As a community manager, you deal with a ton of inquiries and engage in hundreds of conversations every single day. You are tasked to manage a community (or a few), ensuring that it remains a positive environment for its members. This can be a lot of work and sometimes, it can be a bit overwhelming.
In a survey by Deloitte, 77% of respondents say they have experienced burnout at their current job. It’s a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. If left unchecked, it can possibly lead to anxiety and depression. Even the most successful and experienced community managers aren’t immune to burnout. It’s important to be aware of the signs and take the necessary steps to prevent them.
Here are a few tips to prevent burnout from managing your community:
Prioritise self-care
Burnout prevention is all about taking care of yourself. In order to be at the top of your game, you need to live a healthy lifestyle and this includes eating healthy, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep. Scientifically, a good lifestyle lowers your risk of acquiring illnesses physically and mentally.
You can include meditation in your daily routine, sign up for that yoga class you’ve been meaning to attend, start reading a book, or do something fun and creative — develop a habit that improves your overall health. When you take time to prioritise and take care of yourself, you’re able to recharge, be your best self, and take on community management like a legend.
Take a breather
It can be easy to get caught up in work, especially if inquiries and messages from your community keep piling up. If you work continuously without taking any breaks, you’re more likely to experience burnout.
According to studies, taking a break from work for a few minutes can improve your productivity, job satisfaction, mental health, and well-being, making you more engaged in your work. When you allow yourself to take a breather, it gives your mind a chance to refresh and come back to your work rested and with a new perspective.
Take your dog for a walk, get a cup of coffee, or just simply get out of your seat and stretch — whatever ways you can get away from your screen and relax.
Set boundaries
You have to draw the line between your work and personal life. Easier said than done, especially in our role in social media that is deeply embedded in our everyday lives; on top of working from home due to the pandemic, the line gets blurrier than ever.
Getting organised is one way to establish the line and set boundaries. If you work from home, create a dedicated workspace where you do all the work. It’s easier to be disciplined if you have a tangible way to distinguish your space. This will help you work effectively and focus, and not bring the stress from work to your personal space.
It’s also ideal to create a schedule for work and stick to it. In this way, you can manage your time better and increase your productivity. You get to the things that need to be done without working long hours at the expense of your well-being.
Make sure you also schedule in time for you to unwind and relax outside of work. Unplug and take that vacation with your loved ones, you deserve it! Finding a balance between your work and personal life means maintaining a healthy lifestyle and reducing the risk of being burnt out.
Seek help
Sometimes, we don’t even realise that we’re already overworking and it’s slowly taking a toll on us. There’s no shame in admitting that you need help. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to reach out to your network, family, and friends for support, or if necessary, seek professional help. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Find your own community
Whether you’re a small team or a one-man band, connecting with like-minded people gives you a sense of belonging and an assurance that you’re not alone and you have a community you can count on. Get tips on how to best handle the challenges that community management entails, know more about different strategies you can employ for better community management, grow in this industry further, and more — all these from having a community.
Looking for a community manager to help you deal with the stress of community management? Connect with our community management experts. Our team has extensive experience to help you in your community management journey.