By Lindsay Erb

Social media is a great tool for businesses of all sizes and in all industries. It can help you get attention and build awareness; however, it can also become exhausting and overwhelming very quickly. Many business owners and social media managers feel the constant need to refresh their feed and engage in content. However, many don’t realize how it’s affecting them mentally. Below are a few different ways you can avoid social media burnout:

Set boundaries
One way you can avoid feeling burnout from social media is by setting boundaries. Ask yourself exactly what you wish to accomplish on social media and create a time limit that works best for you and your business. It might be a smart idea to set a time limit on your apps, or even block off time in your calendar specifically for social media. Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter will be on 24/7, but that doesn’t mean you should be too.

Engage with the right community
There are millions of accounts on every social media platform, but that doesn’t mean you need to be a part of them all. Figure out what type of content you and your business enjoy, as well as what’s relevant to your brand, and limit the communities you follow. It’s important to keep in mind what audiences are relevant to your brand and which ones don’t serve you.

Don’t be afraid to unplug
Life is more than just social media. Sometimes, it becomes hard to balance – feeling the need to post multiple times a day, staying engaged with your followers, and keeping your content relevant. It’s easy to get caught up without even knowing it. Taking a short break from social media can help improve your mental health, as well as your overall presence online. Try setting one day a week aside to be totally free of social media. Schedule your posts in advance, if you need to keep to a schedule, but make an intentional effort to give your mind a rest. If you’re a social media manager, make sure you are truly taking weekends off!

Don’t be afraid to ask for help Social media can take a huge toll on your overall mental health. It’s important to take a step back and recognize when things get too difficult. Seeking help from a professional social media manager or investing in management software is another great way to avoid that feeling of “burnout” before it becomes too much. There are also multiple social media program management software’s, such as Hootsuite and Sprout Social that can help you manage your social feeds.

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