I successfully completed a Pinterest project recently (or maybe I should say my husband completed a Pinterest project for me) and I’m still riding the high. Since signing up for Pinterest, I’ve pinned a bunch of cool ideas and completed several items from my boards with mixed results. I love Pinterest despite the fact that my feed constantly keeps getting filled with information on “burpees” and other exercises that sound more painful than having my abs physically torn from my body.
But like all social media, it seems some people hate Pinterest and believe it contributes to feelings of mom inadequacy and envy. “Those pictures/rooms/meals/preschool activities/abdominal muscles are better than mine! There too perfect! They can’t exist outside Photoshop! Where’s a meme I can pin to feel better about myself?!”
In the vein of my Facebook post, I now introduce seven ways to stop Pinterest Envy.
1. Pin less. I’m not saying visit Pinterest less, no, no, no! Just only pin what is realistic. I recently pinned a tutorial on how to make an 8 foot stuffed squid and if I can ever get 82 hours of alone time, I will totally make him out of my fabric scraps. But if there’s no chance you’ll sew/cook/paint something, just like it and move on. Boards full of elaborate projects you’ll never make can weigh you down.
Realistic:
Ricidulous: Seriously, who is going to salvage that many pallets?
2. Like more. Click on that little heart to like something that’s cool but not worth a second thought. Matching crocheted sweaters for your family and pets? Yeah, nice but, um, since you can’t crochet, like it and move on. All your likes are saved so if you decided later, “I love crocheting!” you can find it and move it to your new ‘Family Sweaters’ board.
No comment. I just really wish I could knit.
3. Any pin that is a huge collage of pictures with a title like ‘5,001 Halloween Crafts for Kindergarteners!!!” is just a link to a post with a huge list of links. You’ll never want to go through that whole huge list. That’s why you’re on Pinterest; to see pictures of individual ideas. Save specific projects. Or sometimes I’ll save one of those pins if the item I’m interest in is pictured on the cover of the pin.
Let’s be honest, do toddlers really need crafts? No. Why go to all that work when they’ll be just as happy sitting sitting outside in a pile of dirt?
4. Be sure to note in the description what you like. Don’t just go with the filled in text unless it says exactly what you want. “Why is this big fancy bathroom on my ‘Home’ board? To mock me with it’s cleanliness and lack of naked Barbies?!” And then it’s deleted and then you remember you liked the medicine cabinet. D’oh!
And don’t take orders from pins. If it says “Pin now, read later!” or “You must do this one thing, it worked like magic!” it’s selling you something. It’s like the Sham Wow pin. Change the text if you really like it so your followers don’t think their feed is yelling at them.
If you need a pin to help remind you to drink water, you’ve got big problems that even Pinterest won’t help.
5. Keep perspective. That master bedroom you’re coveting was probably styled for a magazine and was never slept in and that homeschool room was a mess before they cleaned up for the photo. There are paid models, makeup artists, hair stylists, photographers, chefs and more all over Pinterest. Don’t compare the professional and some one’s good day to your everyday. And if you try something and it doesn’t work, you’re not alone. It happens to all of us.
6. If it’s fashionable on someone who looks nothing like you, don’t be surprised if you can’t pull off the same look. Be realistic in your fashion pins.
This shows a hipster in a cool vintage dress. On me, this would be more like “mom wearing shapeless vintage tablecloth.” I have no illusions.
7. If the title includes the word “Sensory”, it will probably ruin your carpet. Don’t pin it!
You don’t own enough Resolve to take care of all that sensory material.
So now I send you forth to be crafty without hesitation and with the admonishment to delete the pins that are dragging you down! You can visit my Pinterest boards to see if I’m a hypocrite and then swing back to Cari’s for the rest of the quick takers.
Awesome post. Really. I’ve started just avoiding pinterest unless I want to feel sad (srsly, there are days….). I still post to it, but NEVER actually look at other people’s stuff.
This is a great list! I stopped pinning home decorating ideas after I realized I didn’t have the money or the skill to make my home look like the ones I saw on Pinterest. Now I typically just pin recipes…something that I know I can at least attempt with some success!
All you need is some knee tattoos and you could totally pull of that tablecloth dress.
Yes!! I can’t stand those lists where someone just takes all the other ideas they find from other people and lists them to create a pin! So cheap. And don’t get me started on people who just pin and don’t check the links to make sure it’s not dead. I can’t do Facebook but have no problem with Pinterest. Less interaction with real people 😉 But I can’t stand clutter, even the electronic kind, so I’ve always been very careful to be intentional about the things I pin and delete pins that don’t work or I change my mind about. That helps make it a really practical resource for me. Also, why am I not following you on Pinterest yet??
I confess that I love pinterest and have zero envy/inadequacy issues. I find it to be a fantastic organizational tool and after my initial frenzy, don’t spend much time there. Great suggestions about not getting thrown off track! Like all social media, pinterest has the potential to suck the joy out of real living.
Yes I agree. I use Pinterest constantly and social media in general. I try to focus on the good things these services bring rather than the bad. Too many people allow social media to control them and their emotions, rather than the other way around.
Pinterest is just another social media tool I don’t take advantage of under the guise of I’m-too-busy. I love what you said about toddler crafts, I completely agree.
And that water poster is pretty much how I react to all news from my family. You can’t poop? Drink more water. You’re hungry? Here’s a big glass of water. You’re too tired to clean your room? How about some water? You’re sick? Better hydrate with water. Yup, it’s the answer to everything!
I’m SO pinning this post….
Argh! And I didn’t create a special pin-able graphic for this post! I knew I forgot something!
I love pinterest if for nothing more then the fact it is actually helping me meal plan for like, the first time ever.
And amen to just saying no to sensory anything. There aren’t enough hous in the day to clean colored shaving cream out of my carpets and/or my children’s buttcracks.
You are a wise woman.
Great post. Pinterest has been a really valuable research tool for me but I can see how it could be overwhelming. I LOVE that you put the giant squid under the “realistic” category – I can’t wait to see your version some day (soon?)
Hahaha….I made that squid pattern too 🙂 http://anneryathome.blogspot.com/2013/08/when-giant-squid-is-in-order.html