How to Stop Overthinking Your Social Media Posts

Still waiting until your lighting is just right or your captions sound flawless before you hit ‘post’?

Yep, I see you. And honestly? You’re not the only one.

So many small business owners I work with tell me the same thing:

“I just don’t feel ready to show up yet.”

“I keep writing posts and never actually sharing them.”

“I don’t want to sound silly or get it wrong.”

Let me say it loud for the people in the back: Perfectionism is a liar.

And it’s costing you visibility, clients, and confidence.

That Time I Posted Mid-Cake Bite

Let’s talk about that Reel I shared-

The one where I showed up mid-cake bite with the text:

“DITCH the perfectionism, grab a cake & show up as your perfectly imperfect self”

No ring light. No filter. Just a real moment, in real time.

And yep- that was the whole point.

I wanted to show you that it doesn’t have to be polished to be powerful.

That showing up exactly as you are is more than enough.

What Perfectionism is Really Doing to Your Business

If you're trying to run a whole business by yourself (high five, by the way), it makes total sense that you want your posts to feel good before they go out. You care - because you’re building something important.

But when that care turns into overthinking, we’ve got a problem:

• You start editing the same post for 3 days

• You wait for “better lighting,” “more time,” or “when you feel more confident”

• And you end up… not posting at all

Sound familiar?

I want to gently remind you that your perfect grid isn’t what’s going to grow your business.

Showing up consistently, messy bits and all, is what builds trust.

People Want Real, Not Perfect

Here’s the thing:

The business owner who films a scrappy story from their car?

Who admits when they’re winging it?

Who lets their personality shine through instead of copying some “Instagram expert” formula?

They’re the ones who get seen.

They’re the ones people remember.

And yep- they’re the ones getting booked.

Because being relatable is magnetic. We don’t trust perfection. We trust people.

Try These to Break the Overthinking Spiral

If you’re feeling stuck in the “it’s not good enough” loop, here’s what I recommend:

✅ Post it anyway - seriously, press “share” before your brain talks you out of it

✅ Focus on the message, not the aesthetics - what do you want to say? Say that

✅ Remember: Done is better than perfect - always

✅ Let them see the messy bits - behind-the-scenes > fake-it-‘til-you-make-it

✅ Experiment for fun - not every post needs to go viral. Play. Try. Learn.

You don’t have to “be confident” before you start. You just have to be willing to show up.

Not Sure What to Say? Let Me Help 👇

If your brain freezes the second you go to write a caption- same.

That’s why I made these for you:

✨ 30 Free Content Prompts you can steal right now to:

• Spark new post ideas

• Make it easier to start

• And help you take imperfect action (faster!)

Hundreds of small biz owners are already using them - and now they’re actually posting instead of second-guessing.

Your Turn:

This week, I dare you to post something imperfect on purpose.

No filter. No overthinking. Just you- showing up for your business.

Tag me when you do (@amandahughesuk) and I’ll come hype you up like the world’s most enthusiastic cheerleader. Pom poms and all.

You’ve got this 💪

Cake crumbs, awkward pauses, and real-life chaos included.

💬 And if you want to stop overthinking what to post for good, grab your 30 free content prompts here. It’s time to show up confidently- and consistently.

If you liked this blog check out : Instagram’s Latest Update Could Boost Your Visibility, If You Know How to Use It

About Me 👋 Hey, I’m Amanda! Social Media Mentor, Apple Top 30 Podcaster & Amazon #1 Bestselling Author.

I help small business owners get seen and get sales on social media—without the overwhelm.

With 10+ years of experience running small businesses, I know what it’s like to juggle content creation, marketing, and, well… life. That’s why I’m obsessed with making social media simpler, more fun, and actually effective for small business owners like you.

📩 Grab 30 FREE content prompts/hooks here to make content creation instantly easier today!

📲 Let’s connect on Instagram → @amandahughes.uk