Playful Rooted

When I was on Instagram, it felt like I had to be on Instagram because there were some awesome accounts I followed that were always sharing amazing content. I somehow thought that if I left, I’d be saying goodbye to all those valuable resources. The good news is, I was wrong! Turns out, I really don’t need any form of social media to stay on top of what I’m interested in. It’s so liberating, y’all.

I used to follow a bunch of accounts that were not helping me become a better person or mom or ally or consumer or, or, or. They were really just there for scrolling when I was bored. (I’m guessing most of us can identify some of these….right??) When I decided to leave, I went through my Following list and wrote down every single account that I would really miss and that had TRULY added value to my life. And, what do you know? They all have great blogs or websites to follow or newsletters or podcasts to subscribe to or courses to register for. Score!

This isn’t even just as good as Instagram; it’s way better because I’m in charge of what I see and when I see it. When you open social media and start scrolling, you never know what will show up first or last or not at all thanks to those algorithms that everyone hates. This way? Hello. I get to decide what I see and when. I can read or listen to exactly what I’m looking for at the moment and nothing else. I control what I consume; not the other way around. Seriously, I feel free.

Here are the things I thought I would miss out on that I’m still happily keeping up with!

Parenting

3 in 30 (Quick, actionable tips for strengthening your family, enjoying motherhood more, and generally just living a more content life! Probably my favorite podcast.)

Janet Lansbury (Excellent blog, even better podcast on respectful parenting!)

Shan Tripp (Pediatric ER nurse dropping tons of knowledge on keeping kids safe; plus, she loves natural remedies, so you know I’m a fan!)

Simply On Purpose (The ultimate parenting GURU. To be fair, Ralphie does share a TON of great content on Instagram that’s not on her website, but she has some courses and workshops, and I bet that stuff is included in those!)

Preschool and Activities

Busy Toddler (The amazing creator of the preschool curriculum we’re following this year!)

Days with Grey (Inventor of the Breakfast Invitation, which has truly reshaped our days.)

Happily Ever Elephants (Trusted resource for kids’ book recommendations.)

Little Pine Learners (Gorgeous nature activities for when we need something a little different to do.)

Raising Little Shoots (More nature-based learning, all Charlotte Mason-inspired.)

Gardening

I actually found both of these great resources on YouTube way before I ever followed them on Instagram, so that’s where I’ve returned. Even though I used to follow dozens of gardening accounts, these are the only two I consistently paid attention to. Funnily enough, both of them recently announced within days of each other that they were writing books on gardening! Now I have to choose which one to buy. 😉 (Jk jk I’ll buy both.) (Hubby’s rolling his eyes as he reads this.)

Roots and Refuge Farm (This family has a homestead in Arkansas with the most amazing garden. Tons of great tips and inspiration!)

The Rusted Garden (The first resource I turn to if I’m dealing with pests or disease. He’s so knowledgable and also has a small shop with tons of useful products like this sprayer that sprays UPSIDE DOWN. Amazing if you need to apply something to the underside of your plant’s leaves!)

Products

Alternate heading: Literally The Only Product Account I Still Want to Follow

Untamed Supply (The most GORGEOUS, naturally-scented candles, made with 100% soy wax. This is a small business that’s local to Kansas City! I’ve met EJ, the owner, and chatted with her many times. She’s wonderful and down to earth. She donates 3% of all her profits to National Parks! These are the only candles I buy anymore.)

News

Okay, we all know the media can be biased. That’s not news to anyone. I took two undergraduate journalism classes in college, and even that was enough to show me how different forms of media can covertly and intentionally shape people’s opinions, no matter what they’re reporting. So when I was on Instagram, I followed several different news accounts to stay on top of things from both sides to make sure I was getting the “full” story (as though that’s ever really possible).

Now that I’m off social media, I’m definitely not reading as much news. I am NOT as “on top of things” as I used to be. And I was a little afraid of how I would feel about not being as informed, but the truth is? I really don’t mind it. At all. Knowing MORE, about things I can’t really do much about, isn’t actually as important to me as I thought it was. It’s honestly kind of a relief! I listen to the podcast Up First from NPR most mornings, and that gives me the top three news stories of the day. If I have more time to read the news, I read BBC News or The New York Times. And if I don’t? It’s okay. Truly. I’ve honestly found a LOT of joy this month in staying less informed about what’s going on outside and investing more of my time into what’s happening within the walls of my home. I don’t want it to sound like I no longer care about the important issues, because I DO, but my mental health is totally thriving by my placing a little less focus on the things I can’t control. And like I’ve shared before, prioritizing my mental health is non-negotiable because two tiny, perfect people are 100% dependent on me 95% of the time. If that’s not a good reason, I don’t know what is!

And really, that’s it! Twelve accounts. Out of everything I used to fill my time with, those are the only accounts that truly added value to my life. Kind of a weird feeling.

I do miss seeing what my friends are up to, of course. And I miss how easy it was to chat with people I don’t see in person very often. But other than that? I’m good. I’m so good.

xo!