If “you are what you eat,” I’d like to believe “you are what you look at on Instagram.” It doesn’t hold up quite as scientifically as the first sentiment, but we’re definitely influenced on some level by the type of content we take in as we scroll.
Here’s an anecdote to back it up. I recently spent approximately 45 minutes on a Friday night watching Jonathan Van Ness videos on YouTube (a very soothing activity that I recommend). It was during a Buzzfeed Q&A video—where he was playing with kittens—that a fan asked how he kept a smile on his face with everything happening in the world. Van Ness replied that he turns to his Instagram explore page, because it’s populated with things he loves, like figure skating and gymnastics. Currently, my explore feed is filled with news about the cast of Vanderpump Rules and extremely attractive bloggers who make me feel bad about myself — it’s not great! But with a little conscious clicking and following, I believe I can connect with my explore page in the way Van Ness suggests.
If you’ve stayed with me so far, here are a few beautiful, minimalistic local Instagram accounts to help you clear your mind (and maybe your closet) this year. They’re so pared-down and aesthetically elegant, they may even inspire you to clear your feed as well (in case those perfectly FaceTuned bloggers make you feel a little gloomy too).
Think of it as lagom (the new hygge?) for your eyes.
