Social media fatigue is a real one too many of us are facing. With the market saturated online, and the audience awaiting a new post on a daily, it’s easy to get caught up in the pressures of posting content. How do businesses and entrepreneurs like you keep up with it?
What is Social Media Fatigue?
Social media fatigue is usually defined as a social media user’s tendency to pull back from social media. They’ve become overwhelmed with the demand of social media sites, the never-ending notifications, and maintaining connections online. Social media fatigue can happen both ways – for the business and the audience.
Social media fatigue may also be referred to as social networking fatigue or social media fatigue syndrome.
To put it simply, social media fatigue is the draining feeling people get after using social media for too long. Others even liken it to the feeling of drowning or sinking into a black hole you can’t seem to get out of.
It’s a relatively new phenomenon and people are still learning new things about it every day. New studies and researches are being conducted to tell us what it actually does to our brains and bodies, the factors that cause it, and how to lessen its effects.
One thing is for certain though – social media fatigue is bad for our wellbeing. If you’re a business owner suffering from social media fatigue, it can negatively impact your business.
Factors of Social Media Fatigue
There are multiple factors that can cause social media fatigue, but some of the most common ones are compulsive media use, fear of missing out, and anxiety – all of which could impact your work ethic in disastrous ways.
Compulsive Media Use
Have you ever felt like you just can’t put your phone down? No matter how much you think, “in 5 minutes, I’ll shut Instagram off and start to work.” But it’s almost like you have no control over yourself!
Compulsive media use is also a new phenomenon being studied. But basically, it’s when our brains become obsessed with overstimulation from social media, we can’t put it down.
This can negatively influence your cognitive performance, or your ability to think, process, and make business decisions.
Fear of Missing Out
When you’re running a business, you want to keep up with the latest news and stay on top of your competitors. To the point, you almost fear being disconnected or absent from the hustle and bustle of your industry.
This “fear of missing out” (FOMO) is linked to many negative effects on a person. Some of which include alcohol addiction and engagement in risky behavior.
Anxiety
Anxious people are far more likely to suffer from multiple disorders. It’s an anxious state that feels almost inescapable. Additionally, people who have anxiety have difficulty concentrating on certain tasks.
Research says that social media fatigue can result in higher anxiety and is consistent over time.
How to Overcome Social Media Fatigue as an Entrepreneur?
Set Up Strict “Social Media Hours”
Setting up strict “social media hours” means setting a time for certain tasks on specific social media platforms. Consider it as your working hours for social media, therefore, it also needs to be realistic!
For example, you could dedicate a social media platform for every day of the week. On Mondays, you can be active on Instagram and Linked In. Tuesdays, Twitter, and Facebook. And so on.
Alternatively, you can also block time in the day for specific social media. If your work demands you to be active on all social media platforms every day, you can block hours in the day. Most importantly, you have to make sure you accomplish your social media tasks within those hours so that you don’t go overtime!
Scroll with a purpose
Earlier, we talked about compulsive social media use – endless and mindless scrolling is just one of the ways this creeps up! So, the next time you catch yourself scrolling for the sake of being on your phone – stop. Assess whether or not the 10 minutes you spend scrolling will actually be useful.
Additionally, always be mindful about when and why you pick up your phone for social media. Are you going to check on your followers? Is it time for you to keep track of news updates in your field? Are you checking to see what your competitors are doing? Always go to one social media with a clear purpose on hand!
Consider Professional Services
If you think it’s time to expand your business and let it grow to its full potential, maybe it’s time to acquire some help!
A lot of entrepreneurs are turning to outsourcing to help them with their business. When it comes to social media, social media managers make sure your strategy is well planned and executed.
On the other hand, social media engagers make sure your accounts are active, responding to all customer concerns!
Acknowledge your Exhaustion
Above all else, learn to acknowledge your exhaustion. As entrepreneurs, it often feels like we have the whole world on our shoulders. It’s difficult to stop when you know how much work there is left to do.
But once in a while, you ought to take a breather and appreciate all the things you’ve accomplished so far. Otherwise, you’ll never know how much further you can go!
Need Professional Help?
Digital Offsider offers outsourcing solutions. With skilled and experienced social media managers, you can kiss social media fatigue goodbye! You can focus your time on things only you know how to do best.
Visit our social media here.