Let’s Talk Social Media - Part III
Greetings from Nantucket! It’s good to be bACK and it is good to be in one of my favorite places to create. The ocean air, the island vibes, being home with my family, it all just hits a little differently up here, and it is the calm that I need right now in my life as I continue to pivot, focus, and dive into my professional and personal journey. It is also perfect timing for another “Let’s Talk Social Media” post.
How are we all feeling about this series? I honestly am LOVING IT, as it is a good way to spew my thoughts and knowledge about social media, to hopefully inspire and educate you, but it is also helping me get clearer on my goals, as social media continues to change and I change too. It is a WIN WIN for everyone and I enjoy that! As I have mentioned before, social media can be harsh and exhausting, so I think supporting each other, educating each other, and surrounding yourself with a badass tribe is a MUST to not only hold you accountable, but it also makes it more fun and positive experience.
With that being said, let’s dive into Part III, which is TAKING BREAKS!
Is it okay to take breaks as an influencer on social media?
HELL YES! I have taken short breaks and long breaks and I have zero regrets about it. I honestly don’t set a specific time when I want to take time away from social media. It is usually when I hit a wall and the creativity is just not there…I’m frustrated…and I’m just exhausted and burnt out from the whole process of it all. I don’t think this is a bad thing, it is just like me with my workouts, the meals I cook, my daily routine, and life in general. Sometimes you just need to step away and say let’s slow down, breathe, and peace out!
Usually the sign that it is time for me to take a break is when the posts feel forced, repetitive, and I am about to hit “share” and say NOPE…this is just not working…I need to take a step back! It is that simple. And I can’t force it and fake it, because I am a horrible liar who wears her emotions on her sleeve. And I know that you all follow me for my realness and authenticity, so not going to force anything that does serve me. Also, another life lesson in disguise…see how that works?
How much time off do I take?
In the past, I have taken a whole month off, a week off, and now more recently, I take the weekends off. Social Media is NOT going anywhere and neither our your followers, so if you need a break, want a break, or just want to disappear for a hot minute, do it…You deserve it, you have probably earned it, and it is good for your overall well-being. And I believe that your followers will respect you more when you are honest and transparent that you needed to step away, because of whatever reason you choose to share. It all comes back to you doing you, you being real, you owning you.
Do I share with my followers why I take a break?
NO…I just disappear. I don’t need to share everything all the time and that works for me. The only time I say I am checking out is usually on Friday. I create a simple IG story, that typically says “see you next week friends!” Simple and straight to the point! Otherwise, there are some things that need no explanation. It’s selfish, but on social media you sometimes need to be selfish. It’s OKAY!
What do I do while I am not posting?
I create and as cheesy as it sounds I come back home to myself! Not worrying about posting content frees up a LOT of space in my brain, because once my posts go live, my brain is thinking and worrying and watching the likes, the comments, the analytics, are people seeing this, are they seeing me….ARGH! So when I have that extra space, I use it to my advantage to create, write, plan, take photos, relax, breathe and just settle into the stillness. And what happens…The creative juices come back full force and I am ready to go back into the mix.
I don’t think I need to break it down anymore. It is pretty simple. Take breaks when you need it and don’t feel ashamed of doing it. Your mind and body will thank you and you will feel better when you take that break to nourish and replenish yourself, so you can come back stronger, happier, and ready to go. Like I said earlier, taking a break from social media is just like taking breaks from workouts, certain eats, life in general. It all can get repetitive and even exhausting, so you need to look out for yourself and honor that break. Trust me…just do it and thank me later!
How often do you take social media breaks?
Cheers to doing what you love, but also knowing when you need to take some time to yourself and just BE!
xoxo
