This is news to me. In a latest attempt to take back control of our lives, millennials everywhere are posting carousels of their 2016 selves, declaring, “2026 is the new 2016!” Ironically, my feed hasn’t looked this good in years. A step back from the perfectly curated grids and from the photographer, social media strategist, and manager you pay monthly to keep things organized. A breath of fresh air, if you ask me.
Social media has been a divided place for so long now. A place where you can see murder and within one scroll be prompted to “click the link in bio” for something you don’t need. So here I am, just like in 2016, writing into a computer screen for an audience of 15k. Back then, I believed I had an audience of over 5,000, but I knew no difference.
I was posting what I was passionate about, whether it be fashion, adorably dubbed TellyLovesFashion, or my favorite red lip shade from Elizabeth Mott. I posted what was real and not what an algorithm wanted me to be. I think that is what social media is missing the most. Real people. Real passion.
Since when is your job your entire personality? I rebel against the thought. So for me, it was decided well before this trend that I would go back to my roots. Writing. A place where I could share an aspect of myself that did not require hair and makeup.
I told my therapist today that I was tired of all the work. The physical work, mental work, job, family, relationship, self love journey. I am "catastrophically tired". I want so desperately to be on the other side of things. It is like knowing you have a vacation booked but not having the patience to work until it arrives. Why can’t I just be at the destination already!?
She reminded me the entire time that this is human.
This trend reminds me of being tired. Wanting to go back in time when things were simpler and not as heavy. Things feel extremely heavy. Whether you’re scrolling or chasing those dopamine hits, we are collectively a tired society.
What is the answer?
Creativity. The kind you aren’t actively trying to monetize. Let’s be honest, if you can do what you love and make money too, go for it. But we need a creative outlet. As my therapist would put it, mindful moments. Moments where you are present with yourself and doing what feels restorative. Yeah… do that.
For me, writing feels amazing. Whether it’s for my blog, my poetry, or journaling for the day. I love writing and reading it back. It sucks because I’m grammatically challenged, ha, but I won’t let that define me.
For now, I’m choosing creativity over burnout.
