Instagram Story Ideas If You're Really Struggling For Inspiration

I'm a woman who does like to upload an Instagram Story on the daily. I definitely share a lot more about my life on my Stories than I do on my profile. There's so much less of an effort to post a Story than a grid post - and I actually like that. I love coming up with new Instagram Story ideas as it's so effortless. Grid posts make me feel like I need to analyse the best times to post, search for the right hashtags to use for said post and pray for good engagement and reach. Posting on my grid isn't as much fun anymore. I still do it though as I still love posting and getting creative when the mood takes me! 

an iphone showing instagram story ideas


But yes, Instagram Stories. When it got introduced back in 2016, I never fully realised how much of a welcome addition it would be to my social media life. As I said, I post at least one Story a day (I do have a break sometimes) as I like my followers getting to know the real me away from my Instagram profile I call my highlight reel. 


Knowing what to share on Instagram Stories doesn't have to be hard. The one good thing about Stories is that you don't have to put too much effort in if you don't want to. It's about knowing what you want to share and sharing what your followers would like to know. I've written in the past about how to create banging Instagram Stories here. But, if you're sitting here reading this and are stuck for inspo for Instagram Story ideas, then this post is for you!


Here are some Instagram Story ideas if you struggling for inspiration -

1) Share your thoughts on the latest trends/ news headlines

I'm all for sharing my thoughts on Stories. Before I do, I'll make sure that it's something that my followers and the people I follow are talking about. I like being careful about what I share my thoughts on. Some topics can be a trigger for someone, so it's important for me to remember that. I know that some topics trigger my mental health/anxiety. I'll immediately skip a Story if it's about a subject that's a trigger for me. But yes, get your followers involved with things like this. Ask for their opinion, reading other people's opinions is so interesting! 

An iPhone showing Instagram story ideas

2) Do a quiz about yourself

This is something I like to do every 6 months. During six months, you will get an influx of Instagram followers, however big or small. When you do, do a little quiz about yourself. It's a great way for your followers to get to know you! Ask questions that are simple and ones that are completely random! I love it when someone I follow does a quiz about themselves, it's a great way for me to get to know them!

3) Look up the national awareness days calendar

There's a national day for something every day of the year. One day it could be National Strawberry Day, then the next it could be National Give Up Smoking Day. Every day is a new national day! This sounds really organised (or weird), but at the start of the week, I like to check out the next 7 days of National Days, then think of ideas/questions of how I can post about them on my Stories. I kind of like having a planned week for Stories, but also posting random things from my day too!

4) Start a series

Love fashion? Start a fashion series. Love beauty? Start a beauty series. Love gardening? Start a - well, you know where I'm going with this now. Starting a series on Instagram Stories is a way of getting your followers to associate you with something. For example, once a week, I do a series called Weekday Wishlist, where I post clothes that I have loved online during the last 7 days or so. I do a poll for each item of clothing and ask my followers if they love the item or not. Obviously, you don't have to religiously commit to doing it weekly, but it's something you can do a couple of times a month. 

A flatlay of Instagram story ideas

5) Shoutout the favourite people that you follow

I love to give a shoutout to my favourite content creators once in a while. Especially new content creators which I have discovered and want to tell my little Instagram world about. All content creators appreciate a shoutout, so if you get the chance, shout them out!

6) Ask me anything

When all else fails, upload a question sticker with 'Ask me anything'. You're always guaranteed you'll be asked one question. 

These are some Instagram Story ideas for you!


Comment below if you have any unique Instagram Story ideas yourself!
52 comments
  1. Thank you so much for this post. I love posting to my Instagram Stories, but I don't always know what to post. These are some great ideas, thank you.
    Clem x
    https://www.clemloves.co.uk

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    1. I hope this post has given you some Instagram Story inspo Clem! x

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  2. so helpful!! its such a struggle new ideas
    shy - https://www.shyyshianne.com/

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    1. Sometimes it is a struggle to come up with new ideas for Instagram Stories, I hope this post has helped you!

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  3. Fab ideas love! I'm feeling a little uninspired with Instagram at the moment. I definitely need to shout out more accounts on stories. X

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    1. Thank you Claire! I haven't done a shoutout on Instagram for ages, it's well overdue for me too x

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  4. All of these are such fab ideas! I like to use my stories to show more about myself that my feed simply cannot show. I've always thought about doing a 'get to know me' quiz, but never have. I may have to take the plunge and give it a try xx

    Hannah | https://luxuryblush.co.uk/

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    1. Give it a try Hannah, you'll probably find it fun and it'll be interesting for you to see how much your followers know you! xx

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  5. I'm definitely enjoying stories more than posts at the moment; like you say they're much more effortless and I just like that I get more genuine engagement in terms of chats behind the scenes from them!
    Amy x
    callmeamy.co.uk

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    1. I totally agree Amy, I love the effortlessness of Stories and I feel I can get truer engagement from them than from grid posts! x

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  6. Some great story ideas here, Lucy, I might even take you up for some of these for our account x

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    1. Thank you Simona! I'm glad that I've inspired you with this Instagram Story ideas x

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  7. I love the Ask Me anything questions, I definitely should do more of them x

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    1. It's good because you can share some info about yourself to your followers (not too much info mind!) x

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  8. I try to update mine a few times a day but sometimes if I'm having a boring day I'll take a day off!

    Corinne x
    https://skinnedcartree.com

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  9. I'm really useless with Instagram stories, sometimes I upload LOADS on there for a week, and then can go weeks without...I think I just need to share a bit more of my daily life. You know what I love reading and sharing on them, uplifting quotes and happy news stories! xx

    www.iridescentplaces.com

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    1. They're lovely things to share on Stories, I do love a good news story being uploaded on Stories. With everything going on in the world right now, it's well needed! xx

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  10. Love these ideas! I either post nothing or spam it, so these will be perfect x

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    1. I hope this post has given you some inspo and ideas Lea! x

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  11. Love the idea of sharing your favourite picks of the week, it's such an effortless way to show a little of who you are and what you like without having to put the effort into the grid x

    Sophie
    www.glowsteady.co.uk

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    1. It really is Sophie! Posting on the grid can be so tiresome at times so it's nice to have that effortless and easier option with Stories x

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  12. although i don't have instagram anymore - these are great ideas for those who do enjoy posting on IG stories. :) thanks for sharing.

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    1. I honestly can't blame you for not being on Instagram anymore, the enjoyment of posting has gone now!

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  13. I don't tend to use stories because I always thought they were a lot of work - but actually, the idea of a gardening series is perfect for me - thank you, Lucy, I might just start one now! x

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    1. You definitely need to start a gardening series Lisa, it's perfect for you! x

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  14. This is so helpful! I'm always feeling like I'm in a rut with IG - it's such a pain to keep posting at times when it feels like there isn't much back xx

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    1. I agree Alice, posting anything feels so tiresome right now, especially when the engagement seems non-existent xx

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  15. Grid posts do feel like they take a lot of planning sometimes, that's why I love Stories because they're so effortless!

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  16. Great ideas! Ask me anything is my favorite!
    xoxo
    Lovely
    www.mynameislovely.com

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    1. An ask me anything question sticker is always great fun! x

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  17. I love your Instagram stories for telling me what national day it is you always come through telling me when its national pizza day or whatever it may be haha!
    Milli x - http://millidavison.co.uk/

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    1. Haha thank you Milli! I'm glad you enjoy them! x

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  18. I'm so unpredictable with my insta stories I definitely need to try and be more consistent

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    1. Being consistent with Stories is hard Alice, some days I'm the same. If I'm busy or don't feel I have anything really exciting to upload, I neglect Stories!

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  19. Such a useful post Lucy! I used to have a set out schedule for each day of the week, but as I got busy with uni this year, I stopped doing it. This has reminded me to start again :) x

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    1. Thank you Caroline! Uni work must be keeping you busy so it's understandable to put an Instagram schedule a very distant task on your to do list! x

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  20. Thanks for sharing this sweetie!

    Danielle | thereluctantblogger.co.uk

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  21. I know I don’t use Instagram stories very much if at all, apart from the occasional shoutout. This was a really helpful blog post. Thank you for sharing.

    Lauren - www.bournemouthgirl.com

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    1. I'm glad that you found this post helpful Lauren!

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  22. Thank you so much for sharing these! Have been running quite dry on ideas and anything instagram related, so they come at a great time x

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    1. I'm glad this post has helped you come up with some ideas Cristina x

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  23. Thank you so much for sharing! I really struggle to think of what to post on Insta stories as I work full time and I just don't have the time to post on there! Doing a series sounds really good, thank you for the idea!! x
    Em - earthlyem.co.uk

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    1. It can be hard to post on Stories when you have such a busy life, there's just no time! Try creating a series for yourself Em! x

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  24. These are some great suggestions. I've been a bit slack with Instagram Stories lately but this has definitely inspired me to get back in it.

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    1. I'm glad this has inspired to get back into posting on Stories Kelly x

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  25. Thanks for sharing your tips, I'm trying to build back my insta after hiatus so these ideas are great ideas for me :)

    Nic | Nic's Adventures

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    1. I hope you use these ideas Nic!

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    2. I have been struggling with all of my socials but especially Instagram. Going to save to look back at later, as there are so amazing suggestions. Thank you for sharing.

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    3. I hope you get back into Instagram soon lovely x

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  26. These are some really helpful ideas. I am starting to use Instagram stories more. I am really trying to.M grow my Instagram, but it is a hard platform to grow. Thank you for sharing your suggestions.

    Lauren - www.bournemouthgirl.com

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