5 Ways to Overcome Social Media Burnout

A YBM follower recently wrote in with this really great question:

“Hey Crystal, I need some help! I started my Instagram account back in January as more of a mini blog because I didn’t want to have a full-fledged blog. I started as more of a home decor influencer, but I tired of always talking about home decor and it wasn’t fun anymore. I found myself desiring to be more of a lifestyle/homemaker blogger, but I have been floundering trying to pull it off. There are just so many things to include!

Do I need a niche? I have this thing set up for myself where I talk about certain things on certain days, but I feel like I’m seriously all over the place: Monday Motivation/Tuesday Home Tips/Workout Wednesday/Healthy Thursday/Friday Favorites. My brain is fried from trying to focus on so many topics so often, but I’m not sure how to fix it. It doesn’t seem to make sense to concentrate on one thing each week — like it’d be difficult to keep up a following. Help me stop floundering in this Instagram/blogging world! Please!”

If any of you have ever felt like this (I know I definitely have!), I’m sure you can relate to this feeling of being overwhelmed about what to post or talk about, how to choose what to focus on, and how to organize your thoughts and ideas.

Honestly? It can just feel like total social media burnout sometimes, and to avoid giving up and walking away from it all, I think it’s really important to learn how to combat these feelings of being completely overwhelmed by social media.

Here’s my best advice on 5 ways to help overcome this feeling of social media burnout…

1. Take a break and step away.

This may feel totally countercultural to the concept of building your following. But if social media isn’t giving you life any more and it’s causing you to feel burned out or stressed out, you need to step away from it for a bit — be it an afternoon, a day, a week, or a few weeks.

The world is not going to come to an end if you take a small break. Your social media following is not going to tank if you walk away and take some time to regroup.

As much as I adore Instagram and Facebook Live, there are some mornings I wake up in a funk or have a bad attitude, and I decide to just not get on Instagram Stories or Facebook Live at all. I step away and take some personal space until I’m ready to return to it.

It helps me clear my head, have some clarity, and have some quiet without all the noise. And guess what? I always come back feeling SO much more calm and refreshed!

I can’t stress enough how important it is to recognize when you need this time for yourself! People can wait, and they’ll still be there waiting for you when you decide to come back. Take care of yourself first so that you have the energy and capacity to pour into others.

2. Don’t post every single day.

In the same vein, don’t feel like you have to post every single day. Maybe aim for just a few times per week.

Because Instagram offers so many ways you can connect with your community (Instagram TV, Instagram Live, and Instagram Stories), I’ve found it’s not as important to post in the actual Instagram feed every single day. I typically aim for four times per week, but you should find what works best for you personally.

I have actually decided that it’s more effective for me to spend my time doing Instagram Stories rather than posting on my Instagram account. My community loves seeing a peek into my daily life — getting to know who I am and what I do each day. And Instagram is rewarding people more when they spend time engaging via video, so it’s a win-win!

Your Instagram may not blow up overnight with these guidelines, but you’ll definitely see a continuous, steady growth of loyal followers — which is what you ultimately want!

3. Unfollow anyone who makes you feel like you’re not doing enough.

If any of your feelings of overwhelm are stemming from following a perfectly curated Instagram feed or following people who seem like they’re doing all the things and doing them perfectly, you need to unfollow them.

It’s not about them; it’s about you. It’s important to take ownership and recognize that there is likely nothing wrong with this person; they’re just not a great person for you to be following right now with where you’re at in life.

If someone you follow makes you feel like you’re not enough, that’s not healthy for you. Just click the unfollow button to avoid comparison, and focus on your own journey and goals.

(Note: I also encourage you to do more than just unfollow. Ask yourself why. Why is this particular person or what they are sharing irritating or frustrating you… or making you feel less than or like you’re not doing enough? What is at the root of how you are feeling triggered. Unfollowing can be a good first step, but you’re not going to get fully healthy unless you dig deeper into the why.)

4. Ask yourself what brings you life.

What types of posts do you love writing? What are you inspired to write about? Who do you want to serve? What do you know and love?

I would encourage you to think about what brings you life and write on Instagram when you’re inspired about those things!

I’m obviously not saying to stay offline and do whatever you want and maybe one day you’ll be inspired. I think it’s important to develop the habit of writing every day, because writing definitely begets writing and encourages inspiration. The more you write, the more you will have to write about!

But here’s the thing: you don’t necessarily have to write on Instagram or Facebook or your blog every day. Develop the habit of writing, brainstorm, reflect on what brings you life and what you love. And when inspiration strikes and you want to post, go for it!

{For example, I constantly take pictures and jot down ideas for posts and videos, but I rarely post them right away. I wait the day feels right and I feel inspired to write that particular post/share that particular photo, before I post it. I don’t want to put a post up just for putting a post up’s sake.)

I would also really consider who you’re trying to serve. Serving your followers well can bring you life and keep you really inspired! Consider writing more posts on topics that your followers like and comment about frequently. If your followers really love something you post, make a note of that! Let it marinate, keep it in mind, and come back to it when you’re ready!

You don’t need to feel suffocated by sets of rules that don’t work for you or bring you life. There are so many people doing social media in so many different ways, and a lot of them are very successful even though they’re quite different from one another.

5. Let yourself experiment and try different things.

Don’t feel like you’ve put yourself in a box and can’t go outside of it. Have fun and experiment!

For example, maybe for the next 8 weeks, you try a different strategy each week:

• One week you post every single day but not on specific topics.
• One week you only post when you’re inspired.
• One week you post two or three times, then wait and see what happens.
• One week you focus on one type of post.
• And so on…

At the end of this experiment, really examine what worked well and felt right to you and life-giving to you in the season of life you’re in. Go with that — and then know you can always change it down the road if it stops serving you!

Ultimately, remember that you can break the rules and do what works for you! You want social media to be life-giving and a blessing to you!

What advice and tips would you share for this person who is struggling with Instagram? Share your thoughts in the comments!