10 Instagram Accounts that Feel like a Breath of Fresh Air
I don’t know about you, but sometimes the internet can feel like a fiery pit of shouting, anger, and despair - especially in the current political climate. Although it is important to stay informed, consuming too much doom and gloom is bound to fray anybody’s nervous system. So, if like me you are feeling sick of fight or flight mode being activated every time you go on your phone, here are some accounts to lighten up your feed.
I found this account quite recently, but it has become one of my absolute favourites on Instagram. Sonia often creates ‘illustrated days in the life’, documenting her days as an art teacher in London. Filled with humour, and a quirky and distinctive illustrative style, these videos feel like such a fun rest-break from all of the miserable headlines. I particularly enjoy her comical jabs at the chaos that is travelling around London. As someone who has grown up there, she does a very good job of capturing the eccentric side to a city I call home. She also has a shop and does commissions; I would definitely recommend checking her out.
Nicoleò Leone’s bio captures the very essence of why this account stands out, it is indeed his Italian story. The array of videos and stills he has captured of his hometown in Italy, as well as his travels, really demonstrates his incredible eye for bright and beautiful camera shots. As well as a deep appreciation for the place he lives in, the destinations he travels to and the people he comes across. It is clear he really understands colour and composition, and his account feels like a lovely homage to the beauty of Italy, and to the world.
If you are looking for a Parisian themed safe haven, filled with baked goods and flea market hauls, then this is the place for you. Ainsley Durose is a pastry chef living in Paris who uploads regular reels of her beautiful creations - all made in her small but perfectly formed apartment. Often accompanied by soft vintage tunes and aesthetic shots of her trinket-adorned living room, this account breathes peace and tranquillity into the overcrowded corridor that is Instagram.
Fatiha El-Ghorri is a hilarious comedian whose stand-up is filled with cracking humour, dry jokes and on-point delivery. Many of her reels are excerpts from shows she has done, which always lighten my feed up with comedic entertainment. But in general, this account is a great place to keep updated on what she is up to and which projects she is working on.
One of my favourite home cooks, as well as a warm and genuine person, Elly Curshen’s account is filled with useful kitchen tips, creative ways to use up leftovers and delicious recipes. I really enjoy her style of editing too. Unlike a lot of the Instagram food accounts that centre around fast-paced jump shots that can often seem over-edited, Elly takes on a much more relaxed approach. Her account is always somewhere I look for when I need inspiration in the kitchen, and a rest break from doom-scrolling.
The breath-taking beauty of this account’s filmography blew me away when I first stumbled across one of their viral videos. This pair of budding filmmakers have really mastered the art of building a world within fifteen seconds. Distinctively colourised landscapes, touching storylines, and a soundtrack straight from a coming-of-age movie, all combine to create a real depth of feeling within their videos. It’s a great example of how social media can be an amazing platform to share people’s creativity and talent.
Another food account (noticing a pattern?). Except this one is run by Clau, a girl living in my current city of study - Zaragoza! Perhaps I am biased to the artistic shots of Zaragoza’s prettiest neighbourhoods or the sun-filled photos of her Spanish dishes, but this account really feels like a pause from the madness. Her Instagram is also entirely Spanish, providing me with a lot of good listening practice. That being said, I think anyone of any language can find joy in her foodie photo dumps and yummy recipes.
Embroiderer, crocheter and all-round incredible designer/creative, Paula’s Projects are wow to say the least. One of her most recent posts documented her process of making a jacket entirely out of mussel shells. The final result was so striking, I’d expect it to be spotted on a high fashion runway. I also love her overall message around sustainability. Most of her projects involve recycling materials, such as her beautiful bags, which are embroidered entirely out of sea glass and shells. She clearly has a good eye and impressive sewing skills. Again, it is refreshing to find someone using social media to share their creativity and skill.
Something about his Northern sense of humour coupled with a healthy dose of dry sarcasm makes Luke Hamnett one of the funniest guys I’ve come across online. Perhaps it’s my craving for good old British humour since I am currently in Spain, but I find him hilariously funny. I enjoy his commentary on the weird and wonderful on the internet, as well as his sketches such as ‘Gentle Parenting versus my Mum’. Something lacking on social media right now is a good laugh. I think Luke Hamnett very successfully provides us with some decent comedic relief in these rather bleak times.
One final food account to round up the list. Seema’s culinary creations always provide me with a fresh pool of inspiration for my home cooking. I particularly like how she combines really good food with a great personality. My favourite videos on this account are part of her ‘Pyjama Series’, which centre around quick but tasty recipes, often using up store-cupboard goods. The Instagram food world is becoming increasingly over saturated. But she brings creativity, an obvious knowledge for flavours and a good video style together, carving out a corner on the internet brimming with vibrancy and fun.
So there we have it, some of my favourite places on the internet. Now more than ever, I think it’s important we stay in control of what we do and don’t consume online. Although I know we are all somewhat slaves to the algorithm, we must not forget that we do have a say over what we do and don’t see. While staying in touch with the news is important, it should not be the only thing on our feed. In fact, limiting our intake will mean that when we do read up on current events, we are more likely to actually pay attention to what is going on. So, let’s avoid news fatigue and inject some positivity into who we are following online!
