Mental Health As Marketers

Let’s be honest- as marketers, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. While most people turn to social media in their downtime, we turn to it in our most productive times. We utilise our creativity daily and funnel it into our careers rather something to help switch off from the day.

What can we really do to relax?

Anyone who’s read the blog regularly will know that over the past few years I’ve suffered with two massive issues; writers block and burn out. It’s something I’ve written about frequently as my own way to self soothe but like most people…I’ve never actually been able to conquer it.

As mental health awareness week has just passed us by, I think it’s time we talk about the issue a bit more broadly.

Marketing and a positive mental wellbeing go hand in hand after all. So how can we look after our mental health? According to Mind, a staggering 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England alone.

As social media becomes more essential each day, it has never been more important to open up about your mental health. In our world, we’re constantly reminded to focus on our mental health and that our mental wellbeing matters.

We’re encouraged to talk to our loved ones or reach out for support if we are struggling mentally, but how many of us actually listen and follow the advice? Probably very few if I’m measuring the industry by my own standards.

Here are some methods to help you ensure you take care of your mental wellbeing past MHAW. As marketers we spend a significant amount of time in the digital space, it’s so important to make time for what truly matters.

Set healthy boundaries

here are so many ways that you can put boundaries into place that will benefit you mentally. For example, you may want to set a boundary to not work out of office hours. It is important to communicate your boundaries clearly with your team (or clients!), whilst remaining respectful of theirs. Setting boundaries in the workplace may take some time but it will be totally worth it and they’ll allow you to carry out your job role whilst not suffering from burnout. Although putting boundaries into place may seem a little scary at first, don’t be afraid to make these clear – you’ll thank yourself in future.

Unfollow the negativity

The average Joe spends about five hours a day on their phone, which adds up to a massive 35 hours a week, six days a month, and 72 days a year.

When you work in social media management, that number is obviously higher.

I recommend unfollowing those that give you negative energy and only following those you genuinely enjoy engaging with. The types of posts that you see everyday will have more of an effect on your mental health than you initially think. You’re likely to feel much happier within yourself if you’re seeing positive posts on your social media.

Find support

Everyone is unique. We all think, learn and act differently, which is why we may not all find the same method of mental health support works for us. Some people may want to seek support from mental health charities, such as Mind and the Mental Health Foundation. Others may find comfort in using apps for mental healthsupport (keep reading for a mini-app review!).