My addiction first began the summer before freshman year, when I first opened an account in pursuit of decorating a dorm room that my whole floor would be envious of. I spent hours scrolling through boards and pinning practically every project that looked slightly feasible. Before Pinterest, I would not consider myself a crafty person. My crafting skills had been limited to popsicle picture frames from the third grade. But since this consequential discovery, dorm décor soon turned to cooking recipes, fashion blogging, fitness, etc. I sometimes even find myself browsing through sections unbeknownst to 20-somethings such as knitting and home décor. The list of pins you can collect is endless. But, if you have ever browsed through a board, you know that not every DIY is as simplistic as the Internet may make it appear.

1. Unrealistic expectations.

Just about everything on Pinterest is exaggerated. If you’ve ever browsed through the cooking or baking boards, you will know that half of skillfully produced cuisine would be impossible to recreate without a few years of culinary school under your belt. And the same goes for most other ventures on Pinterest. Whether it’s a fashion trend, hairstyle or house furnishing you want to pull off, chances are it cannot be undertaken by a novice. Irony truly presents itself in the boards that are actually dedicated to Pinterest fails.

2.Unobtainable Supplies.

No time and money are amenities we all commonly lack when choosing to take on a new hobby. But unique to Pinterest is the demand for certain ingredients that are not readily found in your local grocery store or supermarket. I more frequently find myself venturing out to the local craft store. Or even more bizarre is my newfound obsession with flea markets and yard sales, which can be a godsend to any craft. I have even had to lessen my time on the fashion blogs, as the prices for certain pieces are well over what can be earned in a weeks paycheck.

3. Crafting with Friends.

If you’ve ever taken on a project with your friends, perhaps all recreating the same canvas painting or attempting to each conquer a cupcake recipe of choice, you can relate to Pinterest envy. This occurs when your version has somewhat of a unique spin from the original model, while your more artsy friends are able to achieve exact replicas. This can also come in the form of you deciding to jointly take on a 30-day fitness challenge in which your friends end up with abs of steel and you can see no significant difference in the circumference of your muffin top.

4. Obtain too many Projects.

A telltale sign of your addiction will be the surplus of craft supplies and unfinished projects laying about your house. Only those friends who have also found themselves deep within the boards of the site will be able to understand why your kitchen table is covered in old newspapers and paint. And as hard as we might try to deny to ourselves the inevitability of not finishing every project we can pin, we know that we cannot just logout from what we’ve started.