38 New Year’s Resolutions for social media managers
Being a social media manager can be difficult.
As a young person in one of my first jobs, my supervisor once told me I needed to prove I was trustworthy. Didn’t they hire me because they trusted me? That comment lodged itself in my brain. I heard it before sending an email, before posting a tweet, before suggesting an idea in a meeting. The same supervisor told me that they wouldn’t advocate for my needs when dealing with a tough interpersonal situation, but rather, I was welcome to complain in their office anytime.
I’ve worked with many supervisors and clients who didn’t want to spend any money on social media. Would any other department be expected to operate on a $0 budget?
I’ve achieved huge milestones, including growing a LinkedIn following 5x in two years and raising $200,000+ on Facebook Fundraisers — both with no money to support my efforts — and was met with absolutely no interest in what I was doing by anyone above me on the nonprofit ladder.
I watched superiors I thought I admired post on their own social media accounts about how social media interns couldn’t be trusted because they’d scroll their own feeds all day.
I say these things, not because I’m looking for sympathy, but because in your early days of forging a career, these comments and behaviors matter. Often, these experiences attached themselves directly to my self worth.
I entered the social media field professionally a decade ago, when decision makers were still having interns run their Twitter accounts because they didn’t know who else to give the work to. I did unpaid internships, accepted low paying jobs, and dealt with disregard for my work. In some instances, not in all, of course.
While I hope the industry is improving for workers, none of us are immune to the pressures of any job, much less one whose work is on display to anyone at any time. It’s no secret that social media managers burn out.
It’s difficult to continue doing a job when you feel you have very little or no support from to whom you report. It’s sometimes hard to continue working enthusiastically when so much about your job is out of your control, including updates, algorithms, outages, and more.
I wish I had this list earlier in my career. I would have written one or two on a Post-It note and placed it below my monitor. And perhaps, these words would’ve bolstered me in moments of difficulty. I know they still would today.
I am more than my work.
Just because I can read the comments doesn’t mean I should.
What would my future self think about this post?
I take responsibility for my own happiness and will not rely on external validation to feel good about myself.
We’re all doing our best.
Done is better than perfect, or at least a starting point.
It’s okay to take a break.
Taking a break now is better than a breakdown later.
Work is something I do, not who I am.
I am trustworthy and capable to do the job I was hired for.
I will challenge negative thoughts and beliefs about myself and my work, and will replace them with more positive and empowering ones.
Scrolling without purpose does not serve me.
Comparison is the thief of joy.
My opinion matters. My ideas matter. My work matters.
The goals I set for myself are worthy.
I’m not in control of the algorithms and the algorithms don’t control me.
I am learning every day.
I will practice self-compassion and be kinder to myself when I make mistakes or fail to meet my own expectations.
My work is ongoing, so I can take a break today.
My work is not my worth.
My life is not my work.
Every day, I have a new opportunity for growth.
Every challenge is an opportunity.
If I make a mistake, I understand that the world will go on turning.
I will surround myself with people who help me learn.
I am capable of doing good work.
I will be confident in my own worth, and understand that I am deserving of respect and happiness at work.
I am always trying my best.
I work in good faith.
I will take time each day to focus on my own needs and well-being.
I will set realistic goals for myself at work and take pride in my accomplishments, no matter how small they seem.
I will practice gratitude for how far I’ve come and how much I’ve learned.
I will set attainable goals for myself and celebrate them, even if I celebrate alone.
Hope is not a strategy.
I will let go of perfection and the need for approval.
I will seek out support from people close to me when I need help.
I will focus on my professional goals, and will not assign value to myself as a result of achieving them.
My future self is grateful for how I treat myself today.
