Avoiding Marketing Burnout: A Twitter Chat with the #CMWorld Community

Marketers are complicated beings. We’re pulled in many directions – email, social media, deadlines. Often, we find ourselves “always on,” unable to unplug. This leads to burnout. The physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion is just the start. What sometimes follows are diminished motivation, lackluster performance, and a pessimistic attitude.

A Digiday+ study found 32% of agency pros felt burned out and were worried about their mental health. What’s triggering this insurmountable stress? And can we reverse it?

We went to the CMWorld community to find out, and the topic sparked a robust conversation. Read on to discover great insights from marketers around the globe.

Is burnout inevitable?

A1: I think burnout is to be expected. It’s learning how to overcome/work through the burnout phases that matters. #CMWorld

— Michelle Garrett (@PRisUs) September 24, 2019

A1: I actually think that the quickly changing nature of #contentmarketing today PREVENTS burnout. It’s more engaging to always be learning something new, and it ensures the work stays fascinating and challenging. @CMIContent #CMWorld

— Amy Balliett (@AmyBalliett) September 24, 2019

A1. Burnout is poor energy management. If you’re clear from the outset on who you’re trying to reach (not “everyone”) and what conversations you do/don’t need to be a part of, and DON’T GET DISTRACTED, it can be very manageable. #cmworld pic.twitter.com/9ijoOUodeH

— ✨christine gritmon✨ (@cgritmon) September 24, 2019

How can managers address burnout? What can they do to support their teams?

Bring agile methodologies to manage workloads. Coach teams to make productive use of time..Be clear and set expectations and communicate outcomes and enable them achieve it. #CMWorld

— Deepthi (@deeptnag) September 24, 2019

A4. Ideally workloads should be redistributed.

Weekly 1-2-1 meetings should be held to assess recovery.

A gentle easing back into the workplace should be considered if a person has been off with stress.#CMWorld https://t.co/Xl6WBVi1OS

— Nicky Pasquier [Virtuoso Assistant] 📩 🎨 (@VirtuosoAssist) September 24, 2019

A4: I think the best ways managers can support their teams is to make sure they have the resources they need to do their jobs and to have a growth mindset that leaves room for mistakes and learning. #cmworld pic.twitter.com/VtnLoi4Fhl

— Alison Tedford (@alliespins) September 24, 2019

But our community urges: Be your own advocate.

Yes…don’t be afraid to speak up and voice your concerns. That is the one thing I learned, if you don’t do it, your boss or whomever may not even realize it. #CMWorld

— Bernie Fussenegger #Digital360Chat (@B2the7) September 24, 2019

A6: The best way to avoid burnout is the same way to avoid getting the common cold. Take. Preventive. Measures. Having a good work/life balance is the “wash your hands” of burnout. Take a break. Be open about your mental health. Use your vacation days! #CMWorld

— USA Link System (@USALinkSystem) September 24, 2019

We found that when we prioritize our well-being, our creativity and productivity improve. So how can marketers de-stress? Our community share their ideas.

• Digital detox (John Buglino suggests turning off tech at least a half hour before bedtime.)
• Watch TV or catch a movie (Michael Joseph currently is enjoying Disenchantment and The Chef’s Table.)
• Read (David Simanoff is reading The Vorrh right now.)
• Listen to music (Rachel Wendte is jamming to Juice and Cody Fry.)
• Exercise – hike, swim, take a walk, yoga
• Cook
• Color
• Journal

Community members believe in the importance of balance and gave advice on how to enhance well-being in our professional lives.

Create your work around your life, not your life around your work. That looks different for everyone.

— Laura Pence Atencio (@SocialSavvyGeek) September 24, 2019

Block off at LEAST one day a week – no meetings, no phone, no social media, no email … nothing. It’s a “Me Day.”

— Randa Zalman (@randazalman) September 24, 2019

A6 My advice is not to listen to everyone else’s advice. We have to figure out what works for us on our own. That being said, pay attention to the clues that something is wrong. Be aware and be proactive. The more we let it go on – the worse it will be. #CMWorld

— Gene Petrov – Leadership Based Marketing (@GenePetrovLMC) September 24, 2019

A few helpful resources were shared during the chat.

• CCO: The Hidden Consequences of Moderating Social Media’s Dark Side
• Forge (shared by Amy Balliett): To Do Better Work, Change Your Environment
• {grow} (shared by John Cloonan): Punch Out or Burn Out: Why the Most Successful People in Marketing Pursue Hobbies

James Tenant also tweeted out this insightful video.

What advice do you have for preventing burnout and finding balance? Tell us in the comments below.

Ready for more valuable industry insights? Catch the #CMWorld Twitter chat on Tuesdays at noon Eastern. Connect with content marketers from around the globe and discuss a different topic every week.