Avoiding Content Creator Burnout: A Complete Guide

It is so incredibly easy to face burnout as a content creator, but especially as a spicy content creator.

A fairly wonderful article I read a long while back during research for the podcast episode Pricing Tips Throughout Your Spicy Business had a fairly decent quote mentioning a couple of the reasons we are so susceptible to burnout as content creators:

I wonder if she’ll be able to unwind in front of an episode of First Dates or whether she’ll find it too difficult, given that she’s sitting in the same place she edits and uploads her videos. After a long day, it’s hard to say whether she’ll be able to cloud out the noise in her brain, the one that permanently commands her.

As spicy content creators we tend to work from the exact same space we are supposed to wind down and end our day. Turning off in the exact same environment we are expected to be at full force in can feel impossible. I know I personally struggle with that daily.  We are expected to consistently be producing content, conversing and interacting with our audience, and at full creative and promotional force, all day and everyday. And as we all know, taking days off can not only put our careers in a small dip for a day or two, but that guilt we face is ruthless.  I face that too believe me. Any time I take a day off, I assume it will take one-two days to see sales pick back up to where they were. I also battle with myself to silence that guilt, because taking days off in this career means no income, or engagement for that day. It can be hard to decide health has to come before financial safety/comfort. I have introduced a bit of a mantra for myself when that guilt starts to creep in:

The income/traction you lose from taking one day off is significantly less than the income/traction you will lose from having to take X days off to recover from burnout.

Lets break down burnout

This is what it can look like in any career field:

Those are all symptoms of both the beginnings of burnout, and are also prevalent, though worse, when fully burnt.

So now we have the generic signs and symptoms to watch for

What are some that are more specific to creators?

These are the signs I really want y’all to watch out for, along with the previous more generalized symptoms.

So, how do content creators avoid burn out while still maintaining our careers?

Here are some practices to try:

If you are experiencing burnout symptoms

please consider putting into practice some if not all of the following:

Lets talk resources:

After you have taken all of the above steps, rested, relaxed, and reached out to those close to you, if you are not getting better, it is time for professional help. There is absolutely ZERO shame in reaching out when needed. I am bipolar so I have been in and will continue to go through professional mental health services and I will advocate for everyone doing so until my time comes. But, where do we even turn? Not all psychologists/clinics/general practitioners are SW friendly. In fact, many are not. But, when you are facing mental health complications that are a direct result of SW, you need to be able to have someone understanding and judgement free to talk to. I did my best to find as many resources to reach out to as I could.

Pineapple Support

• This is a organization DEDICATED to providing free or low cost therapeutic services to those who have been adult content creators in the last six months. Please click the link above to apply for therapy services.
• I personally have used their program and love it.
• They also provide weekly support groups. Connecting, bonding and healing with those who are facing the same stuggle you are is beyond helpful. It can help you gain new insight and grow new coping methods. Please click here to apply.

Sex Workers Outreach Program

• This is a more USA based organization dedicated to providing resources, education and support to sex workers. They have resources ranging from self-care, to internet safety, to outreach support available.
• Their community support line is staffed by volunteers trained in rape and crisis counseling. That help can be accessed by calling here: 877-776-2004
• They created a PDF checklist for us to go through to help find a SW positive and affirmative therapist. Please access that here.

Mental Health Emergency Hotlines and Resources

I genuinely pray you never, ever need to click a single one of these links. But, I wanted to make sure they are known and available to everyone.

• International suicide hotlines list
• Lifeline Crisis Chat– Online chatting
• Crisis Text Line: Text “START” TO 741-741
• SWOP USA Support Line: 877-776-2004
• International Crisis Hotlines and Resources– listed by Pineapple Support

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional nor psychologist. Please consult with professionals for any serious medical decisions.