Instagram Beyond Fitness

As I was noodling on what blog topic to focus on this week while watching Instagram stories, I realized that besides watching you all get after it in the gym, the stories I look forward to most are far from fitness related. In fact, I have a whole set of accounts that have nothing or little to do with exercise and workouts that I’d love to share with you here:

@her.atlas : This is my small, little bitty claim to fame, because this incredible account is run by my friend Caitlin and my husband and I actually own her old patio furniture…see, we’re basically famous by association 😉 Anyway, this account captures the beautiful, quirky, super interesting, fantastic life of an American living in the Japanese countryside. Caitlin not only has the most incredible Instagram stories that I love to follow along with everyday, but she is also super active on TikTok and YouTube, where you can find videos such as a Japanese Grocery Store Tour, a Modern Japanese Home Tour, learn about unique things in Japanese society that just make sense and so much more! @her.atlas is by far my absolute favorite Instagram account to follow simply because Caitlin makes you feel like you’re experiencing Japan with her. From watching her latest 7Eleven lunch hauls to learning about new KitKat flavors, the impressive trash separation system and watching her excel in pottery class, @her.atlas is the perfect account to pull up when you want to sit back, relax and see what else the world has to offer!

@smarthernews: If there is one thing I can’t stand, it’s opinion driven news programs, which is why I love this account so much! This channel was started by a gal that used to be a reporter for several TV stations, newspapers, etc. over the years and who ultimately got sick of feeling like she had to present an option when reporting the news to her audience. @smarthernews is an account where I can get quick, concise, high quality, nonpartisan news, that leaves me feeling like I have a good understanding of what’s going on in the world without already having someone else’s opinion forced on me.

@kateymcfarlan:I can’t even remember how I stumbled across this account, but it was years ago and I have truly enjoyed following Katey as she got married, got her first pup, had baby #1 and then baby #2, moved a couple times and decorated for countless holidays. I think one of the reasons I love following Katey so much is because of her lovely Texas accent and of course, her mostly pink home décor. This girl speaks my love language 😊 Katey shares everything from yummy homecooked recipes to cheap designer dupe finds, HomeGoods must haves and more, as well as how to keep your toddler busy during quarantine and how to shape your pb & j into a tiny bat; she’s just the best. I have purchased countless items based on Katey’s recommendation and she has never steered me wrong.

@traderjoeslist: I am pretty sure we all follow this account already, but if you don’t and shop at Trader Joes, this is a must have! Whenever there’s a new product that hits store shelves, this is the account where I hear about it. From reviews to must haves and more, @traderjoeslist is the place to check for all your Trader Joes favorites.

@sennarelax: Since traveling abroad in 2020 is a hard no, this account is my go to when I just need to dream a bit of all the wonderful places I want to venture to once this pandemic is behind us. The guy that runs this account is from Switzerland (sadly I don’t know him personally) and he posts the most magical photos from all his travels around the world. From evenings in Dubai to rooftop pools in Mykonos, relaxing Alp getaways and more, this account will have you seeing the world even if just via stunning photos.

@coltpursuit: I know I’ve shared this account before, but if you haven’t checked it out please take a minute to do so, I promise it will make you smile. Colt is a mischievous golden retriever that is always up to no good and usually caught on camera, which makes this whole account an absolute hoot to watch.

@halfbakedharvest: I’m pretty sure many of you probably already follow this account, but in the off chance you don’t, you’re in for a treat! Tieghan is an absolutely incredibly talented food blooger, chef, cook book author and so much more and her food photography is out of this world! Everything on her page looks to die for and I basically salivate just scrolling through her feed. Her cookbook is so beautiful and best of all, most of her recipes are fairly simple to follow, use seasonal ingredients and make large portions, so one creation will feed your whole family and make you look like a rock star. I don’t even cook all that often, but man, just looking at her account gives me the confidence to put my apron on and get to work.

While I have many more non fitness accounts I love, these are my absolute favorites and I sure hope I was able to add a few more ideas to your Instagram line up. Let me know which accounts you check out and if you love them as much as I do!