How to vacation when you work in social media
Taking a break or vacation when you work in social media can be difficult, but it is important!
Make it a priority to take a break every so often to avoid burnout.
Important Priorities for your Vacation
Social Media is constantly being updated, and as a social media manager or content creator, it is important to continually update and manage content. It can be hard to let go and enjoy time off, but preparing for each phase of your vacation will help!
Before your Vacation
1. Prep and Schedule Content: The most important step before taking a vacation is preparing and scheduling your social media content in advance. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to prepare quality content – you don’t want to rush to put out content that isn’t up to your normal standards! Plan a few extra days of content so that you can take time to catch up and organize once you return before jumping back into content creation. Brainstorming ideas up to a week afterward can also make your return smoother.
2. Assign a Teammate, Assistant, or Friend to Review your Content: If you work with a team, assign a teammate to view your pre-scheduled content in your absence to ensure everything posts correctly. If you do not have a team, you can hire a temporary assistant or ask another freelancer friend to help out. You may want to include this person’s contact information on your “out of office” message for emergency inquiries as well. Provide them with an overview of scheduled content so they can ensure it is posted appropriately.
3. Set up an “Essentials” folder: Create an emergency folder with any items necessary to handle content, client emergencies, or other issues. Leave this folder in an easily accessible but secure location. If something comes up, your teammate will be able to retrieve the items needed to handle any emergency.
4. Communicate with your Team and Clients: Before you take off, you need to let your team and clients know about your plans. Ensure your clients that their content is prepared and scheduled and let them know who to contact in an emergency. Emphasize to both your clients and team that you will be unavailable and encourage them that a short break will enable you to provide more quality content in the future.
During your Vacation
· Avoid Social Media: What you don’t do during vacation can be just as important as what you do! Stay away from social media while you are away from work. If necessary, delete any social media apps from your phone or have a friend change your password.
· Stay in the Moment: Focus on enjoying the moment during your vacation. If there are moments you want to share, take photos or videos to share once you return from vacation.
· Avoid Checking In: It may be hard to fully step away from your responsibilities, but it is very important to avoid focusing on work and checking in. If you know that you don’t have the willpower not to check in with your teammates, schedule one check-in halfway through your vacation to keep yourself from focusing on work. Anytime you find yourself thinking about social media, remind yourself to put it off until your check-in.
After your Vacation
1. Set up Check-in Meetings: Once you return (or before your vacation), set up check-in meetings with your team and clients a day or two after your vacation is finished. This is a time to review previous content, answer any questions, and provide information for upcoming content.
2. Take a Day to Organize: Jumping right into meetings or content creation when you return can be overwhelming. Take a day to return messages, organize your thoughts, review your recent content, and plan.
3. Review Analytics or Stats: Take a few moments to review previous content and see what is working. A fresh start after a break is a perfect time to see what type of content is doing well and take future content in a similar direction.
Taking a vacation when you work in social media may take a bit more work than in other careers, but it is worth the effort. Returning to content creation or management with a fresh start can be a great way to look at your work with renewed passion and creativity!
