Five Ways Streamers Can Practice Self-care
You’ve been streaming a while and are starting to feel the pressure of the streamer life. Even if you’re starting out, the constant grind of having to build up a sizable audience can make you feel weighed down. (another sentence here)
Taking care of yourself should be a priority and we’re here to help with a self-care guide for new and veteran streamers alike.
1. Give Me A Break — Take Them!
There’s always this urge to grind, grind, grind. We get it, it happens to all of us. If you’re on a successful streak, sometimes you feel as if you need to keep going because you worry that your viewership will go down or you’ll feel as if you’re not working hard enough. All of this is not true. Don’t let this be your focus when it comes to streaming!
‘The grind’ mentality can be dangerous for your health. Not only can additional stress lead to health issues, but it can also cause your emotional health to go down as well. Streamer fatigue is real and it’s nothing to take too lightly. If you don’t take regular breaks consistently and let your body/mind recharge, you’re at risk of burning out. The fact is, there is always the potential to lose a small bit of momentum/viewership over short breaks (even a day), but it’s nothing compared to the drop in momentum and viewership if you have to take several weeks or longer off due to being burned out.
Learn to take cues when you should take a break. If you’re feeling like streaming but not up for it, it’s okay to take a break and put that on the back burner until you’re fully ready and able to stream again. Your audience/viewers will thank you for it and you’ll definitely feel and see a noticeable difference when you return. Also, try to work regular breaks into your stream schedule so that your community comes to expect it. If you cultivate a healthy attitude about it, you can encourage not only yourself but your community to take needed breaks.
Your mental health and physical health should be the top priority when it comes to streaming. Trust us, it’s worth it in the end.
2. Play The Games You Want
That latest game that everyone is playing? You’re not feeling it? Guess what? That’s perfectly a-ok! Gaming is supposed to be fun and, most importantly your stream is just that — your stream. No one has to dictate what you’re supposed to be focusing on let alone streaming.
There are advantages to playing a popular game or a game that has a lot of interest and, that’s of course — viewership. The one drawback to playing the same game that everyone else is — you’ll be competing with a larger number of other streamers.
3. It’s Okay To Ask For Help — Your Stream is YOUR stream!
Streamers, and audience members, need to remember that we’re all going through something but we don’t need to go through it alone. Streaming during the COVID-19 pandemic can be trying and remembering that we’re all going through the same series of complex emotions can help ease the burden of anxiety.
Another thing to keep in mind is you NEVER have to tolerate an abusive viewer just because you’re afraid of lowering your view count. Establish a clear set of rules for how members of your community should behave right off the bat. During your stream, don’t let anyone get away with breaking the rules, being insufferable towards you or other chat members. Sure, banning them will lose you ONE person, but allowing rude or just plain toxic people to participate time and time again will definitely alienate the good people in your community — you’ll lose much more than one over time.
Being in a chat room where the streamer puts up with being bullied by chat is never a good thing. Learn to identify those who are being malicious and not just having lighthearted fun. This is YOUR stream and YOUR community. Let it flourish into something positive and enjoyable. You don’t ever have to take abuse or toxic behavior — that’s a no go!
While this is your stream, you are setting an example for your community. Remember, it’s more than okay to take a step back and realize that maybe you need a little more time. If this is the case, don’t be afraid to let your viewers know that you’re taking a small break for your mental health. Encourage others within your community to do the same if they’re feeling overwhelmed.
4. It’s Not The Numbers That Matter — Don’t Stress
It’s hard not to focus on numbers. Everywhere, we’re inundated with numbers — Twitter, IG, and especially Twitch. It can be a bit exhilarating watching the numbers go up as you progress with your streaming journey. The key to a successful stream is not focusing too heavily on how many views you’re getting or the number of followers you have or get in any given stream. Streaming comes down to doing what you love.
Really loving and genuinely enjoying what you can be seen in your stream. If you’re streaming and no one shows up for a bit, think of that as a good opportunity to practice. Practice what you will say when others are around, chat away (as if someone is watching), play your game — you be you! This is extremely helpful because the moment when someone turns up, you’re already in streamer mode.
Another thing to remember, obsessing one stream where your numbers were at peak viewership will only serve to make you unhappy. We all have good weeks and bad weeks and when it comes down to it — the numbers don’t matter. What matters is that you’re enjoying it and so are your audience, even if it’s the same two people that turn up every time! Focus on the fun and the viewers will follow.
5. Be Yourself & Have Fun!
Viewers come to your stream for one key ingredient: you. Without this magic ingredient, you won’t have a successful stream. Ultimately, viewers can tell if you’re not your authentic self or if you’re having fun. It’s easy to get lost in the stress of maintaining viewership, numbers, etc but don’t lose sight of the fact that people watch streams for the streamer, not just the content.
Yes, content matters but what’s more important is the personality of the stream. Do not try to copy others (style of streaming, overlays, etc) — be yourself. This is the quickest way to get people to leave your stream since viewers will recognize that inauthenticity. What works for someone else may not work for you.
You can’t compare yourself to people who pull in hundreds of viewers per stream because we all move at different paces. We still need to do what’s best for ourselves and what’s the most ideal for our stream.
All of these key ingredients lead to a successful stream and a better you! Streaming should always be a fun activity and never something you feel like you have to do. Taking a break is not only encouraged — it’s necessary to maintain your emotional and physical health.
