The number one thing I have learnt in the adult industry, whether it is camming, making videos or providing other services, is that consistency is the key for success. However, for those of us who have health issues that interrupt even the most basic of routines, this can be a daily battle, and one that can be frustrating, demotivating and distressing.
Here are a few things to keep in mind while trying to maintain consistency in your online work.
Smoke and Mirrors
It is really important to remember that a major part of this industry is the use of “smoke and mirrors.” This means that we make things appear one way when they may be completely different. I’m talking about seeing a model that always has a green light on their avatar, activity on all of their sites, and seemingly endless amounts of content being produced.
Things may not be exactly as they appear!
Active status on multiple sites without physically being there is easy to achieve; activity can be scheduled when a person is not around, and one piece of filmed footage can be reused multiple times.
If you are someone who likes authenticity (like me), you may feel really uncomfortable with this, but the reality is that staying consistent involves a measure of smoke and mirrors. People say to me “you are always active” or “you work so hard” but what they are really saying is that they see I’m consistent. Leaving sites open on my personal computer means it looks like I am online and available. I schedule posts on as many platforms as I can so that I don’t actually need to be present, and every single piece of content I film is used at least five times – 2 clips, 1 audio clip, screenshots, short and long previews and gifs, just to name a few!
Avoid Comparing Yourself to Others
And that leads me into the next point. You will bring yourself down if you compare your activity to others. This is one I have trouble with because I will look at what others are doing and wish that I was able to work as much as they appear to be. But I continually remind myself of the reality of “smoke and mirrors” and that I can only do what I can.
I am in a supportive group chat with a number of models, and this really helps me to break down the “smoke and mirrors” aspect and get regular reality checks. I can then use self-talk when I feel like I’m not working enough or producing as much as I could. An encouraging group of friends will always help you to see the reality; what you are doing well, what they can help you with and areas you can improve.
The Sprint, Jog and Relax Strategy
I recently read this article about productivity and I think it can help us think about consistency in a different way. We may think that keeping a steady pace (e.g. jogging) will bring us the most success, but for those of us with chronic health issues, the ability to keep a steady pace can be out of reach.
This is a myth about productivity – our brains do not operate at their best under midrange intensity. In fact, we can “sprint” to smash out those heavier pieces (e.g., filming a clip) when we have the capacity to and then “rest” by working on easier stuff (e.g., admin) when we have low energy. Your “sprint” and “rest” speed will look different to mine; your “sprint” might be your admin, and your “rest” might be complete rest. I think this is a better way to view productivity and help us maintain consistency – not feeling like we are being productive affects our consistency.
But if you are reading this post on consistency and chronic health issues, I already know you are doing an amazing job. Keep it up!
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Rem Sequence is an Australian adult content creator, blogger and internationally published alt model. She has a background in psychology, philosophy and political science and has worked in health and sex education, youth work and trauma counseling for almost two decades. Contact Sequence via [email protected] and visit her on Twitter at @remsequence.
