HappinessAndHealthGains
Well-Known Member
Hi everyone! This post might be a little long, but I would love to hear from you guys, especially if you struggle with perfectionism.
It's been a few months since I was active on here or YouTube. A little backstory as to why, I have been taking a graduate level course while I'm getting my undergraduate degree and it has had me so busy and overwhelmed. Also, a week before the spring semester ended I injured my neck and had to take incompletes, so I've had to focus on making that work up in addition to taking summer courses and my internship.
Mostly I have just been too busy to make content, but I also started recognizing that I have a lot of anxiety about making videos and so I'm putting off getting back onto YouTube. The problem is that I am a perfectionist and when I started making videos originally, I was trying to avoid that. So, I spent extra time learning to edit and make my videos look more polished. I think YouTubers got in my head because I was trying to follow all the advice I heard (i.e., not using filler words, editing out any awkward silence, always smiling and keeping energy up, etc.).
I kind of got myself into a pickle though because I didn't allow myself to go through a publicly awkward phase, and I believe that really hindered my growth with finding my voice. When I was making my videos it was taking me 2-4 weeks per video and I know that it's not plausible to really see growth if it's taking me so long.
I made an Instagram post yesterday acknowledging why I've been away and mentioned that there will likely be some differences in my videos when I start back up. I'm going to try and not be so perfect, and allow more awkwardness through, as well as create shorter videos. My question is what advice do you have for making it through this phase, or at least accepting being awkward? I've started making video diaries each morning to start practice getting more comfortable with not being perfect, but if anyone had other advice I would appreciate hearing it. Thank you!
It's been a few months since I was active on here or YouTube. A little backstory as to why, I have been taking a graduate level course while I'm getting my undergraduate degree and it has had me so busy and overwhelmed. Also, a week before the spring semester ended I injured my neck and had to take incompletes, so I've had to focus on making that work up in addition to taking summer courses and my internship.
Mostly I have just been too busy to make content, but I also started recognizing that I have a lot of anxiety about making videos and so I'm putting off getting back onto YouTube. The problem is that I am a perfectionist and when I started making videos originally, I was trying to avoid that. So, I spent extra time learning to edit and make my videos look more polished. I think YouTubers got in my head because I was trying to follow all the advice I heard (i.e., not using filler words, editing out any awkward silence, always smiling and keeping energy up, etc.).
I kind of got myself into a pickle though because I didn't allow myself to go through a publicly awkward phase, and I believe that really hindered my growth with finding my voice. When I was making my videos it was taking me 2-4 weeks per video and I know that it's not plausible to really see growth if it's taking me so long.
I made an Instagram post yesterday acknowledging why I've been away and mentioned that there will likely be some differences in my videos when I start back up. I'm going to try and not be so perfect, and allow more awkwardness through, as well as create shorter videos. My question is what advice do you have for making it through this phase, or at least accepting being awkward? I've started making video diaries each morning to start practice getting more comfortable with not being perfect, but if anyone had other advice I would appreciate hearing it. Thank you!