The “When I’m Trying To…” trend is taking off on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts.
You add a text overlay like “When I’m trying to tell our clients to spend more money on ads,” then show what actually happens next. The joke is simple: you try to do something, and reality does not cooperate.
You can apply this format to almost anything in your life.
Staying focused. Eating healthy. Waking up early. Closing deals. Studying. Working out.
You set up the intention in the text, then let the clip reveal the awkward, chaotic, or funny truth you actually experience.
Why This Trend Matters Today
This trend works because it mirrors your real life. You have plans, discipline, goals, and then distractions, emails, clients, cravings, and Mondays happen.
That gap between intention and reality is instantly recognizable, which is why people watch to the end.
Short, relatable humor performs strongly across platforms.
Viewers respond when they see themselves in your situation and think, “Yeah, that’s me too.” Content that reflects everyday behavior tends to drive comments, tags, and replays because people share it with someone who does the exact same thing.
How To Do The ‘When I’m Trying To’ Trend
Pick one situation you constantly run into.
Start your overlay with “When I’m trying to…” and finish the sentence with the goal, for example, “be disciplined with my diet,” “stay serious on client calls,” or “save money.” Make it specific so your audience immediately recognizes the scenario.
Then show what actually happens.
That could be you laughing, procrastinating, getting interrupted, over-explaining to a client, or immediately breaking your own rule. Keep it short so the punchline lands fast and viewers rewatch it.
- Pro Tip: Exaggerate just a little. The closer it feels to real life, but slightly pushed for humor, the better it performs.
You may also want to check out some of our other social media trend updates.
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