When people say "log off, stop watching the news, take a break from social," it never seems to include the social media people, does it. Everyone else is told to close the apps for their own sanity, and you are still expected to be in the comments, in the inbox, watching the feed so your brand does not miss anything or post something tone‑deaf.
If you are a social media manager, strategist, community manager or content person and you feel completely drained this week, that makes sense. Your job is happening in the same timeline as everything awful. You are not just seeing it once and moving on, you are seeing it over and over again, from every angle, while also trying to work out what to do with your content plan, your replies, your bosses asking "is it safe to post today".
So a few things, in case you need to hear them written down.
You are allowed to say "this post does not feel right today" and push for a pause or a change, even if something has already been signed off. You are allowed to ask for an actual plan or protocol instead of being the only person deciding what the brand does in the middle of a crisis. You are allowed to say "I can cover these hours, but I cannot be glued to this all day and all night" and suggest some kind of rota or shared monitoring. You are allowed to mute words on your own accounts, or step away from your personal socials, even if you still have to be on the brand ones. You are allowed to hand over the inbox or the comments for a bit and say "I need a break from reading this right now".
If you lead a team, this is the time to remember that your social person is a human being, not just a dashboard. Check in properly. Ask what would actually make this week easier, not just "are you okay". Back them when they say something needs to pause or be rewritten. Give them permission to step away from the feed.
And if you are the only social person in the business, and it is just you and the apps, please try to put a couple of small guardrails in for yourself. Decide when you will check the news instead of scrolling it constantly. Take short breaks away from the screen, even if you just stand in the kitchen and breathe for five minutes. Message one person you trust and say "today is a lot" without feeling like you are being dramatic.
You are allowed to care about what is happening in the world and also protect your own brain a bit. Your job is to look after the channels. It is not to carry the whole internet on your shoulders.