Social Media Fatigue: Is it better to burn out than fade away?

April 5, 2012

SMUG

Stipulated: Burnout is Bad

• The last thing we need is more work• Resources are scarce as it is.• Why do something that doesn’t make you

happy?

BUT….

Sorry Mr. Sinatra, Social Media, like rock and roll,

is here to stay.

How do we avoid burnout/fatigue then?

• Excellent Question. Wish I knew the answer• Not a lot of “policies” out there• Tips, Tools and Strategies• Mental Health/Reenergizers• Your ideas

Find a Friend• Someone who can help

you learn• Someone to share your

burden• An advocate• Get S.M.U.G., if you can.

The Google Method

• 50 minutes per hour tackling a task, 10 minutes putting out fires/catching up on SM.

• Other methods? • 15 minutes in the morning, 15 minutes after lunch, 15

before checking out.

Use Technology to Help You

Social Media Dashboards: Here’s a list of 40.Hootsuite, Tweetdeck, Seesmic, Social Mention.– Overview of multiple platforms– Don’t feel like you have to have 37 windows open

at once

Better Living Through Minions

• Student Workers= Best thing since sliced bread.

• Oswego has a student social media team

Engage with Your audience

• Spend time with the people you’re hoping to serve.

• Listen. Get ideas. Hear what they’re passionate about. It can recharge your batteries

• “Look for the positives in your community.”

Coping Mechanisms• debng Unplug. Go for a walk. Take a vacation. Play with my son. Watch a

movie. In other words, anything but work.• Dayngr Emergency chocolate. • catykobe By physically getting away… taking a walk around the block, or

otherwise unplugging• QuirkyBean Lame but I actually have a ‘Happy List’ – 50 things to do to cheer

myself up :p Pick one and get on with it• KellyLux I workout. I read a paper book. I cook. Anything that doesn’t involve

a screen and other people• vargasl I now have this written above monitor, “Is anyone dying?” – No? Walk

away, do something to numb brain and come right back.• SunnyinSyracuse Oh, and I also take out stress in my baking

From Community Manager Chat

Questions? Complaints?

• @dtyler321, dtyler@brockport.edu• I’ll post these slides on Slideshare