Healthy Social Media Habits for Social Media Managers
We are a whole month into the new year, can you believe it?
If you're like us, though, the new year doesn't actually go into effect until February. Let's face it, January is the trial month of the new year. We are finding motivation again after the holidays, hoping to stay warm through the chilly weather, and we are just basically just trying to make it through the month (especially for those of you also partaking in dry January).
February is the month to actually make things happen. It's our new fresh start where we can actually implement those new boundaries and habits that we chatted through in January. One of our main goals is to find that healthy relationship with social media and clients again. We'll be honest with you, Collective. 2025 was a rough month for our team with both burnout and clients breaking out boundaries, and we are SO ready to get back on track.
But, as a social media manager, you can't exactly just delete all social media apps and call it a day. Or block all your clients when they break a boundary (although we wish...kidding.) So, we are going over how you can actually stick to your healthy habits in 2026, and which ones we love to prioritize.
Separate “work scrolling” from “personal scrolling”
Not every scroll needs to be "market research." Create times to consume content for work, and give yourself permission to log off outside of that. Yes, you can always save a post here or there, but don't feel like your marketing brain needs to be on at all times.
Set boundaries with notifications
You don't need to be alerted every time someone comments, likes, or DMs. Turn off your notifications, especially after work hours. There are apps you can install or even screentime limits you can set to help you with this as well. Once 5:00 hits, we have our Slack, Email, and Instagram on DND.
Remember: metrics are data
Metrics are just insights. They are not your worth. Low engagement doesn’t mean you’re bad at your job. High engagement doesn’t mean you’re a genius. Numbers are feedback, not something we need to obsess over. And, they are also not your child. So, stop checking in on them every five seconds. Let your content work, and check in weekly or monthly to pivot your strategy, vs obsessing over them and refreshing.
Audit regularly
Audit your time, tools, what you consume, and who you follow. If you are feeling burned out and leaning into comparison, that's your sign that you need to start unsubscribing, unfollowing, and making shifts.
Built in offline creative breaks
Some of your best ideas won’t come from scrolling. Walks, workouts, podcasts, or even boredom can spark better content than endless scrolling. Find what drives your creative spark and make time for it. Remember, you are your own boss, so you set the schedules. So what if it's 11 am? Take a walk!
Treat social media like a tool
Think of all the industries out there and all the tools we use. Doctors don't take home their stethoscopes. Social media is a part of your job, not your whole life. You’re allowed to log off and be a human first. You're allowed to miss a trend or two.
In sum, if you haven't had a chance to set new habits and intentions for the new year. You aren't too late. There is always a chance to better your boundaries, set better habits, and create a better relationship with social media, even as a social media manager.
If you are struggling to set these boundaries, join our Facebook group and let's chat about it!