Episode 3. Social Media Burnout

In this episode I talk about social media anxiety and the importance of being mindful, taking a break and giving yourself the space to regenerate your energy away from social media platforms, when your emotions indicate burnout. 

With the increased time that we are spending on social media these days, trying to substitute real world connection with online interactions, we can see an increase in negative emotions being experienced by those exposed to the “highlight reels” of other people’s lives published online. 

This negative sensation affects influencers and people who work with social media on an everyday basis, at an even higher level. It can manifest with serious physical symptoms, not unlike those of depression and should not be ignored. 

Unfortunately, influencers experience immense pressure to perpetually create, post and interact with their communities, because the algorithms that promote their content online, are written to reward constant activity. It can be very underwhelming and demotivating, for content creators, when they spend a lot of time on a certain project and it underperforms, just because the algorithm didn’t pick it up. On top of this, influencers tend to feel a lot of guilt if they decide to take some time for themselves, because there is no clear separation between their work and private lives.

In the end social media is all about community. Being vulnerable and honest with your audience about needing some time off, will most likely, provide exactly the kind of understanding necessary to feel ok about taking that break to regenerate.

Leaning into burnout can be a powerful way to deal with whatever is going on and to eventually get back on track and feel creative again.