How to thrive as an online creator without losing your damn mind

If you’ve been creating on a platform in any corner of the internet, you know how it goes.

One day, you feel like a freakin’ genius. And the next, everything you put out there feels like hot garbage.

As someone who’s been putting my work online since Geocities was a thing (internet dinosaurs, unite!), I can tell you that emotional whiplash is part of the deal.

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But the good news is I’m proof that you can learn to weather that storm without losing your ever-loving mind. And no, it doesn’t require manifesting victory on a vision board or chanting mantras. (Unless that’s your thing. Then, by all means, manifest and chant away.)

Here are the strategies that help keep my head on straight(ish) while surviving the wild, wild west that is putting your work on the internet.

1 | Accept that uncomfortable emotions are part of the process

Putting your work online requires sending little pieces of yourself out into the world where they’ll be subjected to who knows what.

And that’s gonna stir up the emotional pond scum.

Doubt, frustration, fear, and overwhelm are all part of the process.

Instead of shoving those emotions into the mental junk drawer, hit them with curiosity instead.

I like to pretend I’m a fancy-schmancy scientist in a lab coat investigating the fascinating specimen that is my brain.

Our emotions are not the enemy. Sometimes your best work comes from leaning into your discomfort and working out how to channel it in a healthy way.

2 | Redefine rest on your terms

I’m bad at realizing when I need a break. I used to think rest was code for “being lazy.”

“Suck it up and push through” was my motto for far too long, and it worked.

Until it didn’t, and I burned the eff out.

I then spent years drooling into a cup, desperately trying to piece myself together again.

The truth is that rest is essential for doing good work, and it doesn’t have to mean doing nothing. Rest is anything that gives your brain, body, and spirit some space from doing all the things.

For me, it means taking a guilt-free nap at 2 p.m. or playing video games until I stop thinking in bullet points.

Whatever rest looks like for you, take it often and embrace it unapologetically. Because burnout is NOT a badge of honor.

3 | Find an online community that supports you

Whether it’s a Discord group full of dank meme-loving writers, a local meetup of artists, or a 30-day Instagram challenge, engaging with a community reminds you that your work matters.

Somewhere out there, a group of creators is geeking out over the same stuff you are. And finding your folks doesn’t mean joining the first group you find.

Be selective and only hang out in spaces that don’t sand paper your soul. You want a group where people celebrate your wins, encourage your growth, and make you feel energized.

I won’t lie. Finding your people can take some time. But it’s totally worth the effort because surrounding yourself with creators who get it makes the inevitable tough days a heck of a lot more manageable.

4 | Figure out what success means to you

Numbers are seductive little jerks.

How many followers do I have? Wait, did someone UNFOLLOW? Why? When? Where?!

Sure, some data analysis is great for learning what’s working and what isn’t. But the numbers don’t define the value of your work. You get to do that.

Instead of obsessing over metrics, celebrate finishing a project. Appreciate learning something new. Or take pride in sharing something authentic, even if it doesn’t rack up likes.

Before the people who will love your work can find you, you have to trust that what you’re creating is already enough.

5 | Reconnect with what you love about creating

Remember when you started creating? Back when it was just for the thrill of sharing your ideas with the world?

Whatever brought you to that is still there. It just got buried under the pressure of trying to please algorithms and chase deadlines.

When sharing your work online starts feeling like a chore, think about what you’d make even if no one sees it. What projects cause you to look up from your work and realize that hours have passed?

Creating without an agenda feels counterintuitive if you’ve been focusing on the results you want your work to bring.

But it’s so important to let yourself have that time. Because moments of creativity without pressure keep your fire stoked.

Putting your work out there isn’t about having it together 24/7 or smashing every benchmark. If you’re showing up consistently and giving yourself space to experiment and grow, you’re making the right kind of noise.

Future you is totally gonna fist bump past you for that.