What are the most effective ways to manage stress as a Social Media Manager?

Social media management is a rewarding but demanding career that requires creativity, adaptability, and constant learning. However, it can also be a source of stress, especially when dealing with tight deadlines, multiple platforms, negative feedback, and performance evaluation. How can you cope with the pressure and enjoy your work without burning out? Here are some effective ways to manage stress as a social media manager.

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1 Set realistic goals

One of the main causes of stress is having unrealistic or unclear expectations of yourself or your clients. To avoid this, you need to set SMART goals: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. This will help you prioritize your tasks, track your progress, and celebrate your achievements. You also need to communicate your goals clearly with your clients and stakeholders, and negotiate the scope and deadlines of your projects.

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Katie Corlis

Marketing Strategist 💻 | LinkedIn Unicorn 🦄 | Author 📚 | Speaker 🎤
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I create a few big goals at the start of each year regarding my business. One per quarter. This helps me focus on moving forward in my business; step-by-step. The goal has 90 days of small actions steps to solidify the completion of the goal. SMART is not a steady-fast direction for me always, but over the years I have learned how to make goals work with me, not against me.

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2 Plan and automate

Another way to reduce stress is to plan and automate your work as much as possible. This means creating a content calendar, scheduling your posts in advance, using tools like Buffer or Hootsuite to manage multiple accounts, and setting up alerts and notifications for important events or mentions. Planning and automation will save you time, energy, and hassle, and allow you to focus on the creative and strategic aspects of your work.

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3 Take breaks and disconnect

Social media management can be addictive and overwhelming, as you constantly need to monitor, engage, and respond to your online communities. However, you also need to take care of your physical and mental health, and avoid digital fatigue. That's why you should take regular breaks throughout the day, and disconnect from your devices and platforms at least an hour before bedtime. You can also use apps like Freedom or Forest to block distractions and limit your screen time.

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Katie Corlis

Marketing Strategist 💻 | LinkedIn Unicorn 🦄 | Author 📚 | Speaker 🎤
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I take breaks throughout my day. Small dance parties or taking a 20 minute walk outside with the dog or watching Reels off Facebook, even. My breaks are no more than 30 minutes and have a variety to them. Mixing up how I take breaks allows my creative mind to stay sharp and in motion.

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4 Learn and improve

Social media management is a dynamic and evolving field that requires continuous learning and improvement. You need to stay updated on the latest trends, best practices, and tools, and experiment with new ideas and formats. However, you also need to learn from your mistakes, failures, and feedback, and use them as opportunities to grow and improve. You can also seek mentorship, coaching, or training from experts or peers, and join online or offline communities of practice.

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5 Delegate and outsource

Social media management is not a one-person job. You need to collaborate with other professionals, such as graphic designers, copywriters, videographers, or influencers, to create and distribute high-quality content. You also need to delegate or outsource some of your tasks, such as research, analytics, or customer service, to free up your time and focus on your core competencies. You can use platforms like Upwork or Fiverr to find and hire freelancers or agencies.

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Katie Corlis

Marketing Strategist 💻 | LinkedIn Unicorn 🦄 | Author 📚 | Speaker 🎤
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I outsource certain jobs or tasks that are not in my toolbox of skills. Websites are not my jam or jelly, but I know at least a dozen great options to reach out to. I learned years back that keeping at a dozen connections within the skills I don't have is important. When I have a task not in my wheelhouse, I have several people to ask if their current client load could handle another. It makes for a great power-referral type relationship between a lot of my LinkedIn connections and myself.

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6 Have fun and be yourself

Finally, the best way to manage stress as a social media manager is to have fun and be yourself. Social media is a creative and expressive medium that allows you to showcase your personality, voice, and values. You can use humor, storytelling, or gamification to engage your audience and build trust and loyalty. You can also use social media to express your passions, interests, and hobbies, and connect with like-minded people. Remember, social media is not only a job, but also a lifestyle.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are the most effective ways to manage stress as a Social Media Manager?

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1 Set realistic goals

2 Plan and automate

3 Take breaks and disconnect

4 Learn and improve

5 Delegate and outsource

6 Have fun and be yourself

7 Here’s what else to consider

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