Finding my place online again

It’s been a while since I’ve shared online (consistently at least). I used to thoroughly enjoy it - expressing myself, connecting with others, being creative, and sharing the highs and lows of life in academia. But at some point in the last two-years, it stopped feeling joyful and started feeling extremely frustrating. Platforms grew more strategic, more calculated, and honestly, more soulless to me.

Posting on social media began to feel like a pointless chore, and in all honesty still does. I found myself comparing my content to others, wondering, What’s the point? Someone else has already given that advice. They are doing it better than me.

I convinced myself that my voice wasn’t valuable, that my experiences weren’t worth sharing. That mindset became quite crippling, and I am still struggling with it—not only in the context of social media but also in my daily life (trying to not compare yourself during a PhD is almost impossible).

The kind of content being favoured and pushed by platforms like Instagram didn’t help. Quick hooks and flashy aesthetics without much substance now dominate and it continues to grind on me so much. The misinformation kills me. I was overthinking every post, sometimes spending hours on a video or caption, only to bin it altogether. It felt ridiculous and exhausting, so I did what I thought was best. I stepped away completely.

Reflecting on what was holding me back

While offline, I tried to understand exactly what was holding me back with my online science communication pursuits. Every time I thought about returning to posting, it felt forced. The algorithms, the metrics, the endless scrolling to understand new trends—it all felt so hollow and far away from my original purpose. And the nagging question remained: Was anyone even seeing or caring about what I shared?

One of the biggest shifts came after a conversation with a friend. They completely stopped using social media, deleting all their apps. The idea of that would have scared me senseless a few years ago. Back then, I thought social media = connection. The idea of not sharing what I was doing regularly felt weird, especially when you’ve got some momentum going with the algorithms.

But after a camping trip with no online access, I realised how much I needed space away the online world. My mind felt clearer than it had in a long time. That experience, alongside my friend's perspective, inspired me to rethink my online habits. It made me question what I wanted from social media and what I was truly gaining from it. I'm still figuring out if social media is a good tool for the scientific community, and I'm inclined to think there are more downsides than benefits.

Reminding myself what brings me joy

Here's what I've come to understand: I was focusing so heavily on analytics and algorithms that I lost sight of what I truly enjoy. And what I enjoy is creating meaningful content that reflects who I am, not following random pointless trends.

I love writing, sharing my experiences (even the f*cked-up ones), and connecting with people over deep challenging topics. I love photography and vlogging—longer, more thoughtful formats where I can really tell a story. I thrive on meaningful conversations and helping others, whether it’s about navigating academia, chatting about climate change, or improving mental health.

I enjoy discussing books, movies, and other creative pursuits with friends and family. Maybe one day, I’ll even write a book—something much more fun and personal than a PhD thesis!

A new start in my own space

So here I am, trying to find my place and voice online again. I want to start small, with this blog, so hi! I recently came across The Kjellbergs’ newsletters, and they inspired me to create my own space where I can share my photos, thoughts, resources, and maybe the occasional book review or controversial opinion.

Moving forwards, my focus is on creating deeper, more meaningful content. I want this to be a space where I can practice non-academic writing, sharpen my science communication skills, and connect with others who value authenticity over algorithms. Talking about sh*t that actually matters.

Maybe someday this blog will grow into something bigger—a newsletter or a subscription-based space. But for now, I’m just taking it one step at a time, finding my momentum again. As a full-time scientist, it's difficult to prioritise time to do the laundry, let alone run an online empire! Consistency > perfection.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you! I’d love to know what you’d like to see or hear about—drop your ideas in the comments.

Here’s to starting fresh and finding joy in the process again.