If you’re shallow and actually care about your Instagram likes (like myself), then you know you can never pass up ordering a meal that has potential to be a great Instagram.
But what your loyal followers don’t know is that if a picture of food actually made it onto your profile, then it successfully passed a pretty critical process — a process everyone with Instagram anxiety can relate to.
If you’re thinking “Instagram anxiety” is a made-up term, then read on and I bet you’ll find yourself relating to some of these very real, very time-consuming thought processes.
1. Picking a restaurant based on the menu
We’ve all either browsed Instagram hashtags or googled nearby restaurants/bakeries/ice cream shops to find the place with the best sounding menu (ie. anywhere that mentions the word “Nutella”). 30 minute drive? No problem.
2. Hiding in the back booth so others can’t judge
A photo posted by Tic Tac To (@iamtictacto) on May 27, 2015 at 1:32pm PDT
As much as we wish we were shameless food posters, no one likes to be stared at for holding their food in the air and rotating it until they find the perfect lighting.
3. Potential Instagram photos trump health kicks (sorry not sorry)
A photo posted by New Fork City℠ (@new_fork_city) on Sep 22, 2015 at 7:39am PDT
You have to choose the coolest sounding thing on the menu even if it’s not your fave. Yes the chef salad is a smarter choice, but red velvet French toast? Waaaaay more potential.
4. Ambiance matters too
A photo posted by Food In The Air™ (@foodintheair) on Aug 31, 2015 at 5:25pm PDT
It’s necessary that you organize your place setting so that your Instagram will have a pretty background. You’ll probably find yourself saying, “Move your keys and grab that vase from the table over there.”
5. Seeing your food and just thinking about the Instagram likes
A photo posted by Astro Doughnuts (@astrodoughnuts) on Oct 3, 2015 at 4:35am PDT
“WOW this looks way better than I imagined… I wonder if I’ll break my old record.”
6. Filling your phone with 20+ takes of the same meal
A photo posted by Kiyoshi Jiro (@thepandaflavor) on Aug 6, 2015 at 9:03am PDT
You chose this seat in the back corner for a reason, might as well have your food “pose” in every possible way you can think of.
7. Taking/editing pics is SO time consuming
Ugh now my food is cold. Whatever, it’ll be worth it.
8. Asking your friends their thoughts on your photo
Gif courtesy of tumblr.com
You immediately send all of your narrowed down options to the group chat that you have with your friends. “Does this one look too edited, though?”
9. Finally choosing the perfect shot
Photo courtesy of buzzfeed.com
Oh sh*t, I’ve done it again.
10. …But you get stuck on the caption
A photo posted by Food In The Air™ (@foodintheair) on Jun 11, 2015 at 11:19am PDT
Only using emojis isn’t going to cut it; a witty caption is necessary.
11. Questioning if the meal even looks good anymore
“Ugh I wish there was more powdered sugar and less syrup…or maybe I should’ve gotten it with some fruit.”
12. “Maybe I will just post it as a #tbt later”
A photo posted by Lauren Adam Potthoff (@laurenpotthoff) on Sep 26, 2015 at 3:31pm PDT
That way my caption can just be straightforward and less creative…
13. Checking your notifications every 5 seconds
Gif courtesy of giphy.com
“Shoot I’m plateauing… should I delete it?”