Streaming on Twitch is a stressful endeavor. There’s no beating around the bush because it’s one of the hottest topics among content creators these days. You’re in the spotlight constantly and that eventually takes a toll on your psyche. All of the attention and pressure will inevitably lead to mental health issues.
That’s why it’s critical to have good coping tactics to help manage your stress. Here are some tips directly from the professional world of livestreaming.
Be okay with taking breaks
The pros say this often and for good reason. Taking breaks will do wonders for keeping your stress in check. It feels like it’s the hardest thing to do because you’ll be worried your fans will abandon you. And that may well happen but that still isn’t an excuse to not take a vacation to unwind and decompress.
The people who really appreciate your content won’t be there because you’re always live or always your same cheerful self. They’ll come to hang out on your stream because they like the whole of you. If they enjoy being around you, then they’ll absolutely understand why you need time off and that means they’ll support your choice.
Ensure your schedule is manageable
It’s so easy to think that you’ll stream every day to maximize your chances of getting an audience but that’s setting yourself up for failure in the mental health department. Especially if you’re not a full-time streamer, you need to stick to a manageable schedule. Not only does this mean you have more time to come up with new ideas, but it also gives you some space from your Twitch channel and performer persona.
Having a schedule that fits your life also means you can be more organized and attentive to the things that matter to you outside of Twitch. Whether that’s family, friends, or personal hobbies, the stuff and people that aren’t part of your stream will be the elements that keep you grounded. They’ll also help you gain perspective when things aren’t going your way.
Give your brain some space
A lot of professional Twitch streamers have some sort of activity that helps give their brain some much-needed space. Some meditate. Others do some form of exercise like yoga or running. Some content creators have creative hobbies such as art or music. What all of these have in common is that they allow the streamer to focus on something that affects them and their body directly.
The level of focus you get from these activities gives your mind time to slow down. During this process, you’ll get a chance to sift through negative thoughts, which, in turn, will allow you to realign and get over them.
Do what makes you happy
It’s often debated in the Twitch sphere whether you should play games that you like versus those that are popular. The truth of the matter is that your mental health is far more important than being popular. So, at the least, try to lean towards running your stream in a way that brings you real joy.
Sure, you can have moments where you do things your viewers prefer that maybe you don’t like that much. But, if it’s all balanced out by the games and activities that you love, then that’s an ideal situation to be in. Don’t ever feel pressured to go in a direction that makes you uncomfortable or miserable because then your stream is going to suck for both you and your audience.
Keep supportive people around
A wise woman once chanted “the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate” and she’s completely right. The people that are going to come onto your stream to berate and taunt you will do so no matter how you feel or think or behave. So, eject them from your chat and, then, your mind.
It’s easy to fall into a trap where you think every troll or hater deserves a fair shake but that’s just asking for trouble. You don’t want a channel that welcomes negativity and bad vibes. Sure, there’s always a chance your nicer viewers may feel you’re being too “ban happy,” but it’s your stream. Just make sure your rules are clear and you’re not just banning people out of spite.