The Insta Detox: A Health Coach’s Honest Pause

I’ll admit it: I’ve been feeling pretty uninspired lately. As a health and fitness coach, I’m supposed to be motivating others, pushing them to their best selves, and sharing my journey with the world. But lately? The posts have been sparse, the motivation’s been low, and engagement is slipping. And to be honest? I’m not mad about it anymore.

It’s easy to get caught up in the pressure of always being “on”—posting every workout, sharing every meal, pushing out motivational content even when you’re not feeling it. But here’s the thing: That grind is exhausting. It’s a cycle that can leave you questioning whether you’re really showing up for your audience or just performing for the algorithm.

So here’s the thing—my weekend was brilliant. Full of activities, adventure, and a proper bit of fun. But, as I went through the motions of it all, something started to gnaw at me. I didn’t post a single thing. Not an awesome leg workout with my friend, not a delicious meal I prepared, not a “motivational” quote. And honestly? It felt weird. I started to feel guilty. The thought crossed my mind: Shouldn’t I be sharing this? Shouldn’t I be documenting every step, every move?

Then I had a real moment of clarity: Why do we even do it? Why do we feel this constant need to broadcast our every move to strangers on the internet? It feels… a bit pathetic, really, doesn’t it? Who actually wants to see me sipping my coffee or squatting heavy on a Saturday, or loving my Vinyasa flow on Sunday? And yet, there I was, battling with myself over a simple thing like not posting. It’s been like this since last Thursday, and it’s got me thinking.

It’s so easy to get caught in the “I need to post everything” trap, especially as a coach. But let’s be real—what do people actually want to see on stories? I’m lost. I’m confused. My brain’s been trying to find a topic for this article for days, and here I am, just writing down what I’m feeling right now, sitting on the bench in the park between my clients’ sessions.

Sometimes, we forget that it’s OK to step away. To not feel the pressure to post every second. To let go of the idea that we need to be constantly “on” for the sake of engagement. I’ve been stuck in that cycle, watching my engagement dip, trying to keep up with the algorithm, but it’s not sustainable. It’s draining. Facts: I lost 20k views just over a weekend!

Stepping back has given me the space to reconnect with myself. Without the constant pressure to “perform,” I’ve started looking at my health and fitness journey in a more holistic way again—without Instagram telling me what I should be doing. It’s helped me rediscover why I became a coach in the first place, without all the noise.

So, to my fellow coaches, creators, or anyone who feels overwhelmed by the digital hustle: It’s OK to step back. It’s OK to not have everything figured out. It’s OK to be a little lost. You don’t need to be constantly “on,” and you don’t need to chase validation from an algorithm or a number of likes. What matters most is being true to yourself and your own well-being. You can always book a consultation with me too. To chat.

Instagram’s not going anywhere, but your peace of mind, your authenticity, your joy—those things are worth more than any amount of engagement. It’s time to remember that we’re humans, not content machines. And sometimes, the best thing you can do for your business, your clients, and yourself, is to just be.