Here's how you can effectively manage your time and avoid burnout as a PR specialist.
Managing time and preventing burnout is crucial for a Public Relations (PR) specialist, whose role often involves managing an organization's image and handling communication with the public, media, and other organizations. In this demanding field, it's easy to get overwhelmed. So, here's how you can stay on top of your game without succumbing to the stress.
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Sarah Kissko HershPR Consultant and Fractional Chief Comms Officer Filler of short-term or ongoing PR needs + gaps in PR leadership |…
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Liz CarsonExecutive │ Strategist │ Communicator
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Azizza BrinsonVice President Media Relations & Head of DEI at PAN | PRSA-NY’s 2024 Board of Directors | Strategic Storyteller |…
In PR, you'll find your to-do list can become endless. To effectively manage your time, prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance. Start your day by identifying the top three tasks that need immediate attention. This ensures that you're tackling projects that will have the most significant impact first. Remember, not everything can be a priority, so be realistic about what you can achieve in a day and set boundaries to protect your time.
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This is where the phrase "It's PR not ER" is necessary. Be realistic about your priorities and identify the top 3 projects or tasks that NEED to get done. Trying to fit everything into a single workday naturally becomes overwhelming when you also have to balance calls and new updates that can come with active and sometimes unexpected news cycles. So use the AM to iron out priority tasks and push back on the ones that can be pushed to the next day.
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One easy way to get started with prioritising is knowing your goals. Sometimes it’s easy to get lost or overwhelmed under a mountain of tasks that need to be done. Sorting your tasks according to most urgent to least urgent can take some time, but it makes your task list manageable. It helps me to have my personal workload and team goals on a Post It when I’m working. Looking at them helps me focus and get back on track. Also, it’s a bonus to look at a task list that’s not on a screen.
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As a PR expert, being burnout comes as a second nature to us (haha!) At an agency you end you managing minimum 4 clients as an account manager for bigger accounts and at times even more if the accounts are smaller in size. The energy to process plans, media connect, events and strategy takes up a lot of brain work leading to burnout or going out of thoughts. Therefore it is important to have a good team support who you can relay on. Split your work, brain storm, be expressive that will give you a clear vision to your plan. If agencies team collaboration is highly crucial and if there is no team you need a good lead who can support you. I’m not saying you will avoid being burned out but it will ease off a bit of that stress. All the best.
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Prioritize tasks to manage time and prevent burnout! Start by identifying key objectives and deadlines. Break tasks into manageable chunks and focus on high-impact activities. Delegate tasks when possible and set boundaries to protect your time. Schedule regular breaks and practice self-care. By prioritizing effectively, you can maintain productivity and well-being in your PR role.
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My tips on How one should prioritize your day: Tasks Urgent and Important (Deadline) Urgent but not Important (Deadline) Not Urgent but Important (Deadline) This will help to prioritize the day in a manner that all the tasks are well positioned and you know what to pick. Deadlines also play an importance as you will try and finish the tasks accordingly.
As a PR specialist, your calendar might be filled with meetings, media deadlines, and unexpected crises. To avoid burnout, strategically schedule your tasks. Allocate specific time blocks for uninterrupted work and use tools like digital calendars to set reminders for deadlines. Allow some buffer time between meetings to regroup and prepare for the next task. This approach helps maintain focus and reduces the stress of back-to-back commitments.
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Schedule wisely to manage time and prevent burnout in PR! Allocate time for essential tasks, prioritizing based on importance and urgency. Use tools like calendars and task lists to stay organized. Set realistic deadlines and avoid overcommitting. Incorporate breaks and self-care activities into your schedule. By managing your time effectively, you can maintain productivity and well-being in the fast-paced PR world.
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The first thing is to divide the tasks in a proper segregation. As everyone is aware sometimes you get some urgent work which is client's super priority, always keep some extra time in hand. With the proper periodization of tasks, the chances of burnout are extremely low.
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As always, I will lay down what is expected from my side so my clients understand. I am lucky enough to be able to planned things out with the media, so both sides have ample leeway to execute the task. If things can be sloved through a phone call, that's my best remedy. This is to avoid physical meetings, travelling and wasting time (stuck in traffic, etc). Managing a client's expectation is one of the best ways to avoid panic, last-minute request, high and unreasonable request, and finally, burnout.
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As a PR specialist, our calendars are often packed with meetings, media deadlines, and unexpected crises. To avoid burnout and stay productive, strategic scheduling is essential. Allocate specific time blocks for uninterrupted work to focus on important tasks without interruptions. Digital calendars are invaluable for setting reminders and keeping track of deadlines. Incorporate buffer time between meetings to regroup and prepare for the next task, reducing the stress of back-to-back commitments. This approach helps maintain focus and energy, allowing us to handle the fast-paced nature of PR more efficiently and with less stress.
Delegation is a key skill in PR. You can't do everything alone, so identify tasks that can be handled by other team members or external partners. By delegating, you free up your time for high-level strategy and critical thinking. Trusting your team's abilities and providing clear instructions will ensure tasks are completed effectively, allowing you to concentrate on areas where your expertise is most needed.
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Delegation is super imperative, The work should be divided among the team members equally and always play on the strengths of the team members. This way you and your can can perform more efficiently. Instead of micro managing the team, always extend a hand to help the team members.
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One of the best lessons I have learned since joining the Marine Corps is the power of proper delegation. 1. Clear Intent: Your job as a leader means you must be clear with your intent. As long as you give clear intent to your peers or subordinates, they can effectively work to meet the mission. 2. Be prepared to adjust: Some projects incur more time and efforts as your progress. Always be prepared to reassign tasks to ensure that one individual is not over saturated with work. 3. Give the endstate: Communicate what you want the result to be and not how to achieve it. This allows for creativity to thrive and new perspectives to be opened.
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This is one of the best ways to stay focus and be productive. With a pair of hands and limited time, I will delegate what I could so I may focus on those important stuff. When I first started my journey, I used to do everything on my own. At that time, i was unsure what to do and how to proceed. As time goes by, i grew my team with writers and translations so I may remove the press release and content sesction from my hands. It worked so well that the work quality improved and I am able to bring in more clients.
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As a PR specialist, mastering the art of delegation is essential. In our field attempting to handle everything alone is neither practical nor efficient. Identifying tasks that can be managed by other team members or external partners is crucial. By delegating effectively, I can free up my time for high-level strategy and critical thinking, which are vital for successful PR campaigns. Trusting in the abilities of my team and providing them with clear instructions ensures that tasks are completed effectively. This not only fosters a collaborative work environment but also allows me to focus on areas where my expertise is most needed. Effective delegation is a strategic move that enhances productivity and drives better results for our clients
Technology can be a PR specialist's best friend when managing time. Utilize project management tools to track progress and deadlines. Embrace automation for repetitive tasks like media monitoring and reporting. Use social media management platforms to schedule posts and analyze engagement. By leveraging technology, you can streamline processes, save time, and reduce the risk of burnout from manual, time-consuming tasks.
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Tech plays a pivotal role in todays era be in PR or any other domain. Spend 1-2 hours a week or fortnight to research the new tools that help you to manage your work efficiently. Always be open to learn and ensure that your team is also learning with you.
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As a PR specialist, technology can be our best ally in managing time effectively. Utilizing project management tools to track progress and deadlines is essential for staying organized. Embracing automation for repetitive tasks like media monitoring and reporting can significantly reduce the workload. Social media management platforms are invaluable for scheduling posts and analyzing engagement, ensuring our online presence is both consistent and impactful. By leveraging these technological tools, we can streamline processes, save time and minimize the risk of burnout from manual time-consuming tasks. This allows us to focus more on strategic initiatives and creative work, ultimately enhancing our overall efficiency and effectiveness in PR.
In the world of PR, self-care isn't a luxury—it's essential. Regular breaks throughout the day can prevent mental fatigue. Ensure you're getting enough sleep, eating well, and engaging in physical activity. Also, make time for hobbies and social activities outside of work. Taking care of your well-being helps maintain your energy levels and keeps you sharp for the challenges of the PR industry.
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PR is fast-paced, especially in client-service. Burnout can sneak up on you: eating lunch at your desk consistently, over-scheduling, work catch up on the weekends. I’ve been guilty of all of these. What to do instead? 1. Don’t Go It Alone. Talk to your employer - most will help. Rested employees are motivated and productive. Who doesn’t want that? 2. Change It Up. Walking meetings, laughter in the lunchroom, 10 min hang with your pet on remote days make the difference. So take that mini-break. 3. Re-Charge. We all have periods when workload is high. So when that big project ends, take time to build up your reserves again. Good employers recognize the high value of lieu days and watch their team’s workload closely. Work for them.
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When you are young, you tend to involve yourself in a work a lot. Always remember to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Never leave your hobbies. Always spend time to ease yourself from the daily routine and encourage the team to do the same.
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In the world of PR, self-care isn't a luxury—it's essential. Regular breaks throughout the day can prevent mental fatigue, helping maintain focus and productivity. Ensuring adequate sleep, a healthy diet, and regular physical activity are foundational for sustaining energy levels. Equally important is making time for hobbies and social activities outside of work. Engaging in these activities provides a necessary mental break and fosters a well-rounded, balanced life. By prioritizing well-being, we can stay sharp and resilient, ready to tackle the dynamic challenges of the PR industry with clarity and vigor.
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Ha lo largo de mi vida he tratado de ser exitoso en todo los retos que he emprendido y he comprobado que no hay nada que me lleve más al éxito que tener y respetar mi rutina de cuidado personal. Por medio de esta manifiesto el amor propio. Cuando eres cuidadoso de ti mismo vas a ser cuidadoso con todo lo que emprendas. 1. Limpieza y orden total, diaria, personal y de mi entorno. 2. Practica un deporte o un actividad física varias veces por semana. Por lo menos sal a caminar. 3. Lee otros temas que no tengan nada que ver con tu trabajo, amplía tu modo de ver el mundo. 4. Haz algo divertido, baila, canta, cocina, lo que quieras, ten un pasatiempo que puedas contarle a otros; eso te hace interesante. Cuenta tu experiencia.
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As a PR person, the work don't seem to end. But I will ensure that after office hour, it's my personal time. Yes, there are task that will continue, however, I make sure to set a realistic dateline for my clients, my team and I. Hence the reason why i make sure my clients is educated on the relistic expectation. And I will blocked up my weekends and holidays just for myself. And making sure I prioritise it.
Finally, take time to reflect on your work patterns. Are there certain tasks that consistently take longer than expected? Are there processes that could be more efficient? Regular reflection can help identify areas for improvement and prevent future burnout. Set aside time weekly or monthly to review your workload and work habits, making adjustments as necessary to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
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My first job at an agency was a horrible churn and burn culture. I was working around 80 hours a week. Securing 25 to 50 media opportunities per week. It was chaos. I learned so much in that time, but it didn’t last long. Eventually, I burnt out. It’s important to recognize that there are many great agency cultures out there today then there were years ago. Still, many public relations firms are structured to prioritize profit before people and as a result, the culture is toxic. Learn what you can but recognize that there are better places out there to work if you are in a toxic environment.
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While most of the day might be spent meeting deadlines, it is important to measure growth consistently. Time is one parameter, other parameters consist of the quality of outcome (not output), personal development and alignment with the organizational goals. Setting aside time to measure the growth on an individual level and then involving the immediate team in it will help improve the quality of work and work satisfcation. Not to miss, a regular track can also help identify the patterns of burnout and the importance of breaks to ensure healthy flow of work.
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Agency life can be hard, corporate life can be hard. There is no magic solution that will make your workload more manageable or life more balanced unless you take the reins to set and enforce boundaries.
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You must be able to handle lots of rejection regardless of your effort. You need to invest in a baseball season mindset, that you put in the work, you will have highs and lows. Maintaining physical and mental wellness from exercise, healthy, eating, meditation, whatever brings you joy outside the office, including quality time with family and friends. I think you can probably tell that there’s no magic bullet, I’ve been doing this for 20 years and still figuring it out.
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As a seasoned PR specialist, managing time and avoiding burnout is crucial. Prioritize tasks using tools, set realistic deadlines, and delegate when necessary. Schedule regular breaks to recharge, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Stay updated with industry trends, and engage in continuous learning to stay motivated. Embrace mindfulness practices to reduce stress. Always have a contingency plan for crisis situations. Lastly, build strong relationships with your team and clients; collaboration and clear communication are key. Share success stories and lessons learned to inspire and educate others in the field.
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YOU CANT. The above statement is false and a common opinion floating in our industry. But the thing to keep in mind is that you need to prioritise tasks. In order to avoid burnout, just make sure that you don't overestimate your ability in a limited number of hours. Map your hours accordingly, and keep improving on it. Burnout happens when you don't set expectations:)
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