Man relaxes with beer and phone
2020 has been the single most disappointing year of many people's lives. Imagine being an Olympic-level athlete training for a single shining moment at the Tokyo 2020 games... that's on pause. Imagine being a high school senior and incoming college freshman, ready for the most exciting and liberating year of your young life... not so fast. Imagine you were planning to get married to the love of your life in April, or move from the Midwest to Los Angeles in March, or leave your parents' place for good in June. Everything is on hold.
Even for those of us without life-changing plans -- those of us who just wanted to see F9 in the spring and play basketball at the park all summer -- 2020 has been deeply, uniquely frustrating. And with the prospect of a controversial election in November, climate change fueling meteorological catastrophes on both coasts, and no end in sight to the pandemic... well, it's tempting to curl up in bed and stay hidden until 2022.
Resist that urge. There's plenty to accomplish in the final few months of 2020 (voting, for example) and brighter days are just beyond the horizon. These 28 Instagram accounts will help you stay strong, stay sane, and stay positive until the lock downs are lifted, the virus is in retreat, and a new old white guy is President.
Calm
Who? Calm is probably the most popular sleep and meditation app in America. It offers breathing exercises, sleep stories, and other tools to help users get a full night's rest.
Why Follow? The Calm app is the main event, but the company's Instagram account (@calm) is also great. It provides resources like thoughtful, peppy messages, snippets of sleep stories, sweeping nature scenes, inspirational quotes, and previews of soothing music. When you're feeling overworked or under stress, visit this Insta for a moment of peace.
Sara Kuburic
Who? Sara Kuburic is an existential therapist and life coach who shares useful resources for managing daily life on her uber-popular Instagram.
Why Follow? News flash, buddy: you need a therapist, I need a therapist, we all need a therapist. If that wasn't true before 2020, it will certainly be true by the time this pandemic ends. Therapy can help you understand why you're feeling so angry and anxious all the time, and help you develop methods to cope with these issues. Kuburic's Instagram (@millennial.therapist) isn't as good as talking to a therapist in the flesh, but it's a great source of tips and tools to help you cope with day-to-day pressures.
Cardi B
Who? Cardi B is a rapper, a Bronx native, a fashion icon, and one of the greatest philosophers of the 21st century.
Why Follow? For wisdom, of course. Whenever I feel shitty, I ask friends who are smarter than me for advice. Talking with someone wiser than you helps put things in perspective. They know when you need to laugh, they know when you need to reflect, and they know when you need to cry for a couple hours. These days, though, I don't have to call my smarter friends, because I've got Cardi B's Instagram (@iamcardib). She delivers all the wisdom I need, and she certainly makes me laugh and cry.
Jessamyn Stanley
Who? Jessamyn Stanley (@mynameisjessamyn) is a massively popular yoga teacher, advocate for body positivity, and writer based in North Carolina.
Why Follow? Because not only is Jessamyn an incredible instructor who will get you excited about doing yoga, but she also doles out shots of inspiration and positivity that will make you feel unbeatable. This is really a catch-all self-care Instagram follow -- you'll be inspired to be physically active, you'll be encouraged by a passionately positive instructor, and you'll literally fall in love with this woman's incomparable spirit.
DJ Townsel
Who? DJ Townsel is a former NFL and CFL football player and current international yoga instructor with a following of more than 100,000 on Instagram (@dade2shelby).
Why Follow? Because yoga ain't just for the ladies, fellas! Yoga challenges you physically and mentally while encouraging mindfulness and awareness. It can be practiced at home or in the park; in a group or on your own. In other words, it's the ideal form of mental and physical therapy for the current moment, and guys like DJ are doing important work by spreading awareness.
Morgan Harper Nichols
Who? Morgan Harper Nichols (@morganharpernichols) is a musician, poet, artist, and songwriter who uses Instagram to spread positivity through storytelling .
Why Follow? Because Nichols combines her various talents to craft warm, touching, and inspirational art that she shares freely with the world. She has an uncanny ability to bring simple, heartfelt messages to life through illustration, and to amplify illustration with her words. A trip through her feed is guaranteed to make you feel more at-peace.
Humans of New York
Who? Humans of New York (@humansofny) is an Instagram account created by Brandon Stanton, pictured above. What began as a modest social experiment has blossomed into a worldwide repository of everyday wisdom.
Why Follow? Because we're missing human connection these days, and there's nothing more important to emotional and spiritual wellbeing. For many of us, self-care means being around the people we feel close to, the kind of people we can share deep, intimate feelings with and who are willing to share those feelings back. When that's not possible, the next best thing might be Humans of New York, where people from around the world open up their hearts and minds to the internet.
Live Green Healthy
Who? Healthy Recipe Inspiration, aka @livegreenhealthy, collects and shares healthy, vegetarian recipes from around the internet.
Why Follow? Because, believe it or not, what you put in your body has an impact on how you feel. If you've been alternating between McDonald's and Papa John's for the last eight months, you probably feel like shit. That's because your body (which includes your brain, remember) isn't getting the fuel it needs to make it happily through the day.
There's nothing wrong with indulging in a little junk food now and then -- in fact, that's its own form of self care! But enduring good health relies on meals that look more like this Instagram feed and less like the steaming pile of meat you Uber Eats-ed from your favorite BBQ joint last night.
Donte Colley
Who? Donte Colley (@donte.colley) is a Canadian Instagram sensation whose ad-libbed dances have brought smiles to countless faces.
Why Follow? Because Donte Colley's energy and his irrepressible enthusiasm are literally infectious. For real, why can't the coronavirus spread this kind of good-natured, down-to-earth charm instead of a deadly respiratory disease?? Self-care is all about subjecting yourself to things that make you smile -- I dare you to watch one of these videos without cracking a grin.
Ryan Heffington
Who? Ryan Heffington (@ryan.heffington) is a dancer and choreographer who's worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry on several iconic videos.
Why Follow? Because besides being one of the most sought-after choreographers in Hollywood, Heffington also took it upon himself to spread the joy of dance during the first months of the pandemic, hosting free online classes for thousands of students at every level. Dance is a quintessential form of self-care. Not only is it great exercise, but it's also a form of artistic expression and a unique way to connect with a community. Check out Ryan's Instagram for updates on classes and for regular shots of positivity and inspiration in a dark time.
The Dogist
Who? The Dogist (@thedogist), founded and photographed by Elias Weiss Friedman, is a straightforward project: it shares pictures of dogs alongside stories about their personalities.
Why Follow? Because dogs are an endless fountain of joy and unconditional love. They may be the best thing about the world in 2020. If you've got a dog in your life, lucky you; you might not need The Dogist. If you're living dog-free, follow this account -- it's probably the most efficient form of self-care available.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Who? Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@aoc) is a second-term congresswoman representing New York's 14th district, a proud native of NYC, the vanguard of a new progressive movement, and America's best hope for survival in the next 20 years.
Why Follow? For hope, which is easy to lose these days. It's natural to feel uncomfortable about the future of the nation. Besides the pandemic, we're facing the reelection of a President who wants the American army to occupy outer space; a global climate crisis; a vast and growing wealth gap; the rise of racist nationalist movements... I could go on.
When you're anxiety reaches an unmanageable apex, visit AOC's Instagram for a brief reminder that hope for the future should not be abandoned.
January Jones
Who? January Jones is an American actress best known for portraying Don Draper's tragic wife, Betty, in the TV masterpiece Mad Men.
Why Follow? Feel like you're going a little crazy in quarantine? So does Instagram icon January Jones (@januaryjones), and crazy loves company. January's account has been a badly-kept secret for years now, and her charming mania seems to have hit new heights in isolation. She's here to remind you that no matter how nuts 2020 has made you, there's someone out there feeling even crazier than you are. We love you January!
Gramparents
Who? @gramparents is a crowd-sourced account that shares examples from around the world of old people's ineffable swaginess.
Why Follow? Because scrolling through this feed will make it feel like your parents or your grandparents are in the next room. Look, many of us have been separated from our families for a long time during the pandemic, and that's not easy. The characters that grace this account ooze parental comfort. It's like seeing a shimmering mirage of your Dad's hideous-but-perfect Reebok sneakers across the social desert. It's a slice of home.
Chloe Ting
Who? Chloe Ting (@chloe_t) is a YouTube fitness guru whose instructional videos are perfectly tailored to working out from home.
Why Follow? Because physical health is as important to self-care as mental health! In fact the two are seamlessly connected, and Chloe will -- I guarantee you -- mold you into shape. Her workouts are tough but fair, just like her demeanor, and designed to be completed at home, in front of your laptop or TV. Chloe is a workout guru for the pandemic age.
NASA
Who? NASA, aka the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is a division of the United States government responsible for space exploration and research. On Instagram (@nasa), they share images of distant galaxies, the surface of Mars, and their work here on Earth.
Why Follow? Perspective is essential to self-care. It's easy to get caught up in the overwhelming negativity of our time and place in history. NASA's images serve as a reminder that everything is insignificant and out of our control. Some people find the magnitude of space horrifying -- it basically confirms that our lives are irrelevant. But to others it's freeing. Sure, we don't matter; but neither does COVID! Or these lock downs! Or Donald Trump! It will all be over soon, relatively speaking, and we'll be buried together in the sands of time.
Barack Obama
Who? Barack Obama is the 44th President of the USA, a lawyer, a community organizer, a smooth lefty pointguard, and, as far as we know, a decent human being.
Why Follow? For a daily dose of decency, and a reminder that America once valued morals and diplomacy in the highest office in the land. It's hard to believe that less than four years have passed since Obama was in the White House. We know he wasn't a perfect president -- not by a long shot. But as you scroll through his feed (@barackobama) you'll find comfort in the fact that civility once had a place in our politics. Obama is a reminder that the world wasn't always this fucked up.
Kevin Love
Who? Kevin Love is a five-time NBA All-Star, a two-time All-NBA forward, a one-time champ, and a vocal advocate for mental health.
Why Follow? Because we're in the middle of an international epidemic of men's mental health problems, and we need to follow and support prominent men speaking up on this issue. Kevin Love, along with the San Antonio Spurs' Demar Derozan, has for years been outspoken about his battles with depression. If a 6'10" NBA champion with a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model girlfriend can struggle with mental health, anyone can. K-Love's Instagram (@kevinlove) is an important reminder that speaking about your struggles shouldn't be taboo.
National Geographic Travel
Who? National Geographic Travel's official Instagram account (@natgeotravel) takes followers to some of the most remote and exotic corners of the world.
Why Follow? Nothing soothes the soul like a visit to pristine, untouched nature, which is hard to find these days, even when we're not confined to our apartments. Through @natgeotravel, you can explore the jungles of Brazil, the mountaintops of Canada, the vast plains of Mongolia, and everything in between.
NEAT Method
Who? NEAT Method (@neatmethod) is a "lifestyle service" that helps clients organize and beautify their homes.
Why Follow? You know what's NOT a form of self-care? Living in a messy, cluttered apartment. That's especially true when you're spending every day in that apartment. NEAT Method's Instagram can help in two ways. First, it's calming just to look at these spaces, with their perfectly organized shelves and crisply-folded linens and designer dogs that match the homes' color schemes. Second, you might learn a couple things about organizing your absolute catastrophe of a home.
Eric Landon
Who? @tortus is an account run by Eric Landon, a clay throwing instructor based in Denmark.
Why Follow? There's something deeply calming about watching 'clay throwing,' the process of shaping wet clay using a spinning wheel. Experts like Landon do it smoothly and effortlessly -- it's a joy to watch them mold a lifeless lump of mud into a work of art using nothing but their hands and an ancient tool. Watch one video on this account and you'll be mesmerized; after two or three, your mind will be mercifully blank.
Darryl Cheng
Who? Darryl Cheng (@houseplantjournal) started his Tumblr (then YouTube, then Instagram) account to support plant owners who couldn't find useful or trustworthy plant care information online.
Why Follow? Because Darryl shares straightforward plant care advise AND inspiring pics from his own plant care journies. Spending time around greenery is calming, and for those of us spending most of 2020 in our apartments, houseplants are the next best thing to a walk in the forest. Plus, healthy, vibrant houseplants make every living space more attractive and stylish.
Humans Who Grow Food
Who? Humans Who Grow Food (@humanswhogrowfood) shares stories from gardeners, farmers, and communities from around the world. The goal is to spread knowledge and inspire visitors to grow their own food!
Why Follow? We've got two great reasons to follow Humans Who Grow Food. The first is an extension of the previous slide: spending time around greenery and nature is a form of self-care as old as time; if you have enough space to move beyond houseplants, consider building a garden. The second reason is that quarantine is boring and gardening is super challenging. If you've got time on your hands while you wait for the pandemic to end, start a garden, because you'll always have work to do.
Penguin Random House
Who? Penguin Random House (@penguinrandomhouse) is a multinational publishing conglomerate that's done a great job curating a cozy, homey Instagram.
Why Follow? Books can take you anywhere. Want to escape the present? Dive into the past or travel to the future; live in an alternate reality for a couple of days. Want to solve the problems stressing you out the most? Read up on the subject! Somewhere out there is an expert you can learn from, and chances are he or she has a book you can read. For book lovers, a quick scroll through this account will put you back in your happy place. For aspiring book lovers, it's a great place to pick up recommendations on the hottest new titles.
Carl Larsson
Who? LA-based Carl Larsson (@theartreporter) showcases stunning interior design from around the world.
Why Follow? For a change of scenery. Admittedly, this account showcases the kind of unattainable luxury that can cause emotional distress. It's almost painful to look at some of these interiors knowing full well you'll never live that stylishly; vaulted ceilings and $10,000 cabinets and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Mediterranean are simply out of reach. But this kind of fanciful escape can also be therapeutic. There's no harm in imagining yourself as a globe-trotting heiress now and then...
Movie Premiers Unlimited
Who? Movie Premieres Unlimited (@nightopenings) shares red carpet moments from 80s, 90s, and 2000s Hollywood. The stars are faded, the denim is baggy, and the movies are utterly forgotten.
Why Follow? Escapism, plain and simple! Self-care is all about putting yourself first. It's about taking time out of your day to forget the world's problems and indulge in simple pleasures. Movie Premiers Unlimited will transport you to those comforting, pre-9/11 days when Bruce Willis was the biggest name in Hollywood and Trump was still a shady real estate scion. This is truly engrossing content: you'll spend hours gawking at the insane red carpet looks, the floppy hair, the barely-remembered famous faces.
Chris Matthews
Who? Chris Matthews (@lethalshooter) is a former pro hooper and now a sought-after professional shooting coach who rose to prominence via his mesmerizing Instagram.
Why Follow? Is there anything more satisfying than watching somebody do something extremely difficult with absolute ease? That's Chris Matthews' Instagram in a nutshell. His feed is stuffed with mind-bending videos of him relentlessly knocking down long three after long three after long three. For basketball fans, or for anyone that appreciates a job well done, this account is a must-follow.
sugar_boogerz
Who? @sugar_boogerz is an ASMR-style account run by artist Laura Driskill. Astoundingly, it's followed by hundreds of thousands of people.
Why Follow? Because some people find ASMR incredibly soothing! If you're one of these people, sugar_boogerz content should be right up your alley. Driskell slices lemons for your auditory pleasure, runs her fingernails over hard surfaces, melts maleable substances with hot knives, and generally delivers all the spine-tingling satisfaction that ASMR fans crave.