On digital minimalism: how's that going for you Emma?

It’s now been about a month or so since I implemented my digital minimalism strategy for using Instagram. Just thought I’d give you a catch up on what it’s started to look like practically and how it’s going.

As I said in a previous journal post, I was spending approximately 45mins-1hr per day doing business related tasks on Instagram prior to starting this experiment. I decided that was too much and that I wanted to cut back to see if my business could cope with it, if people would still buy my yarn and if I could use the time in a different way.

So far my Instagramming looks like this: I set a timer on my phone at some point on a Monday and on a Thursday for either 20mins or 30mins.

This is how I spend that time:

I have a pre-written caption using preview, which I copy and paste into Instagram. I then write my alt text, tag any necessary people and post the photograph and caption.

Next I begin to post on my stories. This is more ad hoc but I like to show what I’ve been making, some yarn that may be coming to the shop, asking some advice or opinions on something, or show what knitted thing I’m wearing that day. Oh and show Rufus (my dog!) of course. I also write out anything that I say so that if listening to audio isn’t an option for you, you can read what I am talking about on screen. Posting to stories and writing out captions is the task that probably takes the longest (apart from maybe responding to DM’s) out of my twice weekly Instagramming.

After posting to my stories, I check my DM’s and respond to anything necessary- this is quite a long task too. If there is something order related I much prefer to receive an e-mail about it as it’s quite impossible to keep a track of everything via Instagram DM’s. I used to respond to absolutely everything, but now I am a little more streamlined in what I respond to in my DM’s. For example, I know now that I don’t need to respond to someone who ‘hearted’ one of my stories- I can just enjoy the fact they hearted it and move on!

After I have completed this, and there is time left before my timer goes off, I respond to any questions or comments in my last day’s grid post that people may have about colourways or shop updates. I am not always able to do this but I know if someone has a burning question they will contact me via e-mail if they want a quick response.

Usually before I can finish all this the timer goes off and I log off until the next day- no ‘checking’, no personal accounts, no nothing. That is literally how I use Instagram as a tool to show my yarn off.

So far I haven’t seen any ill effect from being on Instagram less, people seem to be finding my account at much the same rate, and people seem to not forget about me (!!) or my yarn, and are still happy to purchase (which is a great relief!).

All that is to say so far, it’s working quite well.

So, now for the interesting (or not so?) bit: how am I using my new found time?

Well, so far I have been using it to finish a bit earlier, take a little rest on the sofa or finish up random business or household tasks. I thought I would use the time for more crafting but I haven’t really been so far, but that’s okay- maybe I will in the future when I find my rhythm better.

Emma