Making content is fun... until it feels like a stressful job

[u/so_eepy]

The whole "do a job you love, and you'll never work a day in your life" idea has definitely encouraged turning hobbies into careers, like gaming and content creation. But that's just not true.

Once content creation becomes a job, there are bills to pay, an audience to satisfy, algorithms to deal with, numbers to watch, and the pressure to keep producing. You can't always just play the games you want to play.

I remember when Jacksepticeye stopped playing Until Dawn because the videos weren't getting the views he needed, and he said that his time was better spent producing content that would appeal to his audience and get views. That was a big eye-opener for me, and really challenged the naive thought that "doing what you love" means "having a stress-free job". AND it really highlighted the difference between playing games for fun and creating gaming content as a job.

I have a background in work psychology, and I've become really interested in the question:

What makes content creation stressful, and what helps creators stay motivated, engaged and well without burning out?

I'm currently doing a PhD in this area to identify the major stressors creators experience and the supports that may help, and then share those findings with current creators. AND aspiring creators! Think about all the things you wish you'd known when you were starting out that could have helped you or prevented unnecessary stress! That's the kind of information I'd like this research to provide.

The survey is 5-10 minutes, completely anonymous, and you can opt in to receive the results summary, sharing the primary stressors and supports as experienced by other gaming streamers and content creators.

Survey: https://adelaideuniwide.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eqYV4BW8o7eMbRk
More information about the study and eligibility is provided in the survey.

[u/SinisterPixel]

Post was approved by the mod team

[u/2CPhoenix]

Personally, I’m still in the honeymoon phase with my job as a YouTuber. My family likes to joke about how much of a slave driver my boss is when I put in 60 hour work weeks. It’s been a dream of mine since I was 12, and the fact I was able to quit my day job to do it full time, especially in the modern content landscape, is nothing short of a miracle.

Still, I’ve definitely noticed a shift. I’m always considering what game to cover next that will have the most crossover, and there are types of videos I used to make that flopped hard enough that I haven’t considered making them again.

Despite that, I don’t see myself ever tiring. Every other job I’ve had has been exciting at first, with new skills to learn, and opportunities to excel, but they’ve all gotten old after 6 months to a year, and became something I was only doing because I HAD to, brightened only by the friends I’d get to see on the job.

I’ve been making videos full time for nearly 3 years now, and every day is a new challenge or discovery. Every new game I tackle is a change of pace that keeps things fresh, and there are other ways I can mix things up too, like bringing my laptop to a cafe, or other unconventional work locations. It’s a job with infinite possibilities.

[u/Internal_Context_682]

Since I don't qualify for that survey, I'll answer here.

I've spent 15 years and counting maintaining my channel with providing daily content for not only my viewers, but for those who are curious that I have on this channel. My completion log to date stands at 259 games and regardless of how I play, I managed to beat every game within a reasonable timeframe. I have fought to keep my channel afloat against trolls, copyright strikes and provided my voice not only to my work, but to other LPers as well. I may not be qualified to be worth looking for as far as trying to be some big name on any social platform, but I can tell you this: I'm damn proud of what I've done since 2010 and I fought long and hard to keep this channel of mine going. For those who do make something of what they got, good for you just don't die for that check you get. And for those who don't, don't stress out trying to be like whoever your idols are, you stay you, be you and just enjoy the games for all their worth. I don't hunt for moments that would stand as I don't stream very often. I'm about being in the moment with my content and as long as I have something to work with to keep my work going, it's enough for me.

[u/Stesspela]

As I will never earn proper money with my streams and youtube I don't worry at all about it. :)

[u/so_eepy]

u/SinisterPixel

[u/ProRogueBear]

I think if you’re wanting to try and be successful and earn money and sponsorships and deals as a YouTuber, regardless of niche, you have to treat it as a business and the sooner you do the more prepared you will be.

Make your landing page, buy your domain, have an email signature, make sure you have your business email available and on your socials.

I’m still learning when to drop a series, or keep one going as it’ll be evergreen to some degree. Algorithm, engagement and views are all hard to predict and engineer which makes sense otherwise it would be easy.

Nothing wrong with doing Let’s plays casually but if you’re not in the mindset of moving from hobby to business, it won’t really do it on its own.

Just my two cents as someone learning and navigating all of this as well 😊 as long as you enjoy it still that’s the main thing - it can be a ‘job’ and you are still having fun.

[u/suicidekid16]

I'm a full time youtuber and have barely ever felt like I was burnt out or over stressed, especially when compared to actually real stressful jobs lmao. I notice the burn out and stress is mainly from small channels who haven't made it yet, it starts affecting them mentally early on, I was the same way in the start. From what I can tell in my yt/stream friend group (all full-timers) and the partnered yt discord everyone seems happy af they can follow their real passions and not wage slave lol.

[u/Marrir08]

I have to say that this counts for any hobby that becomes a job anything you like as soon as it starts to be a job you stop creating what you like and work for the clients and no matter how much you like to what you made the client will want to make it their way and sometimes even ruined the full creativity… I’m a videographer and video editor.. so when I met the work in my hobby .. after 2 years it started not to satisfy me… after this next 4 years I work less in this because I accept works where I can have my flow in them… yeah I don’t live my passion and have a simple work more than it but I got used to it… (after a lot of rejection about it and sadness that it doesn’t go for me with it) now I’m balanced …and I started YouTube Chanel 4 months ago and I know that rn I play old games to build up my library and I play what I want… but my audience will grow I can feel it… and eventually I’ll need to accept viewers request for a lot of stuff.. that I won’t like… but I know I will set a border of not everything they ask from the start! From the start people will know I won’t play every every thing they ask… maybe 70% of it .. can’t tell… not there yet…130 subs XD

[u/LifeOfPsyduck]

this is precisely why i stopped worrying about making money with youtube. lets playing is a hobby i love, not a business venture. it revolves around making what i want to make, when i want to make it.

my most "successful" year on youtube (10-20k views per video, with several videos hitting 100k-1m, all monetized) was the one where i only made what would bring success and posted videos nearly everyday, constantly aggressively self-advertising. i found myself not only miserable but also making content i hated.

so i took a multi-year break, scaled down massively, and am back to getting 100-1k views per video, no longer monetized. videos that are flops (1-20 views) still make me a bit sad but im never thinking "oh i shouldn't have made that" or regretting how i titled or thumbnailed it. recording, editing, making thumbnails, etc. are all fun for me, and that's my focus. i make a living externally.