Three Tiny Mindset Changes That Improved My Mental Health As A Creator

My old ways of thinking made me burn out.

Looking at numbers made my head hurt.

There comes a time in every creator’s life when numbers hurt rather than motivate. You rant. You take breaks more often. I now even appreciate the structure of the 9–5 lifestyle.

But if you don’t plan to return to the corporate world. Plus, freelance work and the associated platforms are affecting your mental health. Here’s what you can do differently to love being a boss again.

It only takes a minute to see your situation in a fresh light. Consider thinking about your everyday metrics in these new ways.

One is a good number.

People talk about the follow-for-follow trend plenty. Many don’t like it when you follow them, they follow you back, and then you unfollow. People hate fake reads. And leaving one clap annoys several writers.

The annoyance is so great. There are articles written to inform people they can clap more than once.

I like Tom Kuegler’s optimism about the number one. He says we should be grateful one person took the time to read our piece. One is more than zero. And it sure beats crickets. It also means that the person does not want to be anonymous. They want to show up in your notifications.

Reach out to the person and make a connection. Rather than ignore them or rant about low engagement. Become memorable — because you replied or interacted with their content. Make a good impression, so they search and look out for your content.

Good things happen when you appreciate being further away from zero.

The tiny metric that messes with our heads

When you are a writer, you care if people see your work. Views mean a lot to me. Yet, reads matter more for your bank account.

Views are a trap. The escape is monetization.

If you check your insights often, scroll past the numbers in the biggest font fast. Look at the bottom numbers in the fine print. These are the ones that mean the most to your goals — read times, website clicks, and conversion rates. It helps you fight off distractions and depression.

Critical figures are a challenge to grow.

But when they move. You have a greater motivation to do more than keep going. It drives you to act smarter through automation. You don’t mind much if a piece of content flops or goes viral. The more I ignore billboard numbers, the more motivated I am — because I am achieving my main goals.

Like you, I still have a weakness for numbers. This habit is a strength when I look at numbers that align with my goals.

Go from “how can this piece go viral” to “how will this piece help me achieve my goal” and you will publish more. Why is publishing more a natural result?

• You get motivated to achieve your goals.
• You search for secrets less and give time to creating.

Allow the change to happen.

Decide to read the fine-print metrics.

Numbers are the worst way to visualize your online community

Abstract visualization is not only bad for marketing. It also hurts your motivation. A dollar bill on the sidewalk means nothing if you don’t think about buying an item with it.

It is sad we need to meet a specific member number to join platforms these days. When you think about people as numbers, it gives you a thrill. You’re finally a cool kid. I remember the joy of watching the numbers climb to 100. Now, I have to wait for the payment partnership review. It’s a 30-day wait period. I have lost the eagerness to publish. But with a new purpose, I am sure the enthusiasm will return.

When I have an empty motivator like a specific follower count, I burn out because the goal is meaningless.

• You work yourself to ash because you think of it as a sprint.
• You become bored after meeting the goal because nothing is driving your effort.

You may not know the purpose of your actions, but your success depends on your goals. Create a few. Achieve them, celebrate, and move the goalposts further down the line.

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