How do you set boundaries as a Social Media Manager?
Limiting your time on social media feels impossible when your work revolves around comments, likes, and insights, but it’s important to take steps to avoid digital burnout.
Time away from social media and focusing on self-care and hobbies can prevent burnout and help your time spent “on the job” be more productive and satisfying than ever!
What is Digital Burnout?
A Social Media Manager may begin to feel overwhelmed by an excess of social media interactions. This can manifest in a need to respond to any correspondence at any time of day or night or pressure to gain a particular number of likes. It is important to develop habits, goals, and activities outside of social media. Setting boundaries will allow time to branch out and enjoy activities that do not involve social media.
Setting Boundaries
1. Set Work Hours: You may feel that setting “work hours” is unreasonable because social media never sleeps, but it is an important boundary to set as soon as possible. If you find it too difficult to set specific hours for work, try setting “off hours” and block off time to avoid your social media management. If it helps, you can set reminders of what you want to work on during your next work session.
2. Prioritize Your Work: You have probably heard that you shouldn’t put off tasks that can be done today, but that isn’t always entirely accurate. Prioritize tasks that should be done today, and choose tasks that can wait until your next work session. If you are given a request near the end of your work session, acknowledge the request and respond with a reasonable later time that the task may be completed.
3. Respect Your Team’s Time: Recognizing that you need downtime is the first step, but you must also remember that your team has the same needs. Allowing them time without communication will enable them to work better and will also condition them to give you space. It may even be necessary to schedule times in which communication should not be expected.
4. Personal Social Media Accounts: During your time off, you may find yourself browsing your own social media pages and accounts. This is fine, but boundaries should still be set. If you find yourself thinking too much about work or making work plans during your social media browsing, it may be best to limit your time or even schedule specific social media times for yourself.
Battling Burnout
Sometimes burnout is an inevitable part of working as a social media manager, but there are ways to help battle burnout. Taking pride in your work is admirable, but your work may suffer if you aren’t taking measures against burnout. There are unlimited ways of battling burnout, but here are a few ideas to get you started:
· Find simple ways to enjoy social media, such as watching short TikTok videos or browsing a less stressful form of social media such as Pinterest
· Intentionally take breaks from all media by going for a walk or playing with a pet
· Focus on self-care: start a new hobby or prioritize a new fun activity
· Create an escape plan – when you begin to feel stressed or overwhelmed, listen to a special song or treat yourself to an especially rewarding candy or snack that you save for this type of break
· Work smarter and not harder; Discover ways to perform quality work, but don’t let the aspiration of perfection keep you working on something longer than necessary
Social Media Management can be challenging and rewarding, but it shouldn’t consume every part of your day (or life!) Setting boundaries, battling burnout, and rewarding yourself can help you to perform at your very best while also keeping your work from becoming your whole identity.
