October is Mental Health Month and I know that having your own business and working social media can add stressors to already busy lives and means you are 'on' 24/7...plus 2020 and a pandemic has made this one heck of a year!

Here are a few of my own tips for helping to maintain good mental health while working in social media:

Unfollow any account that gives you a sense of unease or anxiety. The highlight reel of people's businesses and lives can create an unhealthy situation where you compare yourself and over time this can impact your mental health.
Turn off all notifications (if you can) so you have to purposefully log into an app to check it. I also set times to check-in and engage online (typically morning, lunch and evening for 30min each). You may not have to do it for as long or as frequently so work out what is best for you.
Work with others. I have always loved working from home (hello, PJs/activewear and no makeup and my own timeline) but before COVID-19 this was in addition to face to face meetings, events and regular cafe loitering with my laptop. I am fortunate to live in an area where restrictions have eased so I have friends work at my place or I go to their homes. I am also looking into coworking. Just because we are online or working solo doesn't mean we have to be alone. Having someone to connect with over a tea or bounce ideas around with is so important.
Set a timer. Too often we can fall down the work rabbit hole and hours have disappeared with no break. I set 25min timers for tasks so I can stay focused, then take a 5min break (walk onto the verandah, check the mail, make a coffee), and back to it. This method increases my productivity and I have noticed it results in more creativity and a happier mood.
Outsource. If you have tasks in your business that take you a long time and that time could be better spent elsewhere and earn you more income, or they are preventing you from taking a much-needed, well-earned break, then outsource. I have an accountant (thank goodness!) and when I need a holiday I have other social media professionals who I can outsource to in order for me to really disconnect. While in small business these are costs, I urge you to consider them as an investment in your business and ultimately your mental health because without that everything can crumble.

My other tip is to pay attention to your body. Listen to it...do you have a sore back, is your stomach-turning, are you tired despite 8hr sleep a night, do you find you can't focus on the simplest task or that your motivation faltering?

All of these are warning signs that you are on the verge of BURN OUT.

Trust me, burn out is real and when it takes hold it can take months to recover mentally and physically.

Do you have any tips to add? How do you manage your mental health?

...And how are you?

Katie xx

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