What I’ve come to realise is that resolutions / self improvement, all hang on the idea that you need to change something about yourself. 

Firstly, let me tell you, you don’t NEED to change anything about yourself if YOU don’t want to. 

Building fresh habits take time to establish. It’s not as easy as saying ‘I’m going to do this.’ and then cracking on. If only. It’s about taking it step by step. Motivation alone wears down over time, especially if you’re working on something that doesn’t show immediate results.

So it got me thinking, is that feeling of overwhelm something we can control?

Usually, when I’m feeling like there is a lot going on, I worry that there is a lot going on and how I’m going to get it all done. But am I actually doing anything to make a difference towards getting those jobs completed? No! I’m just worrying about doing those jobs.

So is it our minds protecting us? Or is it more a reminder that we can’t do everything all of the time and to take it slow?

I’ve been feeling a bit disconnected recently, not super disconnected but just a bit out of sorts with my business, like I’m following the path laid out but I don’t really know where I’m headed.

Luckily for me, this feeling has coincided with everything returning a bit to normal and so I finally have some time and space in my week for personal development, to work on my business and to actually stop and think about things.

When I look back to why I started my business, a few reasons come up, it was firstly to do something that I enjoyed. Secondly, it was to do something flexibly where I didn’t have to commute and could be available for my children should they need me. And thirdly, and although this is the third reason it’s probably actually the main, most important reason; because I love championing and supporting women.

Social media is such a clever beast, it’s amazing in so many ways, but it really takes a lot of energy from you too. The absolute beauty of using social media to market your business is to communicate with your customers and your potential customers. In no other setting can you actually have a two-way dialogue with people who are buying or thinking about buying from you.

When you are feeling up against it with everything you have to do, marketing your business, being creative and talking to your audience is likely to be the last thing on your mind. It’s just going to be adding extra pressure and quite frankly it is going to take all the enjoyment out of Instagram and social media in general.

Marketing your business is just one part of the multitude of hats you wear as small business owners. Putting too much time into your marketing bucket doesn’t leave enough time for all the other things you need to do, like actually making your products or serving your clients.

People are actively shopping small, they want a personal, individual approach. They want to know who they are interacting with and feel a connection to them. They want to feel like they are doing their part for the economy and helping new and small brands to flourish. They want to show their support and be part of communities based around these people.

With the added stresses and strains on life at the moment for everyone, attention spans are short. People want to feel like they are making the most of their time and getting value from the people they follow online.

So when I carve out some time to write my content for the next month, I’ll be thinking about these questions to ensure my content has a strong focus…

As you know, I am a huge, huge, huge fan of Instagram, it is where you can find me most days, several times a day. I spend time on my feed, but the majority of the time, and the area I always go to first, is Stories. You know, those little circles along the top of your homepage.

Such a large part of using social media for your business now-a-days is using video. Showing up and being present. Building a relationship with your audience and getting them to know, like and trust you.

When you’re new to Instagram or you’re just starting out with your business, walking into Instagram can feel like a huge party where you don’t know anyone. It feels like everyone is already friends and it can be hard to find your place. Add having to start conversations with strangers into the mix and the whole thing can feel overwhelming.