I struggle with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Impostor syndrome, writer's block, and burnout are my constant companions.
Here are 9 things I do to overcome them & create (even when times get rough):
Impostor syndrome, writer's block, and burnout are my constant companions.
Here are 9 things I do to overcome them & create (even when times get rough):
Before we go any further:
This thread doesn't contain any medical advice.
And anxiety is a medical condition.
If you feel challenged by constant fear and worry – please consult a professional.
Now, let's get to the tips:
This thread doesn't contain any medical advice.
And anxiety is a medical condition.
If you feel challenged by constant fear and worry – please consult a professional.
Now, let's get to the tips:
đź”» IMPOSTOR SYNDROME đź”»
Impostor syndrome works in cycles.
First, you feel like a fraud. So, you push to deliver perfect quality work every time.
Then, you usually succeed.
And then – you begin to believe all the stress and self-torture were worth it.
Here's how I broke this pattern:
First, you feel like a fraud. So, you push to deliver perfect quality work every time.
Then, you usually succeed.
And then – you begin to believe all the stress and self-torture were worth it.
Here's how I broke this pattern:
1/ Self-reflection
I sat down with a piece of paper and a pen
And got brutally honest with myself:
• What am I good and bad at?
• What progress I made in the last 6 months?
• What can I improve?
Those 3 questions help me see my progress and clarify the next steps.
Also:
I sat down with a piece of paper and a pen
And got brutally honest with myself:
• What am I good and bad at?
• What progress I made in the last 6 months?
• What can I improve?
Those 3 questions help me see my progress and clarify the next steps.
Also:
2/ Supervision
Working alone 24/7 isn’t for me.
That’s why I love talking about my experiences with:
• mentors
• fellow creators
There’s nothing more supportive than a few warm words from a person who’s been where you are.
Working alone 24/7 isn’t for me.
That’s why I love talking about my experiences with:
• mentors
• fellow creators
There’s nothing more supportive than a few warm words from a person who’s been where you are.
3/ Setting boundaries
Impostor syndrome makes us strive to do perfect all the time.
We know it’s impossible.
But we’re still spending 10 hrs to finish the 1st draft.
To break this cycle:
Impostor syndrome makes us strive to do perfect all the time.
We know it’s impossible.
But we’re still spending 10 hrs to finish the 1st draft.
To break this cycle:
Set solid boundaries with yourself.
Instead of spending 10 hrs on a task, cut yourself off at 8.
Spoiler alert:
Usually your work won’t get any better in the remaining 2 hrs.
Okay, time for:
Instead of spending 10 hrs on a task, cut yourself off at 8.
Spoiler alert:
Usually your work won’t get any better in the remaining 2 hrs.
Okay, time for:
🔻 WRITER’S BLOCK 🔻
It’s a scary one, ay?
Not really.
If you know a couple of tricks, of course:
Not really.
If you know a couple of tricks, of course:
4/ Write an outline
To overcome writer’s block fill out the blank page with anything as soon as possible.
And there’s nothing better to do this job than a good outline.
Jot down main points you want to talk about in your writing.
Then, watch how the content writes itself!
To overcome writer’s block fill out the blank page with anything as soon as possible.
And there’s nothing better to do this job than a good outline.
Jot down main points you want to talk about in your writing.
Then, watch how the content writes itself!
5/ Write about your anger
Got annoyed with writer’s block?
Let it all go on paper.
Or maybe something else made you upset?
Write it down asap.
Get those fingers moving on the keyboard and let your brain go in the “writing mode” effortlessly.
Got annoyed with writer’s block?
Let it all go on paper.
Or maybe something else made you upset?
Write it down asap.
Get those fingers moving on the keyboard and let your brain go in the “writing mode” effortlessly.
6/ Write to an imaginary friend
Seems stupid, I know.
But stay with me:
Doing something unexpected is great to “reset” your creativity.
So, have a full convo with your new buddy. Give them a name, a character, and a nice outfit.
Let’s get the creative juices flowing!
Seems stupid, I know.
But stay with me:
Doing something unexpected is great to “reset” your creativity.
So, have a full convo with your new buddy. Give them a name, a character, and a nice outfit.
Let’s get the creative juices flowing!
đź”» BURNOUT đź”»
I got burned out for the 1st time right after high school.
Yep. Crazy.
And too long of a story to tell you now.
But since then I had to learn how to recover from it.
Here’s all I do to beat burnout before the flame gets too hot:
Yep. Crazy.
And too long of a story to tell you now.
But since then I had to learn how to recover from it.
Here’s all I do to beat burnout before the flame gets too hot:
7/ Slow mornings
I usually get burned out when I feel my life is rushing faster than I can comprehend.
So, I make myself slow down, especially in the mornings:
• Eat nutritious breakfast.
• Take care of your skin.
• Meditate.
Those help me get back behind the wheel.
I usually get burned out when I feel my life is rushing faster than I can comprehend.
So, I make myself slow down, especially in the mornings:
• Eat nutritious breakfast.
• Take care of your skin.
• Meditate.
Those help me get back behind the wheel.
8/ Simple pleasures
Aiming for late gratification sounds cool.
But if I focus solely on that, it makes me frustrated.
So, instead of delaying gratification endlessly – I give myself small rewards every day:
Aiming for late gratification sounds cool.
But if I focus solely on that, it makes me frustrated.
So, instead of delaying gratification endlessly – I give myself small rewards every day:
• Wrote a blog post? Put on your favorite show and chill.
• Landed a client? Call someone close to you and share your excitement.
• Crossed a milestone on Twitter? Bake cookies.
You deserve a treat.
• Landed a client? Call someone close to you and share your excitement.
• Crossed a milestone on Twitter? Bake cookies.
You deserve a treat.
9/ Support
I struggled a lot when I tried to be a 1-man-army.
Turns out — my family was excited to help!
For a couple of weeks, my boyfriend’s been helping me with all the paperwork having a business requires.
Now, I’m less worried, and we have more time for our life.
I struggled a lot when I tried to be a 1-man-army.
Turns out — my family was excited to help!
For a couple of weeks, my boyfriend’s been helping me with all the paperwork having a business requires.
Now, I’m less worried, and we have more time for our life.
TLDR: Anxiety & creation — dealing with demons:
IMPOSTOR SYNDROME:
1/ Self-reflection
2/ Supervision
3/ Setting boundaries
WRITER’S BLOCK:
4/ Write an outline
5/ Write about your anger
6/ Write to an imaginary friend
BURNOUT:
7/ Slow mornings
8/ Simple pleasures
9/ Support
IMPOSTOR SYNDROME:
1/ Self-reflection
2/ Supervision
3/ Setting boundaries
WRITER’S BLOCK:
4/ Write an outline
5/ Write about your anger
6/ Write to an imaginary friend
BURNOUT:
7/ Slow mornings
8/ Simple pleasures
9/ Support
That's a wrap!
Follow me @contentkuba for more stories about making creative process work for you, not against you.
And if you liked the thread, RT the tweet below to help me reach more eyes:
Follow me @contentkuba for more stories about making creative process work for you, not against you.
And if you liked the thread, RT the tweet below to help me reach more eyes:
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