladies, I was totally devastated and confused until a old friend of mine told me about a spell caster on the internet called Dr. Raypower who help people with relationship and marriage problem by the powers of love spells, at first I doubted if such thing ever exists but decided to give it a try, when I contact him, he helped me cast a love spell and within 48hours my husband came back to me and started apologizing, now he has stopped going out with other ladies and his with me for good and for real. Contact this great love spell caster for your relationship or marriage problem to be solved today via email: urgentspellcast@gmail.com or Call or WhatsApp: +14243308109.
Read more about him on his website: http://urgentspellcast.website2.me/ and Blogs: https://urgentspellcast.blogspot.com/