Here's how you can detach from work as a social media marketer during your personal time.
As a social media marketer, your career requires constant online engagement, which can make detaching from work during personal time a significant challenge. The nature of the job means that social platforms, which many use for leisure, are also your workspace. This overlap often leads to difficulty in drawing a clear line between professional and personal life. However, it's essential to find that balance to maintain mental health and prevent burnout. Here are some strategies to help you switch off from work mode and enjoy your personal time fully.
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Prachi BalUndergrad at NUS | Finance intern - TATA STEEL | Marketing and illustrations | Economics and Entrepreneurship| NUS…
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Anav ShahSecretary-IT Club and Student at Lotus Valley International School
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Allison GoslingPassionate and Ambitious Marketing Professional - Market Analyst for Patent Forecast
Establishing clear boundaries is crucial for detaching from work. Decide on specific times when you will not check work-related messages or social media analytics. Communicate these boundaries to your colleagues and clients, ensuring they understand your availability. Use tools like "Do Not Disturb" modes on your devices to reinforce these boundaries. Remember, setting limits is not just beneficial for your well-being; it also helps maintain the quality of your work by preventing burnout.
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Your work connections often creep on to be your friends or good associates. Answering a simple call or just answering work callings during your non-office hours disturbs your time management and your personal health. It also makes you easily approachable. There is a fine line between being friendly and being always available.
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1. Set Clear Time Frames: Establish specific times when you will not check work-related messages or social media analytics. For instance, you might decide not to engage in work activities after 7 PM or on weekends. This helps create a clear distinction between work and personal time. 2. Communicate Your Boundaries: Inform your colleagues and clients about your availability and the boundaries you've set. Make sure they understand when you are and are not reachable, so they can respect your personal time. 3. Utilize Technology: Use features like "Do Not Disturb" modes on your devices to avoid distractions during your off-hours. This ensures that you aren't tempted to check notifications and helps reinforce the boundaries you've established.
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Allison Gosling
Passionate and Ambitious Marketing Professional - Market Analyst for Patent Forecast
Setting boundaries is a powerful skill to have in all aspects of your life, not just with social media. I sometimes find myself having trouble with this since my job responsibilities include doing work on LinkedIn but I use my free time to work on my professional development and connections. I try to cut out time where my LinkedIn time is mainly targeted on things for my work and after that, I make sure I do not have notification on for the app so I am not temped to look while I am doing other projects at work. When I want to use it for personal tasks, I try to keep that to a minimum time and on the weekends so I can better keep the boundaries and not bring work home on the weekends.
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I've managed upwards to 30 different accounts at one time. A couple ways I've found to maintain sanity during the off hours are: 1. Have set times you can be reached that you will provide an immediate response (8-5; Mon- Fri) 2. Have a dedicated channel that they can reach you in case of an emergency outside of hours
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Use tools to automate posts so you don't need to be online for such tasks. For the rest, it's quite simple - don't set boundaries, but set fixed times / days / slots for power-working on social media. Turn off any notifications on your computer, phone etc. - post, answer, engage during the times you set. If work allows for it, put all your work accounts onto a separate phone / pc. At home - don't sleep next to your phone, put it on charge somewhere across the room or outside of it.
Effective time management can help you complete your tasks within working hours, leaving personal time truly personal. Utilize scheduling tools to plan your posts and campaigns in advance. This approach allows you to step away from your devices knowing that your content is taken care of. Prioritize your tasks and set realistic goals for each day, ensuring that you're not overcommitting and encroaching on your off-hours.
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Effective time management ensures you complete tasks within working hours, keeping personal time personal. Use scheduling tools to plan posts and campaigns in advance. This allows you to step away confidently, knowing your content is handled. Prioritize tasks and set realistic daily goals to avoid overcommitting and protect your off-hours.
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Allison Gosling
Passionate and Ambitious Marketing Professional - Market Analyst for Patent Forecast
Time management is such a crucial skills to make sure that you compete tasks within working hours and keep your personal time, personal. It goes hand-in-hand with setting boundaries. Prioritizing your projects and goals is what will allow your to take everything in a more organized manner and build your confidence! I feel that there are so many people out there who feel like they are not "qualified" for the job that they have, which is all a mindset. The more organized you are and develop a system, the more confident and productive you will be in the workplace, which will then translate to how you present yourself on social media.
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Mastering effective time management skills can significantly improve the ability to detach from work, especially as a social media marketer. By efficiently organizing and prioritizing workload, it is possible to optimize productivity during working hours, reducing the need to bring work into personal time. This ensures that personal time can be enjoyed without the burden of unfinished work tasks. :)
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When I first started doing social media management, I found myself being busier than I needed to be. I'd put in hours of work only to get a few tasks done. As I took on more clients and began to research how to be more productive, I realized that time blocking was the key to cutting 8 hours of busy work down to 2 hours of focused work. Now what I do is: 1. Mentally prepare for the task that needs done 2. Set aside 1-2 hours of distraction free time 3. Complete the task What I have found is that most 4 hour tasks can be completed in an hour of dedicated focus.
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To get time management on track, it requires work. Create a clear editorial plan with topics, content ideas etc. Use tools to plan, schedule and post your content automatically across channels. Don't go spending hours on following up, instead, plan in 15-30 minutes the next work day for tracking, controlling etc.
Periodically engaging in a digital detox can be incredibly refreshing. Allocate certain days or hours where you unplug completely from social media and other digital communications. This break can help reset your mind and reduce the urge to constantly check for updates or notifications. Use this time to engage in activities that you enjoy and that help you relax, whether it's reading a book, going for a walk, or spending time with loved ones.
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Taking a digital detox can be very refreshing. Set aside specific days or hours to unplug from social media and digital communications. This break helps reset your mind and reduces the urge to constantly check for updates. Spend this time on activities you enjoy, like reading, walking, or being with loved ones.
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If you're finding it hard to be creative and your mind feels cloudy it might be time to turn off the screens for a bit. Go for a walk, cook a meal, do some dishes. Your mind needs time to reset. Do this and when you come back you'll notice you're viewing projects completely differently or you'll have no-brainer ideas that seem to just hit you.
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This is probably the hardest task, according to my colleagues, friends and family. Start small and build it up. Easiest way to start: leave your electronics at home and go outside for a 10-15 minute walk. The next time 20 minutes, then 30 minutes. Build up your digital detox and it will become addictive.
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Allison Gosling
Passionate and Ambitious Marketing Professional - Market Analyst for Patent Forecast
As much fun as it is to stay up to date in trends and stay in the loop - it can quickly become one big doom scroll and it can take an effect on my mental health. I think that it is so important to take a breath of fresh air and distance myself from social media for a period of time. Not only does it help my mental health but it also relieves the stresses of feeling like I need to know what everyone is up to and allow myself to be in the moment and present in the real world. Social media is what everyone wants the world to think that their life is like. You cannot get time back once it has passed so taking the time to do thinks in your own life is just as important.
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Digital detox is sooo important! As somebody who easily gets distracted, it's hard to rid myself of screen time whenever I'm not working. Trying to do this during non-working hours so I could enjoy life outside of work, too! ✨
Incorporating mindfulness practices into your routine can help you stay present and detach from work-related thoughts. Techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or yoga can reduce stress and improve focus. By practicing mindfulness, you can train your mind to let go of work worries during your personal time, making it easier to relax and recharge.
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Train your mind to take breaks. Do yoga, walks, meditation, journal. Be mindful and intentional of the activities you fill your mind with when not on social media.
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This is very personal and you need to find your individual bliss. Whether it's a short walk, a shower, a power nap, doing garden work or going for a short drive - find out what makes you feel good and allows you to "switch off" from thinking for 10-20 minutes per day. Being recharged means you will work more efficient and effectively.
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Allison Gosling
Passionate and Ambitious Marketing Professional - Market Analyst for Patent Forecast
I am a big person for journaling and doing things for my body that allow me to relax and relieve stress. Journaling helps me release all the thoughts that are in my mind to find clarity in times of stress and confusion. I am not only able to find peace but I am able to look back and see my growth and see how far that I have come in my personal and professional journeys. My body needs to be stretched and relaxed and through meditation, yoga, and daily stretching, I am able to give my body the movement that it needs to feel alive and ready to take on the day. Someone I know expresses the importance of 5 types of rest and how rest comes in many forms and should allow yourself to reset and feel at peace to relax and recharge.
Cultivating hobbies and interests outside of work is essential for a balanced life. Hobbies can act as a counterbalance to your professional activities, providing a sense of fulfillment and joy that is unrelated to your job. Whether it's playing an instrument, gardening, or engaging in sports, these activities can help you switch off from the digital world and invest in your personal growth.
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Allison Gosling
Passionate and Ambitious Marketing Professional - Market Analyst for Patent Forecast
You are at work for an average of 90,000 hours, or 3,750 days. These hours could be tiring, stressful, and hard on yourself and mental health. It is so important to find hobbies and interests that keep you happy and motivated on a day-to-day basis. That could be looking forward to cooking a nice meal when you get home or going hiking on the weekends to connect with nature and get some fresh air. I cannot stress the importance of not being tied to your phone and social media. Life is a balance and getting caught up in the digital world is a labyrinth of its own with negative consequences. Find a light and joy in your life that helps make the dark and not-so-fun moments of your day seem as burdensome.
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Hobbies keep us going - away from work. I personally go walking or hiking to clear my mind and recharge. Sometimes I think about work, but it's less about what I did and more about what I could've done better, new ideas, new processes or how I can improve. I personally find it important to find a hobby you can do that's free, doesn't have obstacles to prevent you from doing it and that you can access (in the best case) any time during the day so you can follow it. May it be sports, friends, family, kids, gaming, cycling etc. find what powers you up and doesn't drain your (mental) power.
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Hobbies are essential to fueling your creative mind, especially when it's exhausted from creating amazing campaigns for clients. These hobbies should be like a breath of fresh air—simple, enjoyable activities that make you happy and refreshed. Personally, I like to read books or go for a walk.
Having a supportive network of family, friends, or peers who understand the demands of social media marketing can be a great asset. Share your challenges with them and seek advice on managing work-life balance. Sometimes, just talking about your experiences can provide relief and perspective. Moreover, they can hold you accountable for taking the necessary time off to detach and rejuvenate.
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Having a supportive network of family, friends, or peers who understand the demands of social media marketing is invaluable. Sharing your challenges with them and seeking advice on managing work-life balance can bring relief and perspective. Simply talking about your experiences can be comforting. They can also encourage you to take necessary breaks and recharge, ensuring you maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life.
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