If you have been following along for the past few weeks, you would know that I am creating a social media campaign: Smile Social. I was so ecstatic going into this project because social media is my strong suit and something that I have always been passionate about. The campaign revolves around mental health and the stigma of social media. Advocating for mental health is something else that is important to me, so why not combine the two? But as I go into my second week of my campaign being active, I can’t help but feel a bit overwhelmed.
I have officially made it through the first week of Smile Social being live. Between production, publishing, and posting, there has been a lot going on. And I have not generated a large audience for either of the social media accounts that I have created, which is discouraging. But this was to be expected. I will continue to promote my campaign on my personal social media accounts and share it with friends and family, in hopes to create a larger presence.
Going into this content creation project, I knew that there were going to be bumps in the road. I tried my best to prepare for any obstacle, hiccup, and hurdle. But I’m not quite sure that anything could have prepared me for the burnout I am feeling currently.
Project-wise, everything is going fine, for the most part. I really cannot complain. Instead it is the essence of juggling so many things at once that is becoming stressful. I am a perfectionist and I want all of my work to be great. But if I have too many things on my plate, how can I be sure that any of it will even be good enough?
Taking my own advice from my very own campaign, I am in control of my happiness and well-being. It is up to me to determine what I can achieve, and I will get out what I put in. Fittingly, I decided to make that the overarching theme of my campaign posts this week.
Create with Passion
I think that when you are taking on a project like this, it is important to base it on something that resonates with you. It should be something that you are interested in, have knowledge about, and overall enjoy. That way, the content you produce will not only be of higher quality, but it will also be enjoyable to create and publish.
The main theme for Smile Social this past week alludes to the environment that social media presents. Social media can be a very positive place, a very negative place, or somewhere in between. The content that I produced along with the sources that I utilized focus on turning social media into a positive force and how digital users must have self-control as they scroll.
Create with Purpose
A big reason that I wanted to put my time and energy into a project like this is because it has affected me personally. For as long as I can remember, I have often compared myself to other people online. Comparing appearance, lifestyle, friendships, and more. Over the years I have gotten better at not letting those things get to me, but once in a while I will come across a post that makes these feelings of insecurity and inadequacy resurface. So I wanted to make a stand with this campaign, emphasizing that we do not have to let false reality and unrealistic standards dictate our well-being and mental health. I created this campaign with a purpose.
I wanted to see if I could help a larger community, and benefit something greater than myself. Because I am not alone in this crazy journey. It’s something that I wish I knew sooner, but I know now that other people experience similar situations. The chance that my work could help someone makes content creation worth it.
Having a purpose to your creations makes it all worthwhile. If there is not some significant reason for creating something special, then what is it all for?
“Purpose is not something you find — it is something you create.”
So as I approach a new week, I will remember to take time for myself, too. I will prioritize my own mental health while still ensuring that content is produced and published. Although I am feeling burnt out, I know that this will pass if I remember to take it easy on myself. Knowing that my content reflects this to some degree makes this journey more bearable.