Work-life balance is nothing new. However, developing healthy habits for content creators on social media platforms like Instagram can feel like an isolating struggle.
As a blogger, content creator, or influencer, you’ve likely learned that working and “playing” on social media are not the same thing.
This is a difference that the majority of people never experience. Sure, they may try to imagine it- but the work that goes into social media is one that involves more behind-the-scenes efforts than anything else. Often, an outside perspective only sees the final product: carefully edited photos, revised copy for captions, the last cut of a video.
Still, creators deserve work-life balance. So, how do we develop and maintain it? This blog post will answer that question.
Why Instagram Content Creators Need Work-Life Balance
Burnout, negativity, creative slumps, lack of sleep, stress, and anxiety are symptoms of unhealthy relationships with social media.
Maybe you open Instagram for the purposes of research, to look for hashtags or to contact a brand. Then, you get distracted and end up wasting time scrolling.
Maybe you check Instagram all day long, refreshing notifications.
Maybe you play the comparison game – consuming others’ content in a way that leaves you feeling down about your own.
These are examples social media mistakes that need to be corrected to preserve our wellbeing and to save time and energy. Plus, consistency is key as a social media content creator. So, your Instagram strategy must be sustainable (in the sense that you can keep it up over the long-term).
Simple, Effective & Healthy Habits for Content Creators
- Set time boundaries for time on social media – Block out the time each day you are going to spend on Instagram posting and engaging. Set reminders and timers for accountability. My usual times are 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. Any other times I open the app during the day are intentional and brief.
- Prepare posts outside of Instagram – Draft post captions in the notes app, edit photos in external apps, and visit brand websites to do research. You could also conduct Instagram research on a laptop, if you find that you focus better away from phones.
- Move the Instagram app out of your main phone screen – Avoid the temptation to open the app outside of boundary times by making the app a little harder to access. Move it to the second or even third page of your home screen. Out of sight, out of mind.
- Don’t view the Instagram algorithm as the enemy – Too often, people use their energy to complain about the algorithm. Its simple purpose is to connect users with content that resonates with them. Changes to it will sometimes challenge your your strategy, but think of it as a push to be flexible and creative. Trends are always changing, so we as creators need to be able to adapt. Ultimately, the algorithm is a tool we have to learn with through trial and error, it just comes with the territory.
- Build a community with genuine engagement – There’s countless reasons to do this, but I’ve experienced first-hand how engaging with many of the same accounts every day or week makes my time on Instagram more enjoyable. Build friendships. And, those people are the ones who likely understand the unique experience of what working on social media is truly like – the good and the bad.
- Look to others for inspiration, but only insofar as it’s helpful – As President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” This quote never rings more true than when applied to social media. Instagram is full of success stories of content creators and influencers who spent years building their brands and we can learn from them. But, keep in mind that we all start from the same place. If you find that seeing someone’s content makes you feel discouraged about your journey then take a break from following them.
- Take weekends off – This doesn’t have to mean Saturdays and Sundays or even full days, but take a breather away from social media when you need to. Better yet, take them before you really need them to avoid burnout.
Do you implement any work-life balance best practices as a content creator? Let me know in the comments. Thank you for reading! Follow along on Instagram for more Instagram content creator tips.