Are Marketing Jobs Stressful?
Marketing is a lucrative career. That said, it is considered one of the most stressful occupations in the market today. However, this opinion is divided, and there is need to clear the air based on an expert’s point of view.
It is True; Marketing is Regarded as Stressful
Marketing Profs, one of the most authoritative online marketing consultants, recently took a survey to determine just how stressful marketing is. The study involved more than 400 marketing executives based all over the United States.
According to the report, 63% of the participants said that marketing was mildly stressful, while 7% said that it was very stressful. However, 27% of the participants reported that their jobs were minimally stressful while 3% said that they did not experience any stress at all.
Interestingly, a majority of the participants said that marketing brought them some level of pleasure and fun – of course, this is expected to depend on the niche in which one works.
What Makes Marketing Stressful?
Marketing is all about making a product or service appealing to total strangers. It is a competitive industry, and the audience is picky.
One of the stressful things about marketing is trying to convince people to buy your products. It involves a lot of analysis and studying to get an intimate knowledge of your audience. And, considering the technicalities involved in collecting and sorting out data, it takes a dedicated and sharp mind to make sense of the demographics.
Another stressful thing about marketing is its dynamic nature. It is amazing how much marketing and advertising have changed over the years, and it is even more amazing how quick marketing campaigns rise and fall. Staying on top of the competition demands keeping up-to-date with developments in your niche, and this demands that you always be alert and attentive.
Marketing can also prove toxic to your personal and family life. Many marketing jobs require marketers to spend a lot of time at work either in the office or traveling. What’s more, many marketers unconsciously carry their work home with them. Naturally, this does not go down well with family members and friends – in fact, many marketers would gladly blame their jobs for family problems.
Many other factors make marketing stressful, but it is not all gloom as it can also be fun. Besides, there are several proven strategies for overcoming stress associated with your job as a marketer.
Tips to Overcome Stress as a Marketer
There is no doubt that stress will get to you as a marketer, but there are several ways to dispose of it:
Pace Yourself
A good plan is vital to success in marketing. There is always a lot to get done every day, and you cannot do it all at once.
Pacing yourself makes your work easier. Experts recommend starting with simple tasks that don’t demand too much time or effort. You can then move on to more complex tasks that require more time and attention. The secret is that by starting with simple tasks, you do not fatigue easily and hence can make the most of your time and energy.
Pacing yourself does not end at daily tasks. It takes a lot of hard work and some time to rise the ranks as a marketer. As such, if you are a novice, then it is important to acknowledge your position and take your time to lay a good foundation for a stronger career as time goes by – rushing does not always help.
Take a Break
The marketing industry does not sleep. However, you need your rest, or else your performance will be compromised.
As such, it is recommended to take a break every once in a while. Whenever you feel fatigued, don’t hesitate to take advantage of excuses such as bathroom breaks to get a break from all the buzz of marketing. Additionally, create a routine whereby you take 15 minutes off work each day to calm your mind – choose a quiet place where you can be alone for those 15 minutes to avoid interruptions.
Try De-stressing and Relaxing Techniques
People deal with stress differently, and some of these ways are deemed to work for everybody. One of the best recommendations is exercising. In fact, exercising is necessary for marketers as they are mostly sedentary and hence can be prone to poor health and early death. Other good recommendations include yoga, meditation, and indulging in your hobbies.
Anything that makes you happy should be an excellent way to overcome your stress at work, as long as you don’t over-indulge.
Set Time for Family and Friends
Humans are social beings, and lack of strong social and family ties only makes stress worse. What’s more, marketers dealing with family problems are often stressed out at work and perform poorly. As such, it helps to develop and maintain healthy family and social ties.
Make a point to check in with friends and family members whenever you can, and go out for food and drinks once in a while. Additionally, never take your work home unless you have to.