• You might be the only person who can fix things that break while you’re away.
• You might feel that working extra hours helps advance your career.
• Or maybe you’re scared to lose your job.

Whatever the reason, here are a few tips to manage social media even if your vacation is short.

1. Supplement your content queue with recycled content

Don’t kill yourself creating original content to be published during your vacation. Instead, recycle some of your top-performing posts.Reposting content that received lots of engagement in the past is an easy way to keep fans engaged while you’re on vacation.If you’re not sure how to do this, check out “7 Steps to Recycling Your Best Facebook Content” to supplement your Facebook queue. The same strategy works for any social network.

2. Supplement your content queue with curated content

Content curation is another powerful time-saving strategy to manage social media during your vacation.Rather than creating every piece of content, you supplement your original content with curated content that still resonates with your community.If you’re not sure how to do this, check out “Content Curation: 3 Sources You’re Probably Overlooking” to supplement your content queue.

3. Take short but smart vacations

Taking even just a couple of days off can improve health and well-being, according to the Harvard study. And even 2-3 days off can feel like weeks off if you follow these vacation hacks:

• Do something you’ve never done before: This will actually make your vacation seem longer.
• Get up early: If you have to work during your vacation, knock off critical tasks early in the morning so you can enjoy the rest of the day unfettered with work distractions.
• End your short vacation with a bang: You’ll remember the last thing you more than the things you did at the start of your vacation.
• Make it last: Take lots of pictures and share your positive memories with friends. The memories of your vacation will be shaped by how you retell the experience.

4. Stay connected but set expectations

Ideally, you should completely unplug while you’re on vacation.But if you’re a manager, a director, or are simply a control freak, you probably can’t help but stay connected. If that’s the case, make sure you set expectations to better manage social media:

• Set your email vacation reply: Clearly and briefly state in your vacation reply how long you’ll be gone, when you’ll return, and who they can contact while you’re away.
• Make sure there’s Wi-Fi at your destination: This seems obvious, but some people I know (me) have gone on vacation without WIFI, only to receipt a wireless bill the size of a mortgage payment.
• Set expectations with coworkers and family: Make sure co-workers understand your limits during vacation. And don’t forget to tell your family that you may have to take a work call during your time away.

5. Give this book as a gift to yourself

The Happy Healthy Nonprofit, by Beth Kanter and Aliza Sherman, addressed workplace health issues like no other book today.Here’s a Facebook live interview we did covering these topics:

• What does technology wellness mean?
• Why does happiness and health matter to nonprofits?
• What are the best tips for practicing tech wellness?

Beth and Aliza are both huge advocates of unplugging to promote happiness, health, and increased productivity.

Tip 1: Get Into The Summertime Spirit

Where is your audience during the summertime? How do conversations change during the summertime? For example, are your supporters sharing more vacation pictures?

Consider these summertime themed campaigns:

• Flip flop drive for the homeless
• Pack a Summer picnic for underprivileged youth
• YMCA Example: Send a kid to camp #YSummerMatters (shown above)
• Take advantage of summertime selfies on Facebook and Instagram

Tip 2: Engage Core Supporters

Attention spans are limited in the summer. Focus on your core – your truly committed supporters. How can you make them feel valued and special?

Focus on those who give frequently:

• Convert one-time donors to sustainers
• Up the ante with current sustainers
• Focus on donor appreciation

Tip 3: Pick a Summertime Cleanup Project

If you’re like most nonprofits, you’re busy. Sometimes important projects get put on hold. What’s the best way to finally focus on the things you’ve been putting off?

• Clean up your data. For example, that data de-duping project you’ve been putting off.
• Clean up your metrics. For example, set up Google Analytics for better reporting (goals are a must).
• Tighten up your website. Take a look at your conversion pages and see how you can convert more supporters.

Tip 4: Get a Jump on September

Summer will be over in the blink of an eye. Once September rolls around, your immediate focus will be year-end fundraising! Use any downtime during the summer to prepare for year-end.

Plan your content calendar for September – December

• Gather stories and write content
• Create a content surplus
• Schedule and queue up content

Bonus: Coffee

Attend my weekly Hump Day Coffee Breaks (sign up here for weekly invites). Coffee not included.