“It’s dark-0-thirty, and I am still working.”
When you’re starting as a creator and doing everything yourself from ideation to editing, refrains like these are common.
Yes, content creation comes with many perks and allows you to monetise your thng, your passion. But there’s a flipside. There is relentless pressure to get likes and double taps. Why? Because they are the currency recognised in the social media world. And when you fail to get them, anxiety and stress become a part of life.
So, that brings us to the most important question. How do you manage stress as a content creator?
4 Tips to manage stress as a creator
Working towards your dreams is great, and hustling to achieve your goals is not bad. But it shouldn’t come at the risk of your mental health. So, right off the bat, if content creation is taking a toll on your body, read this, this, and this (scroll down to the tips).
With that out of the way, let’s get on with how to manage the stress of #InfluencerLife.
1. Don’t force yourself
As a content creator, sometimes you may feel like you are not giving your best to do the work. But why does it happen? The answer is simple. Either another’s success hinders you, or you have set unrealistic expectations that make you think your work is not up to par.
If you are not loving what you are doing, give yourself a break, have a coffee or tea, and come back to it later. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s best to wait for #thngs to happen. Take time to reboot, as they say.
Tip
Tell your community you’re going on a break along with the reason like Jessica (read the caption of the post below). It makes followers feel involved and helps keep your engagement from going down the drain.
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2. Prioritise your health over everything
Creator, taking good care of your overall health should be your priority. We understand that creating unique content isn’t an overnight thng. It requires a lot of time and effort to make it as an influencer.
But spending 3/4th of the day on a screen, skipping meals, and staying up late at night wreaks havoc on your body. It all leads to more stress, which impacts your mind. In short? An unhealthy lifestyle won’t let you focus on your content.
Source: Pexels
To make your mind and body work together, adapt to a healthy lifestyle. Eat wholesome food (though cheat days are allowed), get adequate sleep, and exercise regularly (even if it’s just walking). The feel-good hormones will do wonders for you and your content.
3. Take time away from the screen
Reflect on the things in your life that fuel creativity, be it going to a museum, reading books, spending time in nature, or anything else. Consider devoting specific time to such sources of creativity. Make sure you do this without any distractions. Allow yourself to simply indulge in them without putting pressure on yourself to come up with a masterful idea at the end of it.
4. Don’t stretch yourself – know your limits
Let’s face it. Hustling is fine. Hustling too much is dangerous. As a content creator, you’re impatient to succeed and want it soonest possible. But as we keep repeating, success takes time and patience. So, know how much you can accomplish in a day. Don’t pile on your plate more than that.
The hardest lesson #creators need to learn: have patience and keep at it.#creatoreconomy #contentcreation https://t.co/zPQICgV5do
— Do Your Thng (@DoYourThng_) May 10, 2022
Build long term habits to manage stress as a content creator
Stress is no joke. Left unchecked, it can lead to more serious health issues, and there’s no quick fix for them. Thankfully, there are simple fixes that work if you turn them into long-term habits.
And just in case you need something that works RN, try these mental health creators.