Do You Also Scroll Through Instagram and Wonder How Everyone Else Is Living the Dream?

We’ve all been there. You’re lying in bed, comfy in your pyjamas, scrolling through Instagram for what feels like a harmless five minutes, but before you know it, you’re deep down the rabbit hole. Suddenly, you’re staring at a photo of someone you barely know sipping piña coladas on a beach in Bali, their perfect tan glowing under the sun. You swipe up, and there’s another friend, this time posing in front of the Eiffel Tower, looking effortlessly chic. As you scroll, it starts to feel like everyone else is out there living the dream—except you.

The Instagram Effect

Let’s be honest: Instagram is a highlight reel. It’s where people post the best, most curated versions of their lives. No one’s sharing their 7 a.m. bedhead or the mountain of laundry they’ve been avoiding for a week. Instead, we get sunsets, fancy brunches, and perfectly posed selfies. It’s no wonder we start to wonder, “Is everyone else really living the dream?”

What’s even more relatable is the feeling that you’re the only one not in on the secret. You start to question your life choices—“Should I be traveling more? Should I have a more aesthetically pleasing morning routine? How do these people have the time (and money) for all this?” It’s like everyone else got the manual for how to live an Instagram-worthy life, and you’re still fumbling with the table of contents.

The Reality Behind the Filters

But here’s the thing: Instagram doesn’t show the whole story. That flawless vacation photo? It probably took 30 tries to get the perfect shot, and it might have been followed by a sunburn, lost luggage, or a hefty credit card bill. That chic outfit in Paris? It could have involved a wardrobe malfunction or sore feet from walking in heels all day. We don’t see the stress, the planning, the messiness of real life behind those perfectly edited pictures.

It’s also important to remember that people post what they want others to see. Those moments of success and joy are real, but they’re just a slice of the pie. Everyone has their own struggles and bad days—they just don’t make it to the Instagram feed. The person living “the dream” might be dealing with their own set of challenges that you’ll never know about from just looking at their profile.

Instagram Vs. Reality

Embracing Your Own Story

Instead of falling into the trap of comparison, try flipping the script. Next time you catch yourself wondering how everyone else is living the dream, remind yourself that you’re only seeing a tiny, polished part of their lives. Your story is just as valid and interesting, even if it’s not Instagram-perfect 24/7.

Celebrate the small victories in your own life—the things that make you happy, whether it’s a cozy night in, a well-earned promotion, or a spontaneous adventure close to home. Remember that everyone’s “dream life” looks different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all model for happiness.

And hey, if you do feel like sharing your moments on Instagram, go for it! Just don’t feel pressured to make every post a picture-perfect representation of your life. Sometimes, the most relatable and fun posts are the ones that show the reality—like the time you tried to make a fancy dinner and ended up with a kitchen disaster.

Finding Balance in the Scroll

It’s okay to enjoy Instagram for what it is—a place to connect, find inspiration, and share parts of your life. But if you ever find yourself spiralling into the comparison trap, take a step back. Put down your phone, take a deep breath, and focus on what’s happening in your world right now. Your journey is unique, and there’s no need to measure it against anyone else’s.

So, the next time you’re scrolling through Instagram and start wondering how everyone else is living the dream, remember that you’re living your own dream too—one that’s real, unfiltered, and completely yours. And that’s something worth celebrating, both on and off the ‘Gram.