“I don’t have time to post on Instagram today!” Let me ask you something: have you ever said you don’t have time to post on Instagram, and told yourself that’s why Instagram isn’t worth your time? If you have, then this week’s podcast episode is for you! Before we dive into 10 reasons you don’t have time to post on Instagram, I want you to rephrase the question: Is Instagram important to me? If something is important to you or something is worthy of your time, then you will make the time to do it. It’s okay if you’re in a season of life where Instagram isn’t important to you. But, I’d rather you say that then to say you’re just too busy. If you’re not okay with your account not growing, then Instagram needs to be a priority to you. That’s where today’s episode comes in! We’re going to discuss 10 reasons you might be saying you’re too busy and some things to think about with those reasons – and most importantly, how we can change so that Instagram is worth your time. Let’s jump in. 

#1: You don’t have a real strategy.

It’s easy to say you don’t have time or don’t want to be on Instagram if you don’t have a strategy. You’re probably just posting and hoping something sticks. That’s not a strategy. A good strategy should be motivating – not defeating. You need to create an Instagram strategy that works for you and supports your brand based on the goals you’re chasing. Remember, what works for someone else won’t necessarily work for you – and you seriously do NOT have to post every day to see growth. So instead of saying that we don’t have time, it’s important to determine how you can make it worth your time. How can you realistically show up in a way that you’re proud of? 

#2: You’re posting the wrong kind of content. 

I like to think about this in two different ways. First, you’re creating content that centers around the wrong topic for your audience. Maybe you’re creating content that’s not even within your niche at all. This means all the posts you’re spending time on aren’t actually connecting with your ideal followers, and it’s making you appear scattered. All of this results in your burnout. Second, you may be creating the wrong format of content. If you’re someone who wants to grow followers and you’re only posting a few photos and Stories, you won’t see growth. Reels are the best way to grow right now. There’s other ways, of course, but you have to focus on what’s going to help with your specific goals. On the flip side, if you’re only posting Reels, you may not have engaged followers because all you’re doing is reaching cold audiences through the Reels. 

#3: You’re pressuring yourself to post way too often.

If Instagram only feels overwhelming and defeating, then you’re probably trying to post way too often. Think about how often you can really post given your situation (family, other work, business model) and what aligns with your goals on the app. You need to determine if you’re trying to grow or nurture your audience. Once you have the answers, you can determine your strategy but also if you need to make other changes. Maybe it’s time to hire help with Instagram or within your brand so you can focus on what you need to be doing. Maybe it’s about really understanding and possibly changing your goals. 

It’s easy to look at vanity metrics and think, “oh, I need to post every day to hit 10K followers” but remember, Instagram is NOT about followers. It’s about building an engaged community that become your customers. 

#4: You’re spending too much time on your Instagram content.

When I say that you’re spending too much time creating, I mean that Instagram is about short-form content. We shouldn’t be putting hours upon hours into creating these pieces. No one has time to pour three hours a day into creating Instagram content. It’s not realistic! So much of Instagram content should be low-effort. It should be easy to create! That’s not to say you shouldn’t try new things that might take more time (and prioritize them when you can appropriately on your calendar), but it really shouldn’t be like that most of the time. Consider doing b-roll stock Reels or just simple stories to connect with your audience. 

#5: You’re spending too much time scrolling on the app. 

Right now is the moment to do a reality check. How much time are you actually just scrolling on Instagram? If you look at your phone, it will literally tell you how much time you spend using the app. So much of that time probably isn’t you creating and posting. I know for myself, when I spend time scrolling, I’m wasting time that I could be creating content. Not only that, but it dampens my creativity and ability to show up for my own audience because I start to compare myself to others. I want to be clear: I’m not saying you should NEVER scroll. But be mindful about it and remember that you could spend some of that time creating content that your audience needs from you. 

#6: You don’t have boundaries around Instagram. 

Another reason that you struggle with finding time to be on Instagram might be because you don’t have boundaries around the app. This kind of goes back to the previous reason – how often are you scrolling? Are you using the app a lot throughout the day and not giving yourself breaks? I think it’s super important to give ourselves intentional breaks from social media. For me, I try to take Sundays away from my phone and Instagram specifically. Not just from posting – but also a break from scrolling and looking at what everyone else is doing. I just think it’s really easy to feel overwhelmed by the app if all you’re doing is consuming content and comparing yourself. So, consider setting some boundaries for yourself like days off or parts of the day. 

#7: You’re creating content instead of documenting your day.

Remember how we just talked about low-effort content? If you’re having a hard time creating content because you have a busy life, flip the script. Instead of thinking you need to sit down and create, try to just film yourself doing things! This could be b-roll content or actual filming your thoughts in the moment as you do something else (wash dishes, fold laundry, etc.). There’s so many cool ways to incorporate what you do every day into your content. A lot of creators have started to do Q&As while they get ready or filmed themselves live as they record other content. It saves you time and energy – plus people like to see what you’re doing. 

#8: You’re always creating something new, instead of working smarter. 

When you feel like you’re spending a lot of time creating new content, it’s time to consider how you can repurpose content you’ve already created. Take other pieces of content – like your podcast, blog, or YouTube video – and create Instagram captions based off your episodes or outlines. You can create posts, Stories, or even Reels from the content you’re already creating and that performed well previously. Trust me, this content is going to reach new people and you’re saving yourself some time and energy!  

#9: You don’t have help. 

If you’ve done everything that you can to make Instagram a priority, and are still struggling with it, then it’s time to consider getting help. This could be having someone help you with social media or with other parts of your brand so you can focus on Instagram. It may just be time to reprioritize what’s on your plate and what can be let go, too. As your brand grows, it’s important to focus on what needs your attention and let the rest go to someone else who can help you grow! 

#10: Instagram isn’t a priority right now.

The final reason that you might feel like you don’t have time to be on Instagram is because it’s not a priority right now. That’s OKAY! At the end of the day, if it still feels overwhelming and like it’s not where you want or need to be, that’s totally okay. During different seasons in my business, Instagram has been a different level of priority. Think about the accounts you follow – they’re probably taking breaks, or creating low-effort content, or giving themselves that grace. You deserve that, too. 

I hope that this episode helps you eliminate some of the pressure you might be putting on yourself about Instagram, and growing your account. There’s so many places to show up and share your brand, so it’s important to do what works best for you. Not everyone needs to be (or should be) on Instagram 24/7. 

Other Instagram Resources 

Are you struggling to keep up on Instagram? Are you seeing low engagement, not posting consistently, and not attracting the right followers? I want to help!! Join my free Instagram class: What to Post on Instagram for the Next 30 Days: How to Post Consistently, Grow Your Reach, & Gain Highly Engaged Followers. We’re going to chat about what you should post, how often to post, and how to make Instagram fun! Head to http://stephaniekase.com/instagramclass to watch now.

I also offer a free one-hour Instagram Reels class if you want more help with how to grow your reach, followers, and customers with Reels in 2 hours a month! You can sign up for that HERE. And, if you have questions or want some extra support, I’ve got a FREE Reels Growth Facebook Community that you can join. I absolutely love getting to chat with everyone and help them work through their questions about Reels!

Wondering what to make for your next Reel? Free quiz to find out what type of reel idea you should make next! 

Discover what your next step should be to gain your next 1,000 followers!

Need ideas for Instagram? Grab our free sample Instagram posting schedule here!

If you’re listening and you have ideas about what to talk about next, please send in your requests! I really do want to know what you want to hear about in future episodes. Email me at [email protected] with your questions!! I can’t wait to hear from you! Don’t forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, too. We appreciate all of the support and love!