After I discovered Steemit last week and tried it out the last days I was pretty excited. I spent hours researching, writing, commenting, upvoting. How awesome that I can be rewarded for writing stuff that I wanted to write about anyway; that I can help building this new community and platform. It provides a nice extra motivation to finally take action, rather than merely collecting ideas in my head and on my computer, or just sharing them with a few select people.
On the flipside, I also discovered that Steemit is quite conducive to creating information overload, overstimulation and overexcitement. There is so much information and there is always the promise of reward for creating, commenting, curating, socializing, researching and so on. I'm sure I am not the only one who easily feels stressed out by that.
Right now I am working on strategies to make sure Steemit is a positive and sustainable experience for me, perhaps they are helpful to you as well:
The simplest, and still quite effective, strategy might be taking a break. Even if it's very short - just close your eyes while sitting in front of your computer and taking a few deep breaths. Get up and stretch yourself, walk to the window and back. That by itself can serve to make yourself a bit more centered.
Sometimes a longer break is needed, like going for a walk. Or if there is more excess energy, doing a bit of excercise, for example running around the block might be good idea - directing your energy from your head into your legs.
When you begin to feel too burned out to recover even with a break, it might be best to decide to quit Steemit for today, or even for this week.
At times, being willing to take a break itself can be the challenge. For that it's useful to learn to clearly say "No!" to unhealthy patterns. We can't simply control how we feel, but we don't have to be submissive to patterns of thought and emotion that keep us in a cycle of stress. It doesn't have to be forceful and incite inner conflict - it can be a calm assertion of your our own free will and emotional independence.
I can just close Steemit, right now and do something else. That's my decision.
Another strategy is time-limits. For example I made it a goal to not use Steemit - or do steem related activities- after 22:00. So far I've not been completely successful, but I try to make that into a rule for myself from now on.
Apart from specific strategies, I believe it's important focus on the right aspects of the Steemit experience. Focusing on the money-making or "achievement" aspect of it might invoke feelings of overambition, inadequacy, or even greed.
Focusing more on self-expression, on building genuine social connection and new skills, on the freedom of working when and how we want to can lead to feelings of self-empowerment and satisfaction.
It's crucial to believe that we can contribute something truly worthwhile, not just extract money from the system.
Despite my challenges, my first days of Steemit did provide me with a new source of meaning in my life, and opened up a lot of new possibilities. As long as that isn't lost I will keep being active here, with a time off now and then. I'll continue to take a close look at my patterns of behaviour, and be mindful of my feelings and thoughts when it comes to Steemit.
Have you had experiences with "Steemit stress"? How do you deal with it?
(Pictures from Pixabay)