Why Social Media Managers should start 2021 by taking a break from social media

2020 was a bad year (there are better words to describe 2020, but this is the most PG way of putting it). A global pandemic brought the entire world to its knees, we all had to watch the US Presidential Election without ripping our eyes out, and we turned our attention (and actions) to addressing the inequality that persists in our society.

That’s A LOT.

And if you were managing a company or brand’s social media accounts during 2020 you’re probably exhausted. Exhausted from watching the world burn - and then having to craft a tweet that uses “during these uncertain times” in response to *gestures vaguely at everything*.

That’s why I’m starting 2021 by turning off all my personal social media. Detach myself from the bad so I can give my mental space a break from all the doom scrolling, create mental and emotional capacity to tackle exciting personal projects, sleep a bit better (doom scrolling before bed not only keeps you awake, but amps up anxiety), and make it easier to focus on creative copywriting for work during work hours.

So, how can I be a social media manager and take a break from social media at the same time? With a few ground rules, of course:

1.Remove all the social media accounts from my (personal) phone.

Pinterest? Gone.

Twitter? Gone.

Instagram? Sadly, also gone.

The exception to this is that my work phone (which is separate from my personal phone) continues to have all the social media accounts I use for work. By removing the apps from my personal phone, the temptation to reach for it and scroll through that day’s nightmare news is slightly diminished. I don’t spend hours scrolling through Reels or watching too many YouTube videos. Instead that mental space can be dedicated to focusing on work, personal projects, or a good old fashioned paperback book.

2. Only look at work related social media during work hours.

Taking a break from social media doesn’t mean I get a free pass to skip out on my day job. Instead, I delegate my doom scrolling, social strategy research, and work-related copywriting to work hours only. This helps create a bit of separation from “work time” to “home time” - a crucial divide while working from home.

3. Messaging apps are OK - but try to use them less.

Now more than ever staying connected with friends is of the utmost importance for our collective mental health. So those apps get to stay. Messaging on instagram or snapchat is not allowed however.

What do I hope to get out of this and how will I know that I got that?

Honestly? Just a break. A break from the bad. Breaking bad, if you will.

Starting a new year with a clean slate and creating some new habits that will help keep me focused and excited for what will come every day. How will I know if I got that? Well, I think having the capacity to write this blog post is proof that it’s working already.

If you’re joining me this month in turning off social media, let me know how it’s going in the comments below!