Regaining momentum: Getting back on track

 Regaining momentum: Getting back on track

Being a streamer often leads us astray. Our passion for what we do can send us staggering off track, accumulating new stream features and practices like a collector with Pokémon cards. As new ideas take hold, the old ones, even if they were beneficial, fall by the wayside. They lose their sparkle, and we forget to maintain them.

In our previous entry, titled "Simplifying Your Streams," we emphasized the importance of pausing to evaluate what truly matters on your channel and what needs to be scaled back. However, as enthusiastic streamers, we tend to leap from one new grand idea to the next, acquiring half-formed habits much like collecting unnecessary channel add-ons.

Perhaps you once diligently used a calendar to organize your streams, but lately, your schedule has become chaotic. Maybe you experimented with a new chat engagement style, but the results didn't meet your expectations. It's even possible that you've taken a break from streaming altogether. These are all common occurrences, nothing to agonize over. Yet, if you aspire to progress, you must acknowledge the need for change.

Equally crucial to discarding outdated stream concepts is the routine self-assessment needed to sustain the positive habits you've attempted to create. Within this piece, our attention will be directed toward those stream habits that present the greatest challenges, guiding us to steer you back on the path to success.

Accountability

Are you keeping track of the challenges you encounter during your streams? And if you are, are you addressing them? It's essential not to rely solely on spur-of-the-moment solutions, as they depend on inspiration, which can be inconsistent. Instead, consider documenting these issues and revisiting them at scheduled intervals. To learn more about optimizing your problem-solving approach, refer to the article "Increasing your stream’s impact by making changes."

Have you established a calendar for yourself? If so, are you still actively checking and updating it daily? Or do you find that, despite having a calendar, your days slip away and time escapes you? A calendar truly becomes effective when it contains the majority of your daily activities, prompting you to consult it regularly. I've seen my use of the phrase "Let me check my calendar" evolve from an ironic jest to an indispensable step when making plans. Every aspect of my day is in that calendar, providing me with a comprehensive view to ensure nothing falls through the cracks. To learn more about the importance of maintaining a calendar, refer to the article "Develop a consistent streaming habit."

In my experience, the easiest habits to lose track of are tasks that involve behind-the-scenes actions, like logging channel issues, maintaining a calendar, and reviewing your past streams for quality control.  Initially, these tasks may feel like work and are less appealing to associate with streaming. However, as you've likely gathered from following The Streamer Framework up to this point, staying on top of these structured tasks has proven to be immensely beneficial. They not only ensure you never miss a stream but also contribute to the constant enhancement of your channel. Instead of considering the time taken away from streaming, view them as tools that empower you to do more of what you love.

Maintaining Professionalism

Streaming can take a toll on your mental health, leading to negative associations and even a diminished desire to engage in what you love. Do you find that the setup process for your show becomes a source of frustration? It might involve too many intricate steps, hindering your content creation. In the "Crafting a Pre-stream Checklist" guide, we explored methods to streamline, shorten, or eliminate pre-stream procedures to enhance your overall efficiency.

Have changes in your surroundings left you struggling to muster motivation and energy? While the world may have evolved, the challenges of streaming remain consistent, It doesn't necessarily get easier, but it hasn't become more difficult either. 

Cultivating the ideal community is a significant challenge and in our quest for increased views and followers, it is tempting to compromise our core values. Is your chat aligning with the standards you've set for your channel? Several entries delve into this subject. "Why are people watching?" explores the motivations of viewers joining your streams. "Chat: A Reflection of Yourself" delves into establishing and enforcing chat rules. "Maximizing success through positive streaming" focuses on presenting your best self. For dealing with disruptive elements, "Addressing Negativity in Chat" and "Establishing Boundaries for Your Stream" provide strategies to address disruptors. If your community emits vibes that don't align with your vision, remember that you have the power to shape and mold it into something you're proud of. Taking active steps and standing behind your decisions are key to conveying your commitment.

Final Thoughts

Now that The Streamer Framework has been around for about a year and if you have followed along, your channel has probably changed a lot since you began. Some of the strategies we have shared may have proven beneficial to you, while others might not have resonated as well. It is important to know, that what works for my channel may not necessarily apply to yours, and it's essential to maintain this perspective.

In certain instances, it might not have been the advice itself that didn't yield results, but perhaps your habits. You might have abandoned a practice prematurely before it had the chance to fully integrate and become a natural part of your streaming routine. If you were to revisit all previous entries, you would likely perceive them differently now because you have gained experience.

As streamers, we are in a constant state of evolution. Periodically, it's crucial to look back at our progress and assess where we may have deviated from our intended path. We don't need to be perfect, but we must be willing to realign ourselves when necessary and continue our journey forward.