Social media can be a great tool for artists, but it also has its downsides. The temptation to compare yourself to others and feel overwhelmed by other people’s success can be overwhelming if you’re not careful. Here are some ways to combat these feelings:
Introduction
Social media can be a great tool for artists, but it also has its downsides. The temptation to compare yourself to others and feel overwhelmed by other people’s success can be overwhelming if you’re not careful. Here are some ways to combat these feelings:
Recognize your stress.
You are stressed.
You probably didn’t even realize it, but you’ve been feeling some kind of way for a while now. You’re tired and overwhelmed by everything in your life that needs to get done, and it’s making you feel like an artist again–or maybe even less than an artist because you can’t seem to get anything done right now.
This is normal! Everyone feels this way sometimes (except maybe those who have no cares or responsibilities). The key is recognizing what’s causing the stress so that we can take steps towards getting rid of it and feeling better again!
Don’t compare yourself to others.
You will never be able to make something better than your favorite artist. You will never be able to outdo someone who has been doing it longer and better than you. The only thing that matters is that you keep trying, and if it’s not working, try something else!
Don’t compare yourself to others’ work or even your past self. Just focus on making art that means something to YOU!
Set limits for yourself in terms of time and content.
It’s easy to get sucked into the black hole that is social media, so make sure that you’re setting appropriate limits for how long you spend on it every day. If necessary, set a timer on your phone to remind yourself when it’s time to get off the app and do something else! Set limits for yourself in terms of time and content.
Be mindful of how many posts/accounts are being followed by those around us, especially if we’re spending too much time looking at our phones throughout the day or night (or both). For example: I’ve noticed that there are certain times where I’m more likely to check my phone than others–like after dinner or before bedtime–and this makes me wonder why exactly? Is there something about these times specifically that makes me feel compelled towards checking out Instagram again? Am I looking forward to seeing what everyone else has been up to lately by doing so? Or am I simply bored with nothing else better going on? If so then perhaps now would be a good chance for some self-reflection about why exactly this happens so often among ourselves.
Step away from the screen when you need to.
The best way to not feel overwhelmed as an artist is to take breaks when you need them. Don’t let social media take over your life and make you feel bad about yourself, because in the end, it’s just pixels on a screen.
Take a break and come back during a fresh session.
Take a break from social media for a few hours or even days. You can take as much time off as you need, but make sure that when you come back to your feed, it’s with a renewed sense of purpose and energy. This will help prevent burnout by giving yourself time away from all the noise–and hopefully give yourself some distance from feeling overwhelmed by all the creative output on social media platforms!