I had an insightful session with a client this week where she expressed the pressure she’s feeling to “keep up appearances” on social media with her business. A lot of her sentences began with “I feel like I should….” or “Don’t I have to…?”

I know she’s not alone in this sentiment; I’m hearing it a lot lately and it’s a valid experience to be having. Here’s my thoughts.

Ask yourself: What do I need my business to provide for me/my family at the moment?

If this business is your livelihood and you have to hit particular targets in order to “keep the doors open”, then we need to be strategic and find a way to continue marketing your business in a way that brings value and feels relevant. This can feel like a huge task, I know, but it is possible.

If, however, you are in the position where you’re wanting to re-evaluate your business, or your business is a passion project that provides you with a “nice to have” income but not an essential income (as is the case for my client), I have a different question for you.

Ask yourself: What does success look like in business to you?

Remember: There’s more to success than making money. If you’re not enjoying it, why are you doing it? Use this time to reflect on what you want your business to be.

• Have your goals and priorities changed since you last visited them?

• Are you pushing forward on executing a marketing strategy that no longer serves your bigger-picture intentions?

It’s okay to take a step back and a breather. Take some pressure off of yourself, *if* you can.

You don’t “have to” do anything.

The questions instead should be “Do I WANT to?” “WHY am I doing this?” “Will this SERVE me and my audience well?”