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Struggling to get on cam
I've been struggling to get on cam all day today. I've not cammed for the past couple of days because of my period, and I'm also going back onto meds that make me soooo lethargic during the adjustment period. I'm all set up, I've done my makeup, got my playlist running, but all I want to do is lie in bed and watch Netflix.
It's really frustrating because I'm trying to increase my hours up to at least 25/week, and currently I'm only managing 8 or 9 a week. I'm trying to save money for university, and to pay off debts etc. and i've been trying to think about those things to motivate me, but if anything I feel like they stress me out...
Any advice? Should I just write today off and try to work more tomorrow?
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
I would take today off because you're already in a funk but for sure work tomorrow or this will turn into days, weeks of not working. We've all been there. Stop the pattern of self-sabotage.
The feeling of not wanting to work will always be there but turning your cam on is a decision. Mind over matter!
#noexcuses #stepyourpussyup
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
I don't have much advice to offer but I know how it feels. I used to struggle a lot when it came to going into the strip club to work. I mean it was bad. I would just stay home, cry and throw myself a pity party. Or if I was at work I'd sit in the dressing room for a while. Nothing could motivate me really. All I could think about was all of my bills stressing me out. And on top of that I was barely getting any sleep. I felt like a zombie. I just started camming but so far I'm only able to work super late at night and it's VERY hard to get my ass up when I'm extremely sleepy. Honestly, I haven't been doing it all that much but I'm going to have to start.
Anyway when I finally do work I feel so much better about myself and so much more happy. I know what it's like to write off today and say I'll just do better tomorrow. I've done that way too many times. I wonder how much money I could have made had I worked all of those days. What about just getting on for one or two hours?
But whatever you choose to do good luck, girl! :)
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
Whenever I get into a slump like this I always feel guilty the next day about all the potential money I lost out on to sit around doing basically nothing. Then I feel even more bummed if it's been a couple of days and my placement reflects it. I remember when I first found StripperWeb there was a girl that posted something like, "you can struggle trying to barely get by, or you can struggle trying to make it to the top.. Either way you're struggling.". I wish I could remember who it was. Anyway, this really stuck with me and I remind myself this everytime I don't want to work or need motivation.
Also, you should check out this thread. :)
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
I've been there and it sucks. Try setting a very easy goal for yourself, like logging in for 15 minutes or making X amount of dollars...basically something easy you KNOW you can do. You may find that once you log on and meet your goal that your mood picks up and you're able to stay on longer than you anticipated!
One thing that really helped me was to take a break from my free chat site and focus on Skype shows for a while. Sometimes a change of scenery really makes a difference. You can always film clips or do PSO work if you need a break from cam.
You don't want to push yourself into burnout, so take the time to *really* take good care of yourself. Do some pampering, get a massage, do yoga, take a walk, relax with some friends, whatever makes you feel good inside and out. :)
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
I have been struggling allllllll weekend........ my only days off and mainly the only time I can get on cam, because of one thing or another it has been weeks and weeks since I have cammed...... But I took scarlettbelle;s advice and made a very small goal...
I turned on cam and faced it away from me....ok, ok, not so bad.... put it on pause......go get Ibuprofen for headache.... take off break button--HEY look, it is one off my regs, and another, I put cam on face...look 2 more regs!!!! Then feed is too choppy --like so much they all tell me how bad it is.... I watched a few girls earlier today and they were very choppy too, it was weird.. not like a lag, just like missing frames. I do not know how to fix this from my end if at all. I got on though, it felt good and I am over one of the humps.
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
Get on every day, set small goals with rewards. The longer you're away, the harder it is to get back on. It starts to seem like a bigger deal than it is. If tough love works better, tell your landlord, utility people, pets, and kids that you just don't feel like working. Sound unpleasant? Well, isn't logging on easier than that?
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
The Secrets of Motivation: Issabelle's Trick:
Tell yourself you'll get off when you've made $1.
Anyone can make a dollar.
After that, well, you're online and you've made money, so you may as well stay. :)
The end.
Great novel, right?
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
This is the story of my life. I also read the same quote mentioned above and it's true---do you want to barely make it or FEEL SO MUCH BETTER to just do it? How awesome of a job is it to just get on the internet and get naked? We know it's much more than that, but sometimes you gotta fake it till you make it!
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
It helps to be on a hustle making good steady pay and sometimes different woman have charms about them that just sell! I had to double take checking my account after making $479 dollars in 3 days, I almost choked! I also suffer from something very similar to what you described and it is more of a condition that I have been in the process of healing. It is similar to when you catch the flu, have the weakness and energy zap like being dehydrated. Waking up I think is by far the hardest challenge and I believe I have a suspicion of what medication you are talking about..nothing specific. It can cause you to become super lethargic in getting the day going, moving out of bed and on with your day. (Like someone attached weights to your ankles. I took sertraline for half a year and I cannot tell you how lazy I became..it was scary when I had 0 energy to clean! I suggest being on bed rest till the startup passes. The side effects can be annoying.) Try drinking strong herbal Chinese hot tea as it does wonders at waking you up unlike the after math of coffee..I find. Wake up a couple of hours before hand and listen to music you love on good volume, turn bright lights on to wake your body up, drink tea/coffee, get yourself pumped up to get on cam! I find looking at other models and studying their behavior on cam along with the viewers dropping and rising helps give an idea of what they do that attracts their customers. I am not suggesting you copy everything a model may do, but it helps to hear the token sound which can get you pretty excited to work.
I was placed on a Boost emergency diet as there are days were the illness can cause an eating deficiency, so be sure to eat in the morning if you can and ask about getting a script for Ondansetron for nausea in case of sudden spells that are too much to handle, its nice to have it nearby!
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
I recently read (or part read) The Now Habit by Neil Fiore. It's a motivational book which I don't normally go for but it's also a strategy book really on how (practically) to actually get on with things rather than just how to feel about things. I confess I found a free version online.
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
Oh, and my other tip is open the curtains. Like, immediately when you wake up. It's amazing how different your body feels when sunlight hits it, even if you don't have the energy to actually go outside.
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
Here are some quotes/advice I've saved from reddit & other forums. They help me a lot, hopefully they'll help you too! edit: They may not all apply to what you're going through but perhaps they'll serve as inspiration / food for thought.
"realize that pain will always come. Pain is to be expected no matter what happens. There is no way around it. Whether you do all you can do, or do nothing at all, you will experience pain. Let it sink in. You. Will. Experience. Pain. All you can do is choose what pain to experience. Embrace it. Learn to love it. The pain you choose to inflict on yourself through hard work, or the pain that gets delivered without you asking. Pick one of the two. There is no third option. Sweat or tears, buddy. Either way, you’re getting wet. This is the essence of the quote: Suffer the pain of discipline, or suffer the pain of regret."
"Working hard today is a gift to myself tomorrow."
"Don't give up what you want most, for what you want now."
"There are no good short-cuts, there are no good secrets, there's ultimately no grand advice. Unfortunately a lot of the people that succeed and exceed all others do so because they have an innate emotional motivation. You need to dig down deep, somewhere, anywhere. And figure this out. You need to be motivated beyond sense and reason.
Because it's reasonable to put something off an hour and complete it later with decent quality. Because it's reasonable to keep searching for how the most successful men and women go through with it, until you do it yourself. Because it's reasonable to do this or that and create an entire life around procrastination because you've let it define you, and didn't realize the grander picture.
Sometimes procrastination isn't procrastination, it's not being lazy, sometimes it just means you're a loser.
And I say that with all the human love in the world, you have the potential to do just about anything you want to. But you have to do it. You have to say fuck it, I'm going to do it. I'm going to stop looking for advice. I'm going to get it done and focus. And everytime I get distracted, I push through it, even if I'm a littly hazy or tired and a nap sounds like a good idea to be more productive later.
TL;DR. Just do it. No one can help you as much as just doing it."
"Do not stop doing something because it is difficult. Learn to battle through the difficulties. Set a precedent for being able to carry on, otherwise you'll simply teach yourself to give up when things get tough."
"Quit using the word "will" and instead just do. The key to discipline is directed impulsiveness. As soon as you think of something you can do/should do, do it, no excuses."
"
* Stop worrying about why it's difficult to stop procrastinating on a project, stop worrying about all the tasks that are coming up in the future, and simply focus completely and entirely on the present, and enjoy that.
* Do not let your mind constantly drift to the future and worry about all the work you need to get done. If you let your mind drift away to the future too much, you'll find yourself in analysis paralysis 99% of the time, and only getting work done 1% of the time.
* Bring your mind completely back to the present moment, and you'll find yourself enjoying working and getting things done. Each small success is a reward that propels you to the next task happily.
* The paradox is the more you worry and try to “fix” yourself by asking "why is it so draining to do X?", the more draining it becomes to actually do X. Every time you ask yourself the question, you give legitimacy to the idea that it's daunting or intimidating, when it's really not and there's no inherent reason why it has to be.
* The hardest part about the paradox is realizing that part of the solution to procrastination is to stop asking yourself why you procrastinate (in some attempt to logically fix yourself), because that only makes it worse. Procrastination happens because your mind is not where it should be, and you develop a vicious cycle of worrying about worrying ... about procrastination.
* The final breakthrough will come when you realize that procrastination is an illusion. The only reason it exists is because you believe it exists. So how do you break out of the cycle? Meditation, or simply focusing on the present."
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
Let your body tell you when to get on cam. If you're not truly into it, there may be real legitimate reason why.
I was feeling guilty for taking a week off but I know I'm doing the right thing. I have to heal my body. I had UTI, now I'm on my period. I am grateful that my body knows what's best.
Now I'm itching to get back on cam and I know that when I do, I will be in exactly the right state of mind to make the money!
There is a big difference between inner wisdom that protects you and laziness that prevents you from succeeding.
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
I like visual motivation (because when I fail to get on cam, the days off turn into weeks into months...)
So now I have a big calendar that hangs on the wall behind my computer/webcam.
Every single day I don't work, I cross out the day in a big red X. Every day that I work, I write the amount in bright green.
I feel so bad marking each X and seeing the calendar fill up with red instead of green, that I force myself to work the next day, and even work longer if I have to.
It's the best motivator I have so far, otherwise the days just melt together and I wouldn't even realize how much time has passed since I last worked! It helps me stay on track!
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
Quote:
Originally Posted by
innocentindian
I like visual motivation (because when I fail to get on cam, the days off turn into weeks into months...)
So now I have a big calendar that hangs on the wall behind my computer/webcam.
Every single day I don't work, I cross out the day in a big red X. Every day that I work, I write the amount in bright green.
I feel so bad marking each X and seeing the calendar fill up with red instead of green, that I force myself to work the next day, and even work longer if I have to.
It's the best motivator I have so far, otherwise the days just melt together and I wouldn't even realize how much time has passed since I last worked! It helps me stay on track!
I am so doing this. YES to simple visuals and little rituals of WIN :)
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
Oh, and money is a motivator lol.
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
Yes, money! I don't really understand this thread - I have bills to pay! ;-)
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Vlodina
Yes, money! I don't really understand this thread - I have bills to pay! ;-)
So do I! But I've been struggling with depression and anxiety for around 3 years now. I'm finally starting to come out of it- 2 years ago I would have rather jumped off a building than even consider trying to get out of bed in the morning and sit in front of a camera for 5 hours a day trying to smile. I'm on new meds, and things are really starting to look up! I'm happier, more energetic, can get out of bed etc. But there's still some residual anxiety and self-doubt that sometimes hits me and makes it difficult for me to do anything productive for days at a time.
Anywho, I've been reading through all your advice, and am planning to put lots of it into practice! Thank you so much. :)
I'm getting on tonight and am planning to stay on until I make my high goal!
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
Depression is real, it's a motherfucker! I applaud you for getting help and that's nothing to be ashamed of. That's brave! You will never hear someone tells a person who is diabetic to just 'get over it'.
I am very supportive and empathetic but I don't believe in ever giving someone the right to feel sorry for themselves or throw a pity party. From reading your posts, it doesn't seem like you are the latter so make that money!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ENoire
So do I! But I've been struggling with depression and anxiety for around 3 years now. I'm finally starting to come out of it- 2 years ago I would have rather jumped off a building than even consider trying to get out of bed in the morning and sit in front of a camera for 5 hours a day trying to smile. I'm on new meds, and things are really starting to look up! I'm happier, more energetic, can get out of bed etc. But there's still some residual anxiety and self-doubt that sometimes hits me and makes it difficult for me to do anything productive for days at a time.
Anywho, I've been reading through all your advice, and am planning to put lots of it into practice! Thank you so much. :)
I'm getting on tonight and am planning to stay on until I make my high goal!
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
Hey OP, I know how it feels, I get days like this as well so I created a little formula for myself when I just can't be assed to work but I NEED to.
Hopefully this isn't too complicated. This isn't 100% proof but it usually works 95% of the time. You can drag your feet while knowing that your basic needs are met and comes in handy during bouts of depression and or burn out. Now, to the point!
Emergency. Work. Reward or (E.W.R, lol) aka my burnout/lazy formula
1. Calculate your lowest possible hourly. EX: $25 is my lowest possible hourly if I'm splitcamming and logged into all of my eggs. (things are subject to change but it balances out and you can change it depending if the week is slow or fast)
2. Do the Math. Write down your formula. B / LH = H = R (Your Bill divided by lowest hourly equals hours which will lead to reward). You can type it, but for me it works best if I can see it at my work desk or on a post it note on my bathroom mirror.
EX: Rent: $925 / $25(LH)= 37 Hours(I MUST WORK) = Mani/Pedi(My Reward) In order to make rent, I must work 37 hours. This can be divided or done all at once. If I need to make rent, I'll usually knock out 37 hours within 2 weeks time, then focus on my other list. I then reward myself after all my hours are put in the following week.
Rent is an emergency and must be paid whether you feel like going on cam or not. Working will solve your problem. Reward yourself after you've put in your hours and repeat. Pretty simple!
The trick to this formula is that most of the time you're hourly is going to be much higher resulting in you making enough to cover the bill, reward yourself, and have plenty left over. I only use the lowest hourly just in case you have a really horrid week. On days you make even less than your lowest hourly, just readjust the formula.
What I like about it is that most of the time if you work those hours, you make more money and in less time. So you might make rent in 30 hours of cam instead of 37 which is always awesome. Or, you might get super lucky and have an extremely profitable night and are able to knock out 4 bills in half the time needed and can get your reward right away or sooner. As long as you are available to receive money, you never know how your night could turn out. ;)
Sometimes I put my reward first so I can trick my brain into really wanting to put in the work.
Reward:Mani/Pedi Rent: $925/$25 = 37h
Reward: Key Up Weed Stash - Cable: $123/$25 = 4.92h
Reward: Business 101 Course Book: $132/$25 = 5.28h (super easy to knock out)
If you want you can pluck off the easy things on the list first and check them off as you go. I hope this all makes sense! Knowing that you can buy your course book by just putting in 5.28 hours helps motivate you to work. If you sit around and don't fix the problems on the list you only have yourself to blame and life gets pretty shitty after that.
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
If you're all ready to go, don't waste the make-up and do some clips instead. It isn't as simple as "if you film it, they will buy," but sometimes you can get sales with a vid of you just staring off into space, or reading a book, ranting, eating things, whatever.
THEN get cleaned up and binge-watch away. Tomorrow is another day, but like it's been stated try to not let it become a habit!
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
It sounds like the amount of pressure you're dealing with is paralyzing (debt, trying to increase your camming hours, lethargy, etc.). That's a recipe for burnout!
Perhaps try setting a ridiculously small goal - such as allowing yourself to turn your cam off once you've made $10 or so - and see how you feel once you've reached that amount.
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ENoire
So do I! But I've been struggling with depression and anxiety for around 3 years now. I'm finally starting to come out of it- 2 years ago I would have rather jumped off a building than even consider trying to get out of bed in the morning and sit in front of a camera for 5 hours a day trying to smile. I'm on new meds, and things are really starting to look up! I'm happier, more energetic, can get out of bed etc. But there's still some residual anxiety and self-doubt that sometimes hits me and makes it difficult for me to do anything productive for days at a time.
Anywho, I've been reading through all your advice, and am planning to put lots of it into practice! Thank you so much. :)
I'm getting on tonight and am planning to stay on until I make my high goal!
I too am on meds for depression and anxiety. And the adjustment period is rough, it took me months to find the right doasge that truly helped me. I did cam bc I had to but I know the fear, the doubt, all of it. I like the advice of setting small goals. And pamper yourself after you work, take a hot bath, lie in bed for awhile and read magazines and drink coffee or wine, whatever little things make you feel like you are taking special care of you. This has helped me tremendously: ) You can do this!!!
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Re: Struggling to get on cam
This is my problem too. I am hypothyroid and I normally wake up as tired as if from running a marathon. I never see the strength to work, just feel like lounging on the couch all day.