Social Media, Personality Development, Mental Health
How To Protect Your Peace If You Work in Social Media
Working in social media can be really demanding, as I can attest. It feels like you have to be available 24 hours a day, ready to jump on trends and participate in global discussions in order to raise the brand’s recognition. You must constantly be prepared in case your client has ad hoc needs after business hours or, worse, on weekends.
This is why many young professionals in the business burn out at a young age. Social media takes up a lot of time and energy, and we frequently forget to separate our personal lives from it. How do we keep our peace in a fast-paced digital world where we are expected to be present at all times?
Mute your notifications
Learn how to disable your app’s notifications after work and on weekends. I understand how tempting it is to open notifications whenever they appear. One thing I routinely do, pretty heavily actually, is set up my “Do Not Disturb” setting. I also have my own Instagram page, and knowing that your own page is receiving notifications is a different type of temptation. I totally feel this.
Now, I understand that you might neglect something important, putting your work in jeopardy… What you can do is as follows: Notify your clients before leaving work and every Friday that you will be unable to check your messages, e-mails, or notifications, so that if there is an urgent situation your assistance, provide an alternative way to reach out to you. It could be by your company phone, another e-mail, or other means. You can also use e-mail automation for this, just as you would when on leave. Other companies require their employees to turn off Slack notifications on Slack, so I’m pretty sure that clients were involved in the discussion. However, it is up to you and your company’s culture on how you deal with these kind of situations, which are tricky.
Follow and engage with genuine thought-leaders
Do not follow random individuals whose posts you find offensive. Follow those who will motivate you to improve your craft, not those who will hold you to an unrealistic standard. However, there are still many thought leaders that promote toxic positivity, which you should avoid. These folks often encourage unhealthy working hours and criticize others for not working “hard” enough and taking a break. Be wary of these individuals.
Set a schedule
What I strive to do is find time to engage with and use social media. For instance, my audience is frequently online at 16:00 (UK time), so I allocate at least 15 minutes to interact with them. Then I’ll repeat it 15 minutes before and after my scheduled posting times. Except for research purposes, I try to limit my content consumption. This can also help you accomplish your other projects without seeming too distracted by social media, as well as improve your organizational skills.
Have a hobby outside the digital world
Growing up, I had strict parents, so the internet was basically my life. I knew how to code, blog, write, edit, design, and even grasp the concept of digital marketing in a subtle way. Except for school, I didn’t have much outside experience. It wasn’t until the pandemic that I began/re-started other interests, including as painting, bullet journaling, and reading. In my defense, I landed a job as a Social Media Manager after graduating, so I didn’t have much free time.
Having activities outside of the internet is vital for detaching yourself from social media and work. Given this type of work and industry, we can only do so much to protect our energy and sense of peace, but once you’ve learned how to set your boundaries and adhere to them, you’ll be capable of offering more results in the long term.
Copyright: Trisha B. No permission to copy and redistribute without the writer’s permission.
