Digital detox: Avoid Burnout!
I know, I know. Here is another article talking about the dangers and side effects of over using social media, digital minimalism, and social media detoxing. Well, I hate to break it to ya but, we are both using social media right no, so no that is not what this is!
In my article Internet FOMO, I talked about one single side effect that I have seen a lot of people succumb to. I gave some helpful tips and some background on why we feel the way we do sometimes. So now let’s talk about taking a break and why that is ok!
Burnout:
Burnout is exhaustion caused by constantly feeling swamped or overwhelmed. I have seen a lot of fellow marketers ask, how do we know when we have hit burnout or how to catch when we are getting close to hitting that point? To be honest that is a good question! For everyone it is different. We all have different breaking points. Here are some signs of burnout that we can watch out for:
- Exhaustion
- Constant irritability
- A creative block or lack of motivation
- Poor work performance
- Feeling constantly negative
Now that we know what burnout is and some sure signs that you are feeling it, let’s talk about one way to avoid it.
We all use social media daily. Whether you are using it for work, to catch up with friends, or to just mindlessly scroll while you’re on a break. But we all need to take a break from that sometimes. I know that I get into a cycle of comparing my life to others and then feeling overwhelmed from the constant information flow. So to avoid that I take a digital detox once a month!
Here is what a digital detox can look like:
- Limiting your daily time on social media, emails, and technology. Since I work in the digital world I limit my email checking to twice a day and once I am off work I mute my apps!
- Logging off social media for a set time. Sometimes I log out for a week, it gives me a good reset then I log back on and I feel refreshed. (You don’t have to announce the break either)
- Replace times where you would mindlessly scroll with reading, writing, or a hobby! I take books to the doctors because I know I am going to have to wait.
- A hardcore version of a digital detox would be muting all your apps and taking a complete break from technology for a set time. I realize this can be hard to do especially with work.
Since your phone is off, you need something to do! Think about hobbies you never have time for or catch up on that pile of books you have on your bedside table. Take a walk and drink some water, Facebook will still be there when YOU are ready.
Leave a comment with any recommendations you have to avoid digital burnout.
