Tips for finding time to stream

 Tips for finding time to stream

Streamers face a common challenge shared by professionals across all industries, a shortage of time. The idea of streaming can seem overwhelming when you are already juggling a busy schedule. Both new and established streamers 

struggle to go live as frequently as they’d like. The technology requirements and setup process can be time-consuming and intimidating, and finding extra hours in your day or week to produce quality content may seem impossible. 

You may find yourself preoccupied with an impending work project or a personal engagement that is causing you anxiety. Perhaps you are dealing with a health issue such as a cold, broken leg, or even an eyelash stuck in your eye. When an issue arises it is easy to feel like you can’t start streaming until everything is resolved. However, if you are truly committed to becoming a streamer but find yourself consistently putting it off due to external factors, it’s important to realize that the problem isn’t caused by your job, school, or any other external circumstances.

Your time is your responsibility 

Recognizing the importance of taking full ownership of your time is a fundamental aspect of building a successful stream. As a streamer, you must be both self-motivated and self-reliant because there are no superiors or colleagues to hold you accountable for your actions. The universe doesn’t distinguish between success and failure, but it is imperative that you do. To ensure failure is not an option, you must make streaming a priority. If the idea of streaming dominates your thoughts, and you spend time planning and researching it but struggle to find time to commit to hitting that go-live button, then it’s time to make a change. You have to be willing to prioritize it above other things in life to achieve success. 

Reflecting on what truly matters

If something is an absolute priority, external distractions won’t derail it. It will simply get accomplished. Have you ever noticed that sometimes, after a weekend, you feel as though you accomplished nothing and can’t recollect what you did over the past 48 hours? This demonstrates time spent on an activity that doesn't truly matter. However, during the workweek, even if you claim to have “no time” you can accomplish more during your off-hours than you realize. If something is important and cannot be postponed, you’ll find a way to prioritize it over less critical tasks, such as going to the gym, cleaning the house, browsing social media, or watching TV, even if those tasks take up your entire free time on the weekend. 

Taking responsibility is important if you want to make time for streaming. Accept that life happens, and not everything will go your way. You may face some unexpected setbacks, however, excuses and procrastination won’t get you anywhere. To achieve success as a streamer, setting up equipment and graphics alone is not enough. Actual streaming time should be your top priority, and you must take responsibility for it. Therefore, you must ensure that you dedicate sufficient time to actually stream, and that should take precedence over other activities especially when you are just starting out. 

Embrace Opportunities

You need to follow the same routine whenever you think of something that can benefit your channel. In the moments you find yourself lamenting about the lack of time you have to execute your idea. It is important to remind yourself of this mantra “you will never have more time than you do right now”. This powerful statement motivates me to find time and get tasks done, no matter how challenging they seem. This approach is not about making excuses for not having enough time, but rather prioritizing what is important and cutting out unproductive activities from your schedule. You can start by eliminating time wasters such as scrolling through social media, we have all scrolled through endless videos on TikTok or YouTube suddenly realizing hours have gone by. Cutting back on those activities and dedicating that time to working on your stream can make a huge difference. Any time spent on your stream whether it is preparation or being live allows you to create quality content for your followers. So stock up on your favorite snacks and energy drinks and start carving out time for your stream dreams. 

Final Thoughts

Don’t make excuses. You are capable of achieving your goals. I can assure you that you have enough time, but you need to use it more effectively. If streaming is a priority to you, then treat it as such. Don’t wait until you have more free time and don’t consider quitting your job if you believe that is the only way to get more time. Instead, take action and put in the work. I approach streaming as an assignment that I need to complete. Despite being busy, I am also happier because I am doing something I enjoy. The reward I get from streaming is worth the effort I put in, and it has taken a lot of hard work to get to this point.  You have to push past your mental barriers to reach that point. The time you need to stream is already available, you just need to take responsibility and seize it.