So, there I was—scrolling through Instagram like a regular person, when I stumbled upon Lana DTI. She looked like she had it all. I mean, everything was perfect. Her feeds were full of aesthetic photos, captions that made you feel like you too could be living the dream, and she somehow had time to look effortlessly chic while being super successful.
Naturally, I thought, “Okay, I can do this. I’ll just do exactly what she’s doing and—boom—I’ll be a boss too.” Spoiler alert: I wasn’t ready for the rollercoaster ride that followed.
Who Even Is Lana Dti?
Okay, let’s back up for a second. You might be asking, “Who is Lana DTI, anyway?” Good question. Lana’s one of those “influencers”—but not like your average influencer. She’s got this whole “brand” thing down. Super polished, with a lifestyle that seems so effortless that you almost forget how much hard work it takes to maintain.
You know those people who somehow juggle business, personal life, and family, and still manage to stay calm? Yeah, she’s one of those. You almost think it’s magic. I didn’t realize that, like all “influencers,” the magic was mostly a lot of planning and an unhealthy relationship with coffee.
But back then? I was hooked. I wanted in. I wanted her lifestyle. And I was gonna get it.
And Then I Tried To Copy Her
So, I got the bright idea to follow Lana’s every move. The plan was simple: copy her strategies, and voila! Insta-success. How hard could it be, right? (Spoiler #2: It was hard.)
I started with small things, like mimicking her social media posts. Oh, you like to post at 10 a.m.? Same. You’re posting content that’s super relatable and motivational? I can do that! It was like taking my personality and forcefully smashing it into someone else’s mold. Things were fine—for about two minutes.
But then, reality kicked in. My personality? It was fighting back. Lana DTI’s carefully curated aesthetic? It wasn’t mine.
The First Big Oops Moment
Let’s talk about how I overextended myself. So, Lana seems to handle everything with ease, right? Well, me trying to do the same was like me trying to play guitar for the first time: a lot of flailing, some awkward chords, and a bruised ego.
I tried waking up at 5 a.m. (like Lana) to write, exercise, and meditate. Yeah, I started missing my alarm. And then my “power hour” turned into a “power snooze button hour.” Spoiler #3: I was really good at that.
You see, the problem is this: while Lana DTI’s routines worked for her, they weren’t me. I couldn’t be her. I could barely even wake up at 5 a.m. without cursing my coffee machine.
Did I Mention The Mental Gymnastics?
It wasn’t just my routines that were off. I tried the whole “brand yourself” thing. But… yeah. I’m over here, awkwardly posting random quotes on Instagram that I would never actually say. I was trying to be this person I wasn’t, and it was exhausting.
Fast forward to about three weeks later, I was sitting on my couch in my oversized sweater (that I swear I’d never wear in public), scrolling through Lana’s Instagram again, feeling both inspired and like I was failing. Why was everything so easy for her?
Here’s where the self-deprecating humor comes in: you know when you follow someone’s steps so closely that you start to question whether you even exist outside of their blueprint? Yeah. That happened to me.
What I Learned The Hard Way
Now, let’s be clear: I wasn’t entirely wrong for being inspired by Lana DTI. She’s done some incredible things. But I forgot one important thing: Inspiration doesn’t mean exact copying. And, boy, did I learn this the hard way. Here’s what finally clicked:
1. I’M Not Lana. And That’S Okay.
Lana’s got a work-life balance that’s… chef’s kiss perfect. But, um, I’m over here, missing deadlines, spilling coffee on my notebook, and wondering why my stress levels are through the roof.
I had to remind myself that my strengths were different. I didn’t need to copy Lana’s every move. I needed to embrace what I was good at—without pretending to be a productivity queen.
2. Stop Being An Overachiever.
Look, I get it—Lana DTI makes juggling a million things look simple. But after I hit the wall of burnout (yep, that’s real), I realized that overextending myself wasn’t a good look. Lana’s ability to wake up at the crack of dawn and get things done is a superpower, but it’s not my superpower. I had to let that go.
I mean, my first herb garden died faster than my 2020 sourdough starter—RIP, Gary. That was my big wake-up call.
3. Being Authentic Is Actually The Secret
Here’s the kicker: I spent all that time trying to replicate Lana’s success, only to realize that the secret to her success was actually in her authenticity.
You don’t become successful by mimicking someone else. You get there by finding your own path and playing to your strengths. It’s messy. It’s awkward. But it’s yours.
4. It’S Okay To Not Have It All Together.
So, fast forward a few months. I let go of trying to be Lana DTI. I started embracing my own pace and doing things my way. And guess what? Things started to click. Slowly but surely, I found my rhythm. And I didn’t need a 5 a.m. routine to get there.
A Little Perspective: You Do You
The whole “follow Lana DTI and be like her” thing? Yeah, it didn’t work out. But it didn’t mean I didn’t learn something valuable along the way.
What I discovered was that we can all be inspired by others, but we don’t need to copy their path to be successful. Success looks different for everyone, and figuring out your own journey is part of the process.
I’ve stopped comparing myself to her—or anyone else. And let me tell you: it’s hella freeing.
Wrap-Up (No, Really)
So, yeah. If I could go back, I would’ve told myself to take a step back and chill. The pressure to live like Lana DTI was all in my head. Honestly? I was setting myself up for failure by not honoring my own rhythm and pace.
Anyway, here’s the kicker: Life doesn’t come with a “one-size-fits-all” manual. And as I move forward, I’m realizing that the best thing I can do is carve out my own journey. So, here’s to being imperfect, figuring things out as I go, and maybe—just maybe—giving myself permission to fail a little more often.
By the way, in case you were wondering? I did manage to grow a semi successful herb garden this year. It didn’t die. And that, my friend, is progress.
