How to Get out of a Dismal Social Media Rut

How to Get Out of a Dismal Social Media Rut

How to Get Out of a Dismal Social Media Rut

How to Get out of a Dismal Social Media Rut

Admit You Have a Problem

Admit You Have a Problem

Admit You Have a Problem

It does sound like a self-help program, doesn’t it? Admitting you have a problem is the basis for delivering yourself out of social media ruts. And it could be a relief to admit it to yourself. Now you can work on your escape plan!

Baby Steps to the Answer

Baby Steps to the Answer

Baby Steps to the Answer

Could you spend 30 minutes brainstorming some answers? How about if you paid someone for half an hour of their time to help you brainstorm? Then you’d use that 30 minutes for sure! Now write down all the ways you could escape your rut.

Focus on Passion

Focus on Passion

Focus on Passion

Tiny Buddha has a nifty article for Getting Out of a Rut and Working on a Passion. I really like the focus on a passion as a means of getting out of a rut.

Create a Road Map

Create a Road Map

Create a Road Map

A road map doesn’t have to be a complex chart with 28 different colors and circles and arrows going all over the place. It could be three steps, or maybe eight steps that lead you to your goal. Simplicity can be elegant, as long as you know what you need to do to reach your goal. Did you know that you could do social media in as little as 60 minutes a day?

Three Examples of Road Maps

Three Examples of Road Maps

Three Examples of Road Maps

If you’ve never seen a social media marketing plan, here are three examples:

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Refocus

Once you have a direction or a road map, if you will, that sense of burnout will diminish. With everyone on the team working together, a clear destination will appear. And if the team is just you, then find a friend (or a pro!) to help you. Ahem! I might know of someone.

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Implement

Implement your new strategy by writing down the everyday tasks you’d need to complete. Some of the tasks might be once or twice a week, and others might be daily.

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Get a Notebook

If you like to write things down, old-school style, get a notebook that you’ll enjoy. Here’s How to Buy a Paper Notebook That Will Bring You Joy! Personally, I like a stitched binding with ruled lines for daily tasks. What’s nice about notebooks is they’re always charged, and if you’re a tactile learner, they’re more satisfying than creating something online.

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How’d You Climb out of Your Rut?

If you’ve ever been in a social media rut, or experienced burnout, how did you respond? Let me know in the comments. And thank you!

How to Avoid the Five Stages of Social Media Burnout

How to Avoid the Five Stages of Social Media Burnout

How to Avoid the Five Stages of Social Media Burnout

How to Avoid the Five Stages of Social Media Burnout

We’ve all been there: that state of burnout, where every step feels like you’re trying to walk in quicksand, and each new attempt at writing feels like pulling teeth, that feeling that being run over by a taxicab might be more fun. And I’m not even exaggerating!

Identify that You're in Burnout

Identify that You’re in Burnout

Identify that You’re in Burnout

Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross identified five stages of death and dying, which can be applied to many other issues, including burnout. Stick with me here. The five stages are: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. If you’re in that first stage, perhaps it’s your friends who are saying that you must go on vacation, get out of Dodge, take a break, or (gasp!) see a counselor.

To avoid being in this stage of burnout, identify it quickly. Listen to your friends and move on!

Separate, but Equal

Separate, but Equal

Separate, but Equal

Being in a social media rut, isn’t exactly the same as the death and dying model, but it’s close. So finally, your friends convince you that you’re in a rut. And you accept it. What then?

Anger Follows

Anger is like a giant Band-Aid® over lots of different emotions. Pull back the Band-Aid® and you’ll see the real emotion hiding underneath. Anger is our go-to, our automatic. However, it’s not very useful, and not sustainable for very long. Who can stay angry for hours or days at a time? But at least if you’re angry, there’s some sense of movement.

To get past the anger, something physically challenging is in order, such as working out with a punching bag or going for a long hike until your legs burn. By the way, here are the 11 Ways that Being Outdoors Can Boost Your Creativity.

Bargaining

Bargaining

Bargaining

Just who would you bargain with if you’re in a rut? Probably yourself. Do you hear yourself saying (to yourself) any of the following?

  • “Oh, I’ll just write this one article, and then I’ll move on to something else.”
  • “If this one post goes viral, I’ll do another one.”
  • “Please let someone “like” this post.”

Not that productive, really.

If you’re already talking to yourself, maybe make it more productive. “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it–people like me!” comes to mind. With apologies to Stuart Smalley–who is so doggone smart!

Depression

Depression

Depression

Yes, you are in a rut. Feel sad, if you must. In fact, you might want to wallow in it even more by looking at depressing quotes (these are from GoodReads). Depression is where the bounce is. That is, once you get there, the only way to go is up. So have a good cry, but make it fast! Because you’re almost through it, really.

Acceptance and Rebranding

Could rebranding be far off? Or some kind of reinvention, at the very least. Here’s an article about rebranding your startup that could help you get started. It’s important to get your entire team together to think through the elements of your brand that need to be retooled.

How Do You Avoid Social Media Burnout?

Or maybe you’re there now. Are you? Leave me a comment! I’d love to talk to you. Really, I would.

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