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The life of a content creator might seem glamorous, but like any job, burnout is a real possibility. Creators are tasked with constantly filling their feeds with high-quality posts that connect with their audience. That’s a tall order that can lead to creator burnout.

A content creator who uses four social channels (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn) is expected to create anywhere from 4-13 posts a day. Coming up with creative ideas for each one of these posts is a challenge. 

The New York Times recently talked about this topic and interviewed a handful of young creators who are drained by the daily demands of social media. One creator said, “I feel like I’m tapping a keg that’s been empty for a year.”

Tips to beat creator burnout

Before content creation starts to feel like a tapped keg, here are some tips to avoid being burnt out by the 24-hour social media cycle.  

Schedule “off” time

One of the benefits of being a creator is that you can create content anywhere at any time. While that’s a benefit, it can be a curse too. Some creators get so wrapped up in generating content that they lose their work-life balance.

To help, schedule some downtime. Decide on some boundaries that can help you rest and relax. Maybe you take weekends off or set a stop time of 5 p.m. each day. 

Use organizational tools

Just as you schedule off time, schedule work time too. If you’re not already, use a calendar and assign yourself projects. Get specific, too. Know the title of your video, its purpose, and what you’ll wear, for example. 

You can use something as simple as Google Calendar or rely on other social media management tools like SocialBee, which has a scheduler and a calendar, or Trello, where you can manage individual tasks. 

As you plan, be sure to give yourself some breathing room. Set up the calendar, so you’re working ahead and not under the stress of daily deadlines. 

Batch create content 

Minimize your creation time by producing several pieces of content at once. 

Content creation is time-consuming. For example, if you’re shooting a video, you need to prepare yourself, prep the product, and set up your phone to record. All of which takes time. 

So, when you make that kind of effort, shoot two or three videos. If you want each to have a different look, change your shirt and tweak the angle of your video, but keep changes small to minimize your workload.

With content created in small batches, you can schedule it out over several days and give yourself some rest in between shoots.

Go someplace new

Sometimes all you need to shake off bad vibes is new surroundings. If you have content scheduled for a few days, consider taking a trip for a long weekend. If you’re a digital nomad, it might be time to change your locale. 

If a trip isn’t possible, change your at-home scenery. Remodel your office, for example. A fresh coat of paint, a few plants, and some new desk accessories could do the trick. 

Find inspirational resources

What inspires you? Try to find a few items to help you out of a funk. It might be something as simple as an inspirational calendar or following an uplifting meme channel on Instagram. 

You might draw inspiration from podcasts, articles, or browsing competitors’ content. 

If you’re a social person, join a networking group or start a Facebook group where creators can support each other.

Make cuts if things aren’t sustainable

Your time is your biggest asset. If you feel burnt out because you are doing too much, it might be time to assess what’s working and what’s not. 

How do you know where to cut? Look at your metrics. Are you using platforms that just aren’t reaching your followers? If so, that’s where to start making cuts. 

You don’t need to abandon a channel altogether, but you can rein in the number of posts you create for it. 

Delegate tasks

Are there a few tasks that you can hand off to someone else? You could work with a freelancer or a contractor to do administrative tasks like managing your newsletter, scheduling posts or handling invoicing.

You don’t want to delegate tasks that put your social reputation at risk, though, so be picky about what you choose to farm out. 

Removing some tasks from your lineup could free up some time to be creative. 

Creator burnout is real. To constantly feed an always-hungry social channel is tough. If you start to feel “over it” or are just overwhelmed by your daily chores, start using this list of burnout-busting ideas to get your creative juices moving once again.

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