I struggle a lot with creating content.
Coming up with ideas are rarely the issue.
In fact, sometimes the ideas free flow like a waterfall at the oddest of hours(mainly when I’m trying to sleep at night. Go figure.) that I actually get excited to execute them.
The main obstacle is my constant need to “perfect” my content.
Back in 2017/2018, content creation on steemit was how I survived for a good 5-6 months. I started off with blog posts and then transitioned into podcasting for the most of that 6 months duration.
It was difficult and challenging to create content on a daily basis but getting paid per post was a strong motivator.
Eventually making a living as a content creator and getting paid in crypto currency stopped being a realistic option.
It was back to a “real” job for me.
Even though occupied with my new job I always thought I would still be creating content on the side. After all, it had been my life for more than a year.
But I soon realised that after I was done with my day job there wasn’t much time left for much of anything else.
Long story short, I just stopped creating any sort of content all together.
Early in 2020 when I found out that most steemit content creators migrated to hive, I decided that to do the same and get active again.
I managed to write a total number of 2 posts before unofficially calling it quits again.
After all these months, I feel like I know what the problem is.
I care about my posts too much.
This isn’t to say that others don’t. But I personally feel that each post drains me mentally.
The opening of a blog post can cost me a good amount of time with my mind going back and forth with it.
It’s not like I’m writing the next big
Stephen King novel but somehow subconsciously there’s a need to try and put my best foot forward every single time. Almost like there’s a guilt if I don’t.
And it just feels like I don’t have the energy for it anymore.
If we could always put our full effort into something and make it the best that we can every single time. That would be ideal.
As far as I know, there are two schools of thoughts when it comes to content creation.
One being that you create only the best and highest quality content that you can even if it takes a longer time to produce.
The second one is that you create as many pieces of content and as frequent as possible while not fretting over trying to perfect it.
I understand that there are no hard rules about creating content and that everyone is free to create content as they see fit.
It’s just that my brain can’t help but always try to uphold a certain standard. A standard that if I don’t achieve will then make me very unhappy with my post.
Well I’m going to give content creation another go.
And this time around I will not be aiming for “perfection” but for honesty.
From my understanding, creating content is about speaking your truth. It’s about self expression. And while self expression sometimes can be hard and challenging it should also be something that you enjoy.
I don’t want to try and create the perfect post but I do want to learn to express myself and speak my truth.
So here’s hoping that this approach is sustainable.