Social media professionals help businesses build a thriving community and scale their businesses. Consequently, it’s normal for them to spend more time on social media platforms than regular users.
Most of them enjoy their jobs. However, their mental health can be on the line as they manage various platforms, create content, and keep up with the hottest social media trends.
Here are seven ways to protect your mental health as a social media professional.
1. Manage Your Screen Time
A good place to start is to track the time you spend on each app daily. It’s imperative to design coping mechanisms to avoid feeling overwhelmed all the time. Consider setting reminders for breaks, and leave your desk frequently to take a walk, meditate, or nap.
2. Invest in Offline Relationships
Working in social media can be a lonely journey, especially if you work from home. Your best bet is to build relationships with others apart from focusing on your professional network. Show your loved ones that they matter and let them know how they can help improve your mental health.
Our lives often revolve around digital solutions, and it’s easy to ignore physical meetings. Endeavor to leave the comfort of your home and connect with others in real-life settings. There is no digital device that can replace this type of connection.
Develop meaningful relationships with other social media enthusiasts too. This can help you unravel effective strategies for managing stress and protecting your mental health.
3. Declutter Your Feed
Every successful social media professional nurture their personal brand. Besides, they curate their feeds so that they can enjoy wholesome content from different sources.
Even though you can’t control how people will react to your social media content, you have complete control over how to respond if things escalate.
Remember that you’re not under any obligation to follow anyone whose actions or content affect your sanity. Use the unfollow or block button to keep trolls in check. Another thing is to have a plan in place for managing crises even before they occur.
4. Set Clear Boundaries
Social media managers usually experience verbal abuse and still need to remain professional as they keep the community engaged.
Boundaries are an essential element for balanced living. One way to achieve this is to maximize digital tools that can protect you from harmful and abusive content.
It’s high time to reassess your priorities so that you can sift what’s important from what you can handle later. Take an objective look at your to-do list each day and develop strategies that can reduce your workload.
5. Focus on Self-Care
Self-care starts with being kind to yourself in your personal and professional life. Your life shouldn’t revolve around work to the point of sacrificing your physical and mental health.
Avoid setting unrealistic goals or promising what you can’t deliver when it comes to designing campaigns or launching marketing strategies. It’s pointless to spread yourself too thin because you want to impress your superiors or employer.
There’s nothing wrong with asking for help when you feel overwhelmed. Thankfully, people are now overcoming the stigma surrounding mental health issues.
Perhaps you’ve tried different strategies, and the situation only seems to get worse; it’s time to visit social media job boards to find better opportunities. Several reputable companies are looking for savvy social media experts like you and will provide you with an environment that supports your growth.