A few weeks ago, I did something that completely shifted my perspective and I just need to share it with you: I deleted (well, archived) all my Instagram posts. And honestly? It was one of the best things I could have done.

At first, I wasn’t sure anything valuable would come out of it for me, but the result has been massive clarity and freedom. I’m sitting here now, finally writing blog posts that I’ve been procrastinating for months, partly because I didn’t know what I wanted to talk about, and partly because Instagram was taking up so much mental space. But clearing my Instagram gave me a fresh start, and suddenly everything else felt possible.

A Little Backstory

I’ve been using Instagram since 2013. My first posts were just photos. I was a student, a dancer at heart, and I loved capturing moments, even back then. Over the years, Instagram became a tool for many things: sharing my dance videos when I trained in LA and New York, building a small community, and later, growing a business.

By 2021, Instagram became my main platform for my business. I started offering photography services and social media management for clients, mentoring women to build their personal brand, and sharing insights and knowledge about Instagram and content creation. It was all visual, and it fit me perfectly. I positioned myself as an expert and really leaned into it, creating a professional feed with carousels, reels, and live streams filled with tips and value.

In theory, I did everything “by the book.” I built a business, attracted dream clients, reached financial milestones like 10K months, and created a lifestyle I loved. Everything was working… until my life changed dramatically in summer 2025.

The Big Shift

I went through the biggest breakup of my life, which for me was a chaotic & absolutely life-altering experience. Suddenly, everything I thought I knew about myself, my life, and my business felt shattered. My identity changed completely. Who I was before didn’t exist anymore.

It was exhausting. Everything I had built, every strategy and content piece I had put so much thought into, suddenly felt misaligned with the person I had become. My Instagram, which had been my main stage for business, creativity, and self-expression, now felt like it belonged to someone else. A version of me I could no longer step into.

I realised that I had outgrown that version of myself. Not just in my business, but in life. I couldn’t go back to posting the same content, giving the same advice, or presenting the same image. I had to listen to my gut and start fresh. That’s when the idea hit me: archive everything. Start with a clean slate.

Why I Deleted My Posts

Instagram had become a storage place of my past self. Every post tied to a chapter of my life I no longer connected with. My feed showed the business I used to run, the content I used to create, the advice I used to give. But I wasn’t that person anymore.

Archiving everything (except maybe three posts that still felt relevant) was liberating. It felt like a million stones lifted off my shoulders. For the first time in years, I could breathe creatively without being tied to my past decisions. I wasn’t just clearing my Instagram – I was creating space in my life to figure out what I truly want, without the pressure of what worked before.

Letting Go of Expectations

Before this, I always thought I had to maintain a certain standard. For myself, for my clients, for my audience, … I offered photography services, mentoring, and online courses, all focused on Instagram and personal branding. But in the middle of this big life change, I realised: I didn’t want to serve other people’s expectations. I didn’t want to edit photos for clients just to make them “look good” in someone else’s eyes. I wanted to create, freely, as myself.

It was a huge mindset shift. I had to trust my gut instead of overthinking, stop trying to control every outcome, and let my intuition guide me. It wasn’t logical. It wasn’t even financially strategic. But it felt right.

Finding Creative Freedom

Archiving my Instagram opened doors I didn’t even know existed. Suddenly, I could explore new platforms, think about blogging again, create content in English, and experiment with Pinterest and other opportunities. All without the pressure of maintaining my previous feed.

It reminded me that I am more than one social media platform. I am more than my past business or my previous version of myself. I have knowledge, life experience, and creativity that can manifest in new, exciting ways. And that’s why this reset has felt like a full-on upgrade: mentally, creatively, and emotionally.

My Experience with the Break

During the breakup, I also realized something crucial: not everything in life can be solved by overthinking. You can’t plan your way out of heartbreak, grief, or transformation. Sometimes, you just need to exist, breathe, and trust that your next step will become clear when the time is right.

I took a full two months off from work – completely – which I definitely acknowledge as a privilege I’m very grateful for. During that time, I didn’t focus on business, Instagram, or productivity. I allowed myself to just be. That pause created the mental space for the Instagram reset and the clarity that came afterward.

How I Approached the Instagram Reset

Here’s how I did it, in case it can help you:

1. I trusted my gut: I didn’t plan this out. I just felt it was time.
2. I archived everything: Almost all posts were cleared, leaving a blank canvas. I kept only a few posts that still resonated.
3. I gave myself creative freedom: No expectations, no rules, no pressure to post a certain way.
4. I disconnected from the past: For the first time, I could separate myself from the business I had built and look forward to what could come next.
5. I opened up to new opportunities: Instagram wasn’t the only channel anymore; I started exploring blogging, Pinterest, and creating content in English.

Key Takeaways from My Instagram Reset

Even if you’re not ready to archive your Instagram, you can still apply these lessons to your life, business, or creative projects:

1. Clear space for growth: Letting go of what no longer serves you can open up new possibilities.
2. Trust your intuition: Sometimes the next step doesn’t make logical sense, but it’s what you need to do.
3. You are more than your past work: Don’t limit your worth to previous achievements or a platform.
4. Give yourself permission to pause: A break can be transformative. Creativity and clarity often come in moments of rest.
5. Explore without pressure: Trying new platforms or ideas can expand your horizons and help you rediscover your passion.

Why This Worked for Me

Deleting my Instagram wasn’t just a digital cleanse, it was a mental, emotional, and creative reset. I felt my life open up in ways I hadn’t imagined. I could think freely, dream bigger and explore what I truly wanted next.

I realised that I don’t have to continue doing the work I did before. I can choose what to create, what to offer, and how to express myself. Photography remains my passion, my art, my baby. I don’t want to dilute it with obligations or past expectations. And now, I have the clarity to make space for what truly matters.

Instagram taught me so much, and it will always be a part of my story. But sometimes, growth requires leaving the familiar behind, even if it’s uncomfortable or scary. Clearing my feed was that step for me, and it has been life-changing.