The Fear of Pressing Post: Overcoming Post Anxiety
Sharing online may feel natural for some, but for me, it’s always been a daunting challenge, a battle with my own insecurities.
Even though I grew up in a world where sharing everything online is the norm, I’ve always been nervous to add to the conversation. I love to write about what interests me, and I love capturing moments in my life, but that doesn’t mean I’ve always been bold enough to put it out there for everyone to see.
When it comes to my social media, anything that makes it out of the drafts has been carefully overanalyzed. On Instagram, I critique every detail: the photo editing, the caption, the hashtags, and even the emojis I use. On TikTok, I went through a phase where I wanted to post regularly for fun, but I was afraid of what people might think. Because of that, I never hit publish on a majority of my content. Honestly, because it’s all personal content, I’ve always told myself it doesn’t matter if I don’t post consistently. I’m not trying to be an influencer; I’m just keeping my friends and family updated on what I’m doing nowadays.
Stepping into the professional world changed all of that. When I realized how much visibility matters on LinkedIn, my posting habits couldn’t just stay optional. I needed to post more on LinkedIn and improve my digital presence so that people can see what I can do.
It wasn’t until I started my LinkedIn Visibility Project that I saw how deep my perfectionist tendencies ran.
Sitting down to create my first posts, my brain flooded with doubts:
“This isn’t interesting enough to post.”
“This won’t get many likes.”
“People will think this is stupid.”
I’ve always compared myself to others. Even while writing this blog, I catch myself thinking: Hasn’t someone written about this before? How does mine compare to that work?
The thought loop is constant:
“Why does this person get more likes with the same picture?”
“Why does my work feel mediocre compared to someone else’s?”
“What will others think about me because of this post?”
Even with content I genuinely love and am proud of, I hesitate to share it. That fear has followed me for years, but stepping into my professional journey has forced me to start facing it head-on. The more I’ve created, the more I’ve learned how to work through these irrational thoughts.
That’s what this post is about: the fear of hitting “post,” why so many of us struggle with it, and how I’ve started to move past it.
The Pressure Behind Social Media
I realized while researching this that I’m not alone; many people share my anxiety about posting online. Social anxiety is common, and for a lot of us, it shows up in the form of “post anxiety.” Putting yourself out there, whether it’s through public speaking or posting on Instagram, is daunting for almost everyone, even if few people admit it.
An article by Alyss Bowen in Stylist explains this shift well: the carefree, blurry candids of early Instagram have been replaced with the pressure to “create content.” What used to be fun and casual has turned into a performance, where every post is measured against the idea of a personal brand. Instead of posting just because we like a photo, we now ask ourselves: Does this fit my image? Will it get attention? Is it worth posting at all?
For me, posting feels like stepping on stage in front of thousands, even millions, of people. As a competitive dancer and former Louisville Ladybird, I performed in front of packed stadiums at nationally televised games. I’m used to presenting myself in front of thousands of people. But online, I’ve always had a kind of “digital stage fright.” Ironic, isn’t it?
Part of my digital stage fright comes from constant comparison. Social media makes it easy to measure ourselves against friends, family, and even complete strangers. We’ve turned posting into a showcase of how interesting and fun our lives look, not just a place where we share moments we enjoy.
As Theodore Roosevelt famously said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” That comparison is exactly what takes the fun out of posting. Instead of being exciting and carefree, it often feels overwhelming. Whether you’re posting for yourself, your career, or a brand, post anxiety is real. And if you want to work in content marketing like me, it’s something you have to learn how to overcome.
Why Posting Feels So Scary
For most of us, the fear of posting doesn’t come from the Internet itself. It comes from what’s going on in our own heads.
The fear around posting is typically driven by internal anxieties rather than actual risks. The fact that you’re showing yourself to the world by posting online is an overwhelming concept for many people. You’re opening yourself up to criticism or judgment from friends, followers, and strangers whenever you hit “post.” You also may worry the post won’t get much engagement, especially if you’re someone who likes looking at likes and comments. Maybe you posted a group photo, and you find yourself thinking, “What if their post gets more likes than mine?”
All of these fears are completely normal. Professionals, casual users, and creators alike share these same fears with you. It’s completely normal, and it’s all part of being human.
Just because these fears are common doesn’t mean they have to control you. With the right mindset, posting becomes a lot easier, and you can start to enjoy the process.
Shifting Your Perspective
When it comes to overcoming post anxiety, mindset is everything. One of the most significant shifts you can make is learning to stop comparing your posts to other people’s. Most of the time, those comparisons come down to vanity metrics, such as likes, comments, shares, and follower counts. While they look impressive on the surface, they rarely reflect the actual value or impact of what you shared. Vanity metrics rarely tell the whole story.
Some things are in your control, like creating authentic, clear, and consistent content. This is where you can make a real difference and connect with your audience. However, other factors, like algorithms, are completely out of your control. They don’t always prioritize quality content, but they prioritize what fits the platform’s logic at that moment. You can try to “work the algorithm,” but you can only influence it so much.
Not every post will perform the way you want, and that’s normal. On LinkedIn, I’ve noticed this with my own content. Some of my posts take off right away, while others barely move until a week or two after I post them. The algorithm will suddenly pick up my content again after a few weeks. This isn’t because of anything I did; LinkedIn’s algorithm is notorious for resurfacing posts weeks or months after they’re published.
It’s important to remember that engagement isn’t the only measure of success. A “low-performing” post can still spark the right conversation and reach the exact person who needed it. Some of the most valuable outcomes from your posts don’t always show up in analytics. Once you shift your perspective away from vanity metrics and toward long-term value, it becomes easier to post online.
Of course, your mindset is just the starting point. Let’s dive deeper and discuss some practical ways you can make posting feel less intimidating.
Practical Ways to Overcome Post Anxiety
1) Start small
You don’t have to start with a long, vulnerable essay or a highly polished video. Start with something low-stakes, like a photo of your coffee with a short caption or a quick note about a book you’re reading. You could even repost an article or someone else’s post with your thoughts. The point is to build momentum and chip away at your fear of posting.
2) Post consistently
The more you post, the easier it gets. Think of it like learning a new skill: the more you do it, the more you improve and the easier it gets. Remember: consistency will always beat perfection.
With consistent posting, you will:
— Stop overthinking each individual post
— Get comfortable with any volume of engagement
— Learn what kind of content feels natural and energizing to post
3) Schedule your posts in advance
If pressing “post” gives you anxiety like me, scheduling can take the edge off. Most platforms let you schedule your posts for a later date and time. Personally, I like to post things in advance so I don’t stare at my screen and wait for the likes and comments to flood in. This helps me a lot because I often forget that the scheduled post even went live until I see the first few notifications. By then, the fear of posting has already passed, so I can kick back and let the algorithm do what it pleases.
4) Reframe posting as practice, not performance
Not every post needs to be something grandiose. If you’re not an influencer or a content creator doing this for a living, remember, the stakes are much lower than your mind makes them out to be. This realization can help you relax and post more freely.
Start treating posting as a practice for sharing your ideas, writing in your own voice, and building comfort with putting yourself out there. This mindset shift can make posting and content creation a more enjoyable and less pressured process.
Extending Beyond Personal Posting
Most of what I’ve shared so far applies primarily to personal content, but the truth is that “post anxiety” doesn’t stop there. Social marketers and content creators who post on behalf of brands often feel it, too. Sometimes, these people feel it even more intensely than someone posting on social media for fun.
Why brand posting feels different:
Higher stakes — You’re representing a company, product, or client, not just yourself. Every post carries the weight of brand reputation.
Performance pressure — Brand posts are tied to KPIs and ROI, so there’s more pressure for every piece of content to attract customers, drive engagement, or directly impact sales.
Public scrutiny — Mistakes feel like they’re put under a microscope when a brand is involved. Typos, poorly timed posts, or negative audience feedback can feel even more daunting when you’re speaking for a brand.
Approval layers — Brand content often goes through a series of reviews, which adds even more stress to the content creation process.
Even in brand marketing, the same principles for easing post anxiety still apply. At the end of the day, whether you’re posting for yourself or for a company, it’s about reminding yourself that one post won’t make or break everything. Over time, the practice of creating and sharing is what drives growth, not a single piece of content.
The Big Picture
Feeling anxious about posting is normal, and everyone experiences it at some point. Even the most seasoned creators and professionals admit to second-guessing themselves before publishing content. But remember: your worth is not measured by likes, comments, or shares. One post’s performance doesn’t define you or the value of what you have to say.
With enough practice, consistency, and a healthier perspective, the fear of posting gets much easier to manage. When you stop comparing yourself to others and focus on showing up authentically instead, posting becomes more about making a connection than it is about judgment and comparison. Over time, that shift in perspective makes a huge difference.
I’d love to hear from you, especially if you found this post relatable.
Have you ever felt nervous about posting?
What helps you feel more confident when you share content online?
