Set your mental boundaries
When you’re streaming, it’s important to be aware of your mental health and build strong pillars to support it. I wanted to take some time to discuss some common practices and pitfalls within the streaming space. It can be cumbersome to take on streaming, but with some steps, you can prepare yourself against some of the negative sides of working as a “non-stop” creator. Here are some of the most important ones:
1. Meditation
Meditation is a great way to focus on your breath and center yourself. It can help you deal with stress and anxiety, and it’s a great way to start your day or end your stream. There are plenty of guided meditations out there, and you can also find ones that fit your specific needs.
Set time aside before and after your streams to fulfill the needs of your mind. We as humans like to solve problems and it is often why we attract ourselves to chaos. That doesn’t mean you need to live inside the realm of the surreal when you stop the broadcast. Take time away to detach after your streams and be vocal about what you are going to do before you stop your stream.
” I want to go spend time with my family”, “I want to unwind and get some fresh air. I’ll be back on discord soon”
I like to spend time in the beauty of nature for even 10 minutes breathing in the air and closing my eyes. Try to count your inhale for 5 seconds, hold for 5, exhale for 5, and hold for 5. If you physically force yourself to control your breathing it can help you remove any negativity about your performance.
2. Goal Setting
When streaming, it’s important to set goals for yourself. This can help you stay on track and focused, and it can give you something to work towards. Some goals can be simple, such as streaming for a certain amount of time each day or week or streaming every day for a month. Other goals can be more complex, such as working on improving your gameplay or reaching a new viewer count.
No matter what your goals are, it’s important to write them down and tell yourself where you want to be headed, and come up with a plan on how to achieve them. Often creators find themselves setting goals by determining the number of viewers they want to see, or how many subs they want to get. We can’t set quantitative values for a task that requires a qualitative action.
Instead, plan around what you want to accomplish. I want to create an environment that thrives off of positivity and help that breeds community growth through friendship. To achieve that I need to spend more time offline being an active community member to those around me. I need to visit their streams while I’m not live and play with them because they are a friend that I value.
Practice by setting up five goals that you want to accomplish. Don’t cheat and say obtain twitch partner, you and I both know those are all number-based.
3. Self Awareness
It’s important to be aware of your own mental state and to be honest with yourself about how you’re feeling. This includes being aware of your stress levels, your anxiety levels, and your moods. If you’re feeling stressed out, anxious, or down, take some time to relax and de-stress. This can include taking a break from streaming, meditating, spending time with friends and family, or taking a walk outdoors.
It’s also important to be aware of your own mental health limitations. If you know that you’re susceptible to stress or anxiety, take steps to avoid putting yourself in situations that will cause you stress. This includes setting reasonable goals for yourself, taking breaks when needed, and avoiding streaming for a length of time until you feel prepared to handle the stimuli that come with the territory. Remember, it’s important to be aware of your health pillars, mental or physical, as a streamer and creator.
We subject ourselves to negative thoughts and even a drop at a time our cup slowly drains with every comment and remark. Practice watching snippets of your VODs to see your actions and, more importantly, your reactions. These responses can be big indications of your current state.
Remember that your best content will always come from a place at your healthiest status. In the same way, you are most likely to survive a coming fight if you have a full health bar. What’s so different about watching the one in real life too?
4. Support Structures
It’s important to have a support structure in place when streaming. This includes having friends and family who understand what you’re doing and are willing to support you, as well as having mental health professionals who can offer advice and help when needed. If you’re feeling stressed out or anxious, talking to someone who can offer impartial advice and support can be helpful. Be aware that it can be highly recommended to have professional mental help in your back pocket. Seek counsel and help and heed any advice from friends to pursue options too.
It’s also important to have a support system in place for your viewers. This can include having moderators who can help keep the chatroom positive and supportive, as well as providing resources for viewers who may be struggling with mental health issues. Granted, we all have those mods who like to poke fun and that relationship can come to a point where you understand the intention behind their words. Be vocal with your mods tell them when to back off if necessary.
Viewers often appreciate when streamers take steps to create a supportive and positive environment on their channel. It speaks wonders when parents or family are in there because it shows you are upfront about your actions not just on stream but off stream as well. It can be hard to include parents and family. You know you best. Reflect on the potential, take some time to discuss the community with them if you feel up to it, having more support in your corner never hurts.
Who are you going to talk to tomorrow to involve them in your next steps of streaming?
5. Social Boundaries
It’s important to be aware of your social boundaries when streaming. This includes knowing your limits when it comes to talking about personal issues with viewers, as well as setting boundaries for how much time you’re willing to spend streaming. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed out, take a break from streaming. This can include taking a day off or taking a break from streaming for a week or two.
It’s also important to be aware of the type of content you’re comfortable streaming. If you don’t feel comfortable streaming certain types of content, don’t stream it. This includes streaming content that may be triggering for viewers or streaming content that is sexually explicit.
Be aware that it is your channel and you have the right to stream whatever you like without having to answer to anyone. However, it’s important to be aware of the potential backlash that may come from streaming certain types of content. If you’re not comfortable with the idea of streaming certain content, don’t do it.
Know your limits.
If you need help, please, reach out to those around you. Honesty can be incredibly liberating. Take time to book a call with a professional or see if your job offers any free counseling options.
Streaming is a great way to blow off some steam, have fun, and meet new friends. It’s not worth sacrificing your mental health in the process.
