Tips for Overcoming Anxiety as a Streamer

Going live on Twitch, YouTube, and other platforms may seem effortless to some, but for others, anxiety can kick our behinds like a big boss fight before we even press the button go start our streams. However, it doesn’t have to.

Whether it’s worrying about your game choice, how you look and sound, if the chat will be silent, or if anyone will even show up—the moments leading up to going live can induce anxiety for some. Especially for newer streamers, and those who are actively pursuing monetization, the pre-stream jitters can be a lot.

Chasing your dreams as a streamer can induce anxiety for a number of reasons. Here’s a few:

Choice of video game, and if anyone else will enjoy what you do
Fear of judgment
Comparison to other streamers and content creators
Low viewer numbers
Lack of energy or burnout
Worrying you’re not “entertaining enough”

Your feelings are valid. What matters is how you deal with your negative emotions without letting them be a hindrance in your growth and progress as a streamer. Don’t worry because a bit of help is on the way!

Pre-Stream Grounding Routine

Here’s a few suggestions to help get you in a better mindset so you can show up for yourself as a streamer and rock it. Give these a go before you go live again. Bookmark these or print them out.

Box Breathing (4-4-4-4 Method)

Inhale for 4 seconds
Hold for 4 seconds
Exhale for 4 seconds
Hold for 4 seconds
Repeat for 4 rounds.

This helpful breathing exercise aids in regulating your nervous system, it clears your mind, and slows your heart rate so you can enter your stream calm and focused before you go live. It’s also helpful when you feel those negative emotions build up during a stream—especially if rage quitting is a problem. I have a blog about that, too. Check out at How Rage Quitting Affects Your Mental Health and Gaming Skills

Let your viewers know that you will take a brief break to stretch and use the restroom. Recenter, pee, and get back in the game. You are bigger, better, and braver than your thoughts and feelings. Get a hold on them before they get a hold on you.

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Positive Affirmations for Streamers

Reciting affirmations help to reprogram the subconscious. Even when you don’t believe them at first, the more that you focus and recite them, the more you begin to believe them. It also does wonders for your confidence and self-esteem over time.

Another thing about positive affirmations is that speaking, writing, thinking, and feeling as if something is so not only shifts your mindset to a more positive one, but it sends the energy out to manifest it. The Universe begins to create what you believe is so, provided that you not only believe but show up for yourself and do the work.

After your breathwork, read or say your chosen affirmations aloud. Keep them in a journal, near your desk, or saved to your devices. Give yourself a moment, and focus on them, and get into a positive mindset. Your viewers will notice when you are more positive and in a better headspace. I’ve even included some affirmations for streamers at the end of this post to help get you started.

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Shift Your Focus

Don’t focus on the output and end results as much as focusing on the input. Enjoying the work that you put into growing as a streamer and reaching your goals versus expecting a certain outcome. It makes it more enjoyable and less like work. It also helps to keep you from disappointment when things don’t always go how you expected. It happens. How you handle it is what matters.

Don’t stress over the numbers, not having many chatters, tech issues or how many people showed up. What matters is that you showed up and gave it a go. It’s gaming. Have fun and keep going!

Put yourself out there, promote, engage with others, and know that you will get better and be better, and you are already doing your best. Your tribe will find you if you make yourself able to be found. So hit that Go Live button and enjoy the stream for yourself. Your joy will shine through.

You don’t have to be super hype and have a packed house to have a good time. Some of my stream with lower viewers have been more financially profitable than a packed house. Some of my chill streams where I’m playing something cozy and not that popular brought me more viewers than anticipated. Some days were absolute rubbish with the numbers, but I didn’t let it get to me because we still had fun. It was still steps in the right direction. Balance.

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Streaming is a journey and not a race. Some days it flows like the rivers in Red Dead Redemption 2, while others stutter like an old clunker with a check engine light. Just know that you are stepping into your own bravery and confidence as a streamer each time you “hop on” regardless of the outcome. That deserves a round of applause and to be celebrated even on the days that we have to cheer for ourselves.

Keep showing up as yourself in the way that you choose. Play what you enjoy and what your viewers enjoy. You’ve already done something incredibly brave because streaming requires a level of vulnerability that people don’t realize. Keep going. I’m rooting for ya! Feel free to drop your username in the comments below and make sure to include what platform that you stream on.

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Affirmations for Going Live When You’re Anxious

I am grounded, centered, and calm as I prepare to have fun with my audience on stream.
I choose to focus on the fun and excitement of streaming what I enjoy, and interacting with my viewers.
My authentic self is enough, and my viewers appreciate me for who I am.
I have prepared, and I am ready to share my passion with my community.
I am focused on the fun and the positive connections I will make as I stream.
This feeling will pass, and I will feel a sense of accomplishment afterward.
I am brave and I can move through this feeling to connect with my audience.
I trust in my ability to show up, be present, and have fun as I stream.
I enjoy my streaming experience and so do my viewers.
I am capable and ready to share my authentic self while streaming what I enjoy.

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Affirmations for Streaming with Low Numbers:

Each person who joins my stream is a valued member of my growing community.
Meaningful connections and enjoyment for me and my viewers happen regardless of numbers.
My unique content resonates with the right audience as my community grows.
I am building a strong foundation of community who enjoy and support what I do.
I focus on creating engaging content for those who are present.
My passion for streaming is the driving force behind what I do.
I appreciate the support of every single viewer that shows up to my stream.
My worth as a streamer is not defined by the number of viewers I have at any given moment.
I continue to show up consistently and share my authentic self as a streamer.
Every stream is an opportunity to learn, grow and improve.
This is my space to connect with those who enjoy and appreciate my content.
My audience grows as I continue to create, learn, and put in the work needed to grow as a streamer.
I am grateful for the opportunity to share my passion with likeminded individuals, regardless of the current numbers.
I always show up for myself in everything that I do.

I stream, too as @joycutitout! I’d love to have ya there! Give me a follow and let me know that you came from the blog! twitch.tv/furycutitout

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