Social media – can’t live with it, and for those with careers in social media, can’t live without it. Social media has become a major component in many people’s jobs and careers. And mean comments, the news, the strive to create “good” content and constantly being online can have a negative effect. But what do you do when your job is social media and you simply need some time off of it? Several marketers and influencers shared with me how they keep their sanity when social media is getting to be to much.
Thank you to everyone who responded to my request with your advice and tips! If I missed your response or you’d like to have yours include, shoot me a DM and I’ll be sure to add it in.
“I don’t open social media apps at all on my days off if I can avoid it. Setting those boundaries was key to not overwhelming myself and constantly feeling like I’m in work mode.” – Caroline, social media manager of Species by the Thousands, which has over 13k followers. On negative comments and instant gratification, “It’s kind of like getting annoyed at your bartender when they’re at the other end of the bar getting someone else’s order. Or getting mad at them when they stepped out for a cigarette or to use the bathroom – just because you just got to the bar doesn’t mean they just started their shift; chances are they’ve been at it for hours and if you want your drink to be made correctly, let them take that break.”
“I think it’s all about the disconnect. Unplugging and setting boundaries when it’s time to. For instance, I’m going to finish at 7:00 PM, then not be on my phone. I also do social media detoxes on the weekend” – Cate Cole, social media entrepreneur and engagement expert
“I’m the worst at this because I’m not an unplugger – my favorite stress relieving activities are things like playing the Sims of watching YouTube, so I’m still ‘plugged in’. But I have learned that it helps immensely to never sign in on my phone apps to my client socials unless it’s to staff an event and live post.” – Paige, publicist
“I built a whole Instagram community totally separate from my job. To me, the best way I’ve handled burnout is to find inspiration elsewhere. Whether that’s cooking, reading, sports – for me it’s podcasts. That and catching up on magazines.” – Albert, founder of urphillypal
“It’s super important to have other interests and entertainment outlets. And you don’t have to share everything on social media. I tend to want to overshare, but I don’t talk about everything. It’s a good idea to keep somethings close to the chest, if you will.” – Marilyn, founder of Philly Grub
“I do not have social media overload now, but I did during my six-year stint as a background checker for private investigation firms. I couldn’t escape reading hundreds of social media posts a week, because it was literally my job. Facebook was a real killer because you can only see the same dozens of memes, misinformation, and trends without experiencing fatigue. This was particularly taxing during the 2016 election cycle. Everyone was weighing in on the campaign trail and I was as guilty as anybody. One day I realized that I was spending too much time arguing with people and nothing was being accomplished outside of anxiety. I haven’t engaged in that aspect of social media in two-plus years. I’ve managed to stay sane by curating my social media follows to only include people who post positive vibes. There are times that I still want to disengage (particularly from Facebook), but I primarily stick to social media for blogging when that happens. Not all social media is bad. Following critics, artists, family, and friends is important for me so I stay in touch with who matters most. That (and a career change) have been critical in maintaining my sanity on social media.” – John, founder of The Flat Circle
One thing I really enjoyed about putting this post together was the conversation happening around this topic, and I hope we can keep the conversation going!
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