- YouTube
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When I first started out, I kept telling myself, “it’s just one video a week, no big deal.” But one video turns into planning, filming, editing, thumbnail, description, tags, sharing on socials… next thing you know, half your weekend is gone. Then real life comes knocking and you’ve got assignments due, your boss asking for extra shifts, your mom yelling that you never call anymore.
I’ll be honest, I nearly quit in my first 3 months. My laptop was overheating, my eyes were burning at 3am, and the video I spent all night editing got like 43 views. That hit me hard. It’s not even about the low views, it’s about asking yourself, “is this worth sacrificing sleep and sanity?”
The Struggle I Didn’t See Coming
Nobody warns you about the mental side. Everyone talks about thumbnails, SEO, keywords, watch time blah blah. But nobody tells you how much it messes with your head when you’re at work thinking about analytics, or when you’re out with friends and secretly just want to go home and edit. That’s the part that hit me hardest.
Like, I remember this one Friday, my friends dragged me out to a bar. I was physically there but mentally I was thinking, “should I make my title more click-baity? Should I post a short instead of a long video?” I wasn’t even present. And that’s when I realized that it isn’t balance, this is obsession.
The Dumb Mistakes I Made
Let me just call myself out here, because I know some of you probably did the same:
- I tried copying big YouTubers’ upload schedules. Daily uploads… with zero team. I lasted 5 days before collapsing.
- I said yes to every idea. Ended up with half-edited videos sitting in a folder that never saw the light of day.
- I thought “working harder” was the answer. Spoiler: it wasn’t. It just made me cranky.
- I kept checking stats like a maniac. Literally refreshing my YouTube Studio every 10 minutes. Pointless.
Finding Some Kind of Routine
What saved me (kinda) was setting a chill routine. I’m not super organized, but I forced myself to film on Sundays. Like, no matter what, Sunday was the “creator day.” I’d record 2–3 videos and spread them out. Editing I did in small chunks during the week—like 30 mins after dinner instead of binge-scrolling TikTok.
It sounds basic, but that little system kept me sane. It also made me feel like I had my life back. I could actually hang out on Friday nights without stressing about unfinished videos.
Does anyone else batch film like this, or do you just wing it? I know some people only create when they feel inspired and somehow it still works for them.
Trying to Separate Creator Life From Real Life
This one’s weird, but it worked for me: I made a separate laptop account just for YouTube stuff. When I’m logged out, I don’t see editing apps or thumbnails. It tricks my brain into switching off.
Also, I stopped bringing YouTube talk into every family thing. Like, I used to sit at dinner and start explaining CTR to my dad, he didn’t care
. Now I just keep creator life and personal life separate. Feels healthier that way.Burnout (And How Ugly It Gets)
Oh man, burnout is no joke. I’ve hit it twice already. Both times, I literally hated opening Premiere Pro. The thought of editing made me want to throw my laptop out the window. The worst was when I forced myself to keep going. Videos came out worse, views didn’t improve, and my energy tanked.
What actually helped:
- Taking a full week off. Scary, but the world didn’t end.
- Doing “easy” videos sometimes—like a quick rant or Q&A instead of heavy edits.
- Remembering why I even started (to connect, not to be perfect).
Different Platforms, Different Headaches
I’ve talked mostly about YouTube, but honestly, it’s the same on every platform:
– TikTok drains you because trends move too fast.
– Twitch streamers basically live online to keep people watching.
– Podcasters deal with insane prep + editing that no one appreciates.
At the end of the day, it’s not just about content. It’s about balance. Growth is important, but not at the cost of your actual life.
My Little “Balance” Rules (For Now)
Not perfect, but these keep me from losing my mind:
- 1 filming day a week.
- Don’t check analytics after 9pm.
- Never skip meals for editing (sounds dumb, but I did this).
- Celebrate small wins. My first 100 subs felt like 1 million. I was extremely happy.
- If it stops being fun, step back.
Wrapping Up
So yeah, that’s where I’m at. Still figuring it out, still messing up, but trying to find balance between being a creator and being a human. I know a lot of us here are in the same boat. Working jobs, going to school, raising kids, and still chasing this creator thing. Respect to anyone doing that.
Your turn: How do YOU balance it all? Do you have little hacks to stop burnout? Do you set schedules, or just go with the flow? I’d love to hear different approaches because honestly, I’m still learning.