What do you do if your PR career is overwhelming and chaotic?

When facing an overwhelming and chaotic PR career, it's essential to prioritize tasks and establish clear boundaries. Break down large projects into smaller, manageable tasks, and set realistic deadlines. Practice self-care and stress management techniques to maintain mental and emotional well-being. Seek support from colleagues, mentors, or supervisors if needed. Additionally, consider delegating tasks when possible and streamline processes to improve efficiency. Remember to regularly review and adjust your workload to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

- Prioritize tasks and set realistic goals - Break tasks into manageable chunks with clear timelines - Communicate openly with colleagues and delegate where possible - Utilize project management software for organization - Take regular breaks and practice self-care - Seek mentorship or professional development opportunities - Don't hesitate to ask for help or recalibrate when needed

I'd say staying organized is critical. On top of that, recognize that 5 minutes after your day starts, all of the tasks / priorities that you thought you were going to focus on are going to fly out the window (especially if you work in an agency and have many clients you're dealing with at any given point in time). That's often the nature of the beast. You're going to have to find a way to balance the "urgent" with what is "important". Often, those two will not be the same...

This obviously depends on your level of seniority. The more senior you are, the more you can delegate. That being said, be resourceful and lean on tools, colleagues, contractors, etc., as much as possible! You definitely do not have to do everything yourself, but do your best to avoid earning a reputation where your colleagues feel as though they cannot call upon YOU when THEY need support, too!

If your PR job gets too hectic, it's crucial to pause and see what's going on- - Begin by sorting out your tasks and focusing on what needs immediate attention. Break big projects into smaller ones to make them easier to handle. - Use time management methods like setting deadlines and making schedules to stay on top of things. - Reach out to colleagues or managers for help if you need it, and take breaks to avoid burning out. Take a moment to think about your goals and see if you need to adjust anything to make your workload more manageable and balanced in your PR career.

I started working with the PR community just after COVID and I saw masses of people leave the industry (more than any other marketing sector)! Even though they'd left their roles and agencies, I spoke to a lot of them and asked why? Predominately, it was stress - PR is a high pressure environment and traditionally this was a badge of honour. However, this mass exodus made a lot of people look inward and address the issues that saw many juniors career change. There's much more support & emphasis placed upon individual wellbeing now within PR. The people around you want to you to succeed, so make sure to vocalise if you're struggling. There's a good chance they experienced similar and they'd never want to see history repeat it's self!

Do not compare your PR professional journey with that of others. Everyone has a different growth and learning path in PR, depending on your own skills, the agency / team you work with, etc. Don't set unrealistic benchmarks for yourself, give yourself enough time to learn and grow. PR is a stressful profession in general, the key is to keep your calm and not give in to pressures.

If you're interested in a career in PR, chances are it IS going to be hectic and stressful, at least to some degree and on certain occasions. News cycles wait for no one, and you need to react to them. Right away. I know plenty of people who have canceled / shortened vacations because of a PR situation that has emerged. So, yes, you can do your best to reduce chaos, but to some degree, there are many elements in this world that are outside of your control.