It takes a lot of hard work to become an influencer, but the payoff is often well worth it. If you have one million followers, you can make thousands with every social media post. However, there are some aspects of being an influencer that goes beyond “putting in the work”.
Essentially, you’re allowing millions of people into your daily life. There can be a severe lack of privacy when you’re a popular influencer, even when you’re controlling the content. You’re also spending hours each day staring at screens, and it can be difficult to come up with fresh ideas and content that will keep your followers interested.
Feeling the pressure yet?
If you’re an influencer and you find yourself struggling with some of these less-than-glamorous issues, it’s important to prioritise your mental well-being. Thankfully, there are ways you can protect your mental health while connecting to your audience and taking time for self-care.
Create a community
Whether you have a thousand followers or a million, the people who are dedicated to your social media channels are interested in what you have to say. Maybe you’re a fashion influencer, or your focus is makeup, fitness, or food. Whatever the case, you’ve undoubtedly created a community amongst your followers. They might even have a nickname for themselves.
However, it’s important to remember that you also have a responsibility as an influencer to help those in your community. You’re a public face and fixture, and you can use your internet notoriety to make a difference that goes beyond fashion, fitness, and fun.
Whether you struggle with mental health issues or you just want to promote mental well-being, choose to be open about it with your community. You can promote mental health awareness in many ways, including:
- Highlighting resources
- Working with activists
- Donating to mental health resources
- Having an open dialogue with people in your community
Though it can be a little scary to open up about your own mental health struggles, it will help to form a stronger connection within your community. You never know who you’ll inspire by sharing your story and your struggles. Someone could be going through something similar, and by talking about it, you could provide an opening for them to have a conversation with their loved ones and seek out the help they need.
Have a hobby
As an influencer, the majority of your days are probably spent on a computer or your phone. It’s important to take frequent breaks, and take long stretches of time away from the pressure of work and your digital devices.
One of the best ways to fill that “me” time is by taking up a hobby or two. Studies have shown that having a hobby can actually boost your mental health, reduce stress, and improve your mood. If you spend most of your days working alone from home, having a hobby can also be a great way to get out and socialise with others, so you don’t fall into the negative effects of isolation.
You can also use your influencer niche to boost your mental health. For example, if you’re a fashion influencer, what you wear can actually improve your mental well-being. It promotes creativity, boosts confidence, and can help you to be more in touch with your emotions. You can use fashion to connect with your audience and promote positivity across your channels.
If you’re a food influencer, consider using ingredients known to boost your mood and provide energy. If you run a fitness channel, consider changing up your workout regimen to focus on exercises that bring you happiness. By using what you already know to promote and boost your mental health, you can inspire others to do the same.
Reach out for help
Influencers with millions of followers often reach celebrity status. However, no one is immune to mental health struggles, no matter how popular or wealthy they become.
Whether you’re feeling burnt out by the amount of work you have to do each day, or the pressure of creating relevant content for your followers is getting to you, don’t hesitate to get the help you need to manage your mental well-being. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and you can’t give your followers your best if you’re feeling your worst.
Consider researching different mental health professionals, including:
- Psychologists
- Psychiatrists
- Therapists
- Counsellors
All of these professionals can help in different ways. Doing a bit of research will help you determine the right fit for your mental health needs. Talking to a professional can help you get to the bottom of your mental health struggles while working on strategies that will help you overcome them.
You might feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders sometimes, but you don’t have to deal with those feelings alone. Lean on your support system, talk to people you trust, and never be ashamed of utilising mental health services in your area or via telehealth. While you don’t have to go public with your mental health struggles, doing so could bring your community even closer, and help to tear down the stigma that still surrounds mental health issues in this country.
