5 Tips for Being Authentic On Social Media
You should never apologize for being you (unless you’re the type of person who is mean to the waiter…then definitely apologize and change STAT), which is the message wellness blogger and yoga instructor Jules Hunt of Om and the City hopes to get across to her community of over 52,000 followers. I just love Jules Hunt for keeping it real, while keeping her content premium.
Hunt’s wellness journey started through her battle with depression and body dysmorphia. “I struggled with self-love,” she writes on her website. But then she took a yoga class—and then she took a few (hundred) more—and Om and the City was born. Creating authentic content that reflects her true personality is her challenge these days.
“In the age of filters, curated feeds, algorithms, hashtags, prime posting times, and so on, it’s important not to lose sight of what social media is really all about—and that is, sharing and connecting with people,” Hunt says. “I’ve made so many new friends online and in real life that I never would have known had it not been for Instagram.”
How has she stayed grounded through it all? The answer is easy, she shares the good, the ugly, the bad, the great and the vulnerable. Hunt says. “From writing thoughtful captions to sharing silly Insta Stories in my PJs, it all comes from the heart and correlates with what’s currently on my mind.” I couldn’t agree more - you are you and that is your super power. Your personality is what makes you unique - stay true to yourself and you’ll naturally build a community that is like-minded and appreciates you for you.
TIPS FOR KEEPING IT REAL - OFFLINE AND ONLINE
1. ONLY SHARE CONTENT THAT YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT
It’s your channel: You call the shots. Leave stuff that bores the hell out of you on the cutting room floor. There’s no need to scramble and post a photo that means zero to you just because you feel like you have to get something up right now. If you can’t find the right words for a caption or want more time scrolling through your options (there’s a reason you took so many pics!), hold off. Think on it, sleep on it, and share when you’re ready.
2. DON’T POST IN REAL TIME
Capture the moment, then put your phone away, otherwise, using your phone ends up becoming the moment, which is might look inspirational for everyone else, but if you’ve just spent an hour getting the perfect selfie of you in front of the Taj Mahal, you probably didn’t have the best time, even if you might look at that photo later and convince yourself that you did.Take a quick snap, then post later when you’re back at home and want to relive the experience. Life is too short to be living behind a screen 24/7.
3. SHARE THE GLAM AND THE DRAB
There is absolutely no shame in posting beautiful, glamorous photos of yourself—own it— we’re all going to be old one day and after that dead, so appreciate everything while you have it. But as well as the glamour shots it’s also fun to throw in one from the blooper reel to share another side with your followers. You know, the photos that have you asking, How did my face end up looking like William Shatner’s armpit? Or the snaps that caught you in the midst of a full-bellied laugh with a mouth full of french fries. Share the raw, real, and beautiful you.
4. MEET YOUR INTERNET FRIENDS IRL
There are a multitude of different Instagram communities that hold meetups in different cities. Whether you’re part of the fitness, foodie, fashion, or wellness community, see if any of your Insta-friends are hosting or joining in on events near you. Turn those followers into IRL friendships. This is about making new connections after all, and it’s so much more satisfying to turn those digital faces into real ones.
5. DISCONNECT WHEN NEEDED
Everything in moderation. As a general rule, try not to use your phone right when you wake up and right before you go to sleep. It’s important to give your mind time to decompress. If you close your eyes and see the Apple logo...take a damn break!
