src=”https://buffer.com/resources/content/images/2022/05/rodion-kutsaev-IJ25m7fXqtk-unsplash–1-.jpg” alt=”Avoiding Burnout as a Social Media Manager (With Advice From Our Very Own Social Media Manager)”>
The role of Social Media Manager has been growing rapidly over the last decade. Although it may seem glamorous, the job can be very exhausting. Social media managers can be expected to do many things, and may not be able to work alone. It’s not healthy to be always connected in the way that social media managers are.
Social media managers are increasingly experiencing burnout. People in this role point out that the platforms they manage are major contributors to their work. To avoid burnout, you need to know how to manage your relationships with your job and with the platforms you work for. We included advice from Mitra Mehvar, our social media manager, on how to avoid burnout.
What causes social media managers to burnout?
A state of exhaustion, often emotional and mental, that is caused by repeated and prolonged stress, is called burnout. Burnout is a common occurrence in people’s daily lives. Burnout rates are at an all time high. Regular work-related burnout can be exacerbated by exhaustion from too much time spent on social media.
It can be hard to keep up with the constant changes on platforms and can lead to burnout. Mitra was asked if there were any platforms that make stress worse. She replied, “Instagram” because it is constantly changing. Once you feel you have mastered the basics, they will change things for you.
Instagram has made four major updates in 2022. All of them have changed the user experience. Mitra says that you feel like you have put so much effort into your posts, but then you realize that the platform doesn’t focus on what you did. It can be difficult to keep up.
Harvard University , found that strong social networks can be associated with positive mental well-being and health as long as users are mindful of their use of social media. It’s more difficult to disconnect and practice mindfulness when you work.
How can you tell if a colleague or you are feeling burnt out? In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO), officially defined burnout as an occupational phenomenon that is “caused by chronic workplace stress that hasn’t been managed well”. The WHO defined burnout in three dimensions:
- Feelings like you are running out of energy or feeling exhausted
- An increased mental distance from the job, or negative or cynical feelings related to the job
- Professional efficacy is reduced
If you feel that you cannot log off at night or on weekends or if you are hesitant about taking time off or leaving your phone, you may be burning out or at risk.
4 ways you can avoid burnout
Social media managers have the ability to take steps to prevent burnout. However, employers also have to ensure that their employees are not affected by this. These are tips to avoid burnout for social media managers and their organizations.
- Mitra suggests that you set boundaries and allow yourself to disconnect fully . Mitra says that there’s always something going on social media, so it can feel overwhelming to have to be on all the time. She reminds herself that it’s social media. There’s nothing terrible that could happen if you don’t post for a day.
It’s not just social media.
2. Companies should consider hiring different people for different roles and outsourcing certain tasks as the account grows. Strategy, copywriting and graphic design are all things that can be outsourced. Mitra suggested that you understand that being a social media manager does not mean just posting. We do much more than just post design. Copywriting, graphic design, video editing and customer service are just a few of the many things we do. It’s a lot!
3. If your company has the budget, you can think about hiring additional social media managers and rotating them as you would customer service. Instead of trying to find someone to manage all aspects of social media management for your company, you can create a support system to help the current social media manager. Is it possible for another employee to take over responding to comments for a few hour each week? Is it necessary to have custom images for each post? Collaboration
4. Employers should have safe places and psychological safety where they can air their grievances and stressors. Managers of social media should not feel guilty if they are unable to create perfect posts or adhere to a strict posting schedule. That’s okay. It’s okay to miss #TacoTuesday.
Mitra also supports companies’ responsibility in mitigating employee burnout by saying that, “Let your social-media managers fully disconnect.” It’s easy to feel that you have to keep up with everything on social media. It is okay to take a break. Give your social media managers a break from work. It can be exhausting to keep up with all the social media activity.
Take time to use social media in your work schedule
Social media managers should consider taking more time away from their accounts than regular users. You can manage your relationships with various platforms by taking a break once in a while and stepping away more often from the accounts that you are responsible for.
Mitra’s final words: “Social media can be overwhelming and it is easy to get burnt out when you have it as your job.” You need to establish clear boundaries with clients and companies from the beginning to ensure that you have time to recharge and take a break.
Buffer makes it easier to disconnect when there are posts ready to go. Get started.
Did you miss our previous article…
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