Calming content eases the mind – explaining my observations

Using the autoethnographic process of participatory observation, through a short time period I have been able to put together considerable notes that has helped me understand how calming content helps ease the mind. This is through my own personal experience. I set out on this project trying to distinguish firstly, how content creators keep us engaged in this niche and how I can include this for my own audience. Secondly, why I keep coming back and engaging in this niche. And thirdly, overall how does calming and creative content ease the mind, especially with anxiety and high stress levels.

Focusing my research on two platforms Tik Tok and Instagram there’s is a noticeable different between the two when it comes to engagement. This all lies in my observations as such:

Tik Tok

• Using popular sounds gains views and more traffic to video 
• More creative content – less personal
• Limites space to create a distinctive person outside of the creative content
• Not a lot of engagement
• TikTok is tricky to navigate engagement wise as it’s unpredictable

Instagram

• Niche is primarily on Instagram – more accounts 
• More engagement via stores as compared to posts
• Don’t want to see the same content – produce a variety of content
• Account was made previously so familiar with the content – Have gained 15 followers since providing surfboard art 
• Mix of personal and creative content 
• Where I post more content 
• More engagement – feedback
• Focusing on stories creates a connection between audience and myself – people feel more free to privately comment 
• Can create a more relatable persona – allows me to share my experiences

Through observations I found the media niche was more specific to Instagram as people are more likely to search for methods for anxiety or stress through Instagram, whilst Tik Tok is more a platform you view content that is provided to you through the ‘For You Page’ or popular sounds. Whilst through these instagram pages, my content is more prevalent on stories as I feel this is the best way to reach my audience personally, and also allows me to build this vulnerable yet bubbly and honest persona.

I also focused my observations on other content creators in my media niche who I either previously followed or came across through this research process.

I found these observations so far have coincided with my observations with my audience. There is more engagement on stories. Content tends to be more on Instagram than on Tik Tok, something I want to do further exploration in. And a familiar and relatable persona is important.

Throughout this I have discovered some epiphanies.

• Calming content is good for mild anxiety. However, pages to help for higher levels of anxiety are harder to come by 
• There is less calming content surrounding anxiety online and more anxiety pages that focus on quotes and breathing methods – not how to cope with anxiety through creativity. Focus on what I can bring to the niche through creativity and reality 
• Branching out via blog posts can link the seperate components of my niche together. Eg. A blog on the benefits of mandalas. Another blog on some affirmations I use and why they are helpful etc..