How to Build a Sustainable Social Media Strategy in 2026

👩🏻‍💻 how to keep up the new year momentum with less burnout, more ease and a routine that suits YOU.

The new year has a reputation: resolutions, year-long goals, the pressure to suddenly become a hyper-productive, high-energy version of yourself who posts five times a week, shows their face every day, and never runs out of ideas.

But if you’re reading this, you probably already know: that version of social media doesn’t last.

Most people who try to keep up with this go-hard-or-go-home intensity often fail by February. Not because they lack the discipline or motivation, but because they built a strategy that was based off pressure, over-eagerness, and never supported their long-term energy.

"A sustainable social media strategy isn’t about doing more."

It’s about consistency. And you can't build consistency in short bursts of rushed creativity.

Here are my TOP 5 ways to build a sustainable social media strategy, one that can carry you through 2026:

1. Plan for all versions of you

One of the biggest mistakes I see business owners make at the start of the year is planning for a version of themselves that doesn’t exist in all seasons.

Remember:

• not every week is a high-energy week

• you won't always feel confident on camera

• you have the same amount of hours in a day as you did last year

A sustainable social media strategy starts with honesty. Here are some things to ask yourself:

• what does a realistic week look like for me?

• how much time can I consistently give to content?

• what type of content drains me fastest?

Then plan from there.

2. Choose your main platforms to commit to

You do not need to be everywhere. In fact, trying to be everywhere is usually the fastest route to inconsistency, resentment, and giving up.

Instead, choose one main platform where your audience already is and only add a secondary platform if you have the capacity. Consistency on one platform will outperform scattered effort across five.

3. Make making content easier

If you’re constantly asking “what should I post today?”, your strategy isn't working. This is where your content pillars come in. If you need help with content pillars, I offer a free 30-minute strategy call for female founders seeking clarity around content. You can book in with me here.

Content pillars are your anchors. They reduce decision fatigue, make content easier to batch, and stop you reinventing the wheel every week.

Also, don't try to “level up” your content before you've made it sustainable. Switch your focus from aesthetics, perfection and trends to batch filming, content pillars and reusing content across platforms. A sustainable strategy prioritises ease first. Quality improves naturally once the pressure is gone.

4. Let your strategy be flexible

Your social media strategy doesn’t need to be perfect in January. It doesn't even need to be done. You can start building it now, experiment, and then re-align. As many times as it takes.

But don't over-edit or fuss. Check in with it quarterly, not weekly. Notice what feels heavy. Drop what no longer fits. Refine as your business evolves.

Sustainability comes from staying adaptable, not from forcing yourself to stick to something that’s stopped working.

5. Build from YOU, not from them

As a social media manager, something I will never do is tell you to copy my strategy.

Why? Because I understand how individual we all are. What works for me, may not work for you.

What I will tell you to do is: build a strategy that supports your life.

Your social media should not take your sanity.

If you want support building a sustainable social media strategy, whether that’s through content days, strategy sessions, or done-for-you social media management, I’d love to help.

You don’t need to do this alone.

And you don’t need to burn yourself out to grow.

Book in a FREE discovery call with me today!

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