Stop overusing animations

Animations can make a site feel smooth and modern — but too much motion can do the opposite. When every element is bouncing, sliding, and fading in, the experience starts to feel slow and chaotic. Let’s talk about when animations help — and when they just get in the way.

1. Animating everything on load

It’s tempting to animate every section as it appears. But if everything moves, nothing stands out — and the page feels sluggish.

Tip: Use animation to guide attention, not to show off. Animate key moments, not every scroll step.

2. Using long or fancy transitions

A long fade or a complex bounce might look fun once — but it gets annoying fast, especially if it repeats.

Tip: Keep animations quick and subtle. Stick to 150–300ms for most transitions. Prioritize smoothness over flair.

3. Forgetting about performance

Heavy animations can tank performance on slower devices. Laggy motion is worse than no motion at all.

Tip: Use transform and opacity for better performance. Avoid layout-thrashing properties like top, left, or width when animating.

4. Not respecting user motion preferences

Some users have motion sensitivity and rely on system settings to reduce animations. Ignoring that can make your site uncomfortable for them to use.

Tip: Use the prefers-reduced-motion media query to offer a simplified experience for those who need it.

5. Animating just for the sake of it

If an animation doesn’t support usability or storytelling, it’s probably not helping.

Tip: Ask yourself why you’re adding motion. If it’s not improving the experience, leave it out.

Final thoughts

Animation is a tool, not a decoration. When used with intention, it makes your site feel alive and thoughtful. But when overdone, it’s just noise. Keep it purposeful — and your users will feel the difference.