Too exhausted to cam?

[Yarrow]

I am curious what you ladies do when you are just too exhausted to hop on cam even though you were planning on it?

I feel so guilty. I usually pride myself on being consistent and having a good work ethic with whatever I do- but I woke up today feeling totally wasted tired. A part of me really wants to cam but a part of me is like- don't- you need to be 100% or able to appear 100% (even if you are tired). I am still very new, but I am a pretty high energy cam girl, so I don't want to be a slug online.

The reason for being depleted today is I still have a "day job", although it is also somewhat freelance (which helps). I also have been helping my boyfriend with his ailing mother, which has been incredibly stressful. Yesterday was such a long day with caregiving and "day job" work--- I was up for nearly 24 hours. This isn't terrible compared to some people's work life hours- but I just don't want to seem tired on cam, but I also want to be reliable and show up, you know!

Members want to chip in on this too? That would be rad! Should I just force myself to hop on?

I am so conflicted.




P.S. I searched the forms, but nothing really answered my question.

 

[Sevrin]

Lots of models log in when they're not planning to play their "A" game, but you're entitled to take time off. If you want that time to be semi-productive, use it to check out other models. If your current schedule will continue for the foreseeable future, you might want to research some low-energy activities for your room that work for you and will be entertaining for the type of member you attract, and which will not require you to do jumping jacks.

Being on camera will be stressful, either way, though. Make sure you get plenty of sleep. Burning out is a danger for your health and relationships, and won't help you cam, either.

 

[hapa74]

As a member I would never fault a model for having to take some time for themselves. Though I can understand wanting to keep a regular schedule. That being said, being a caregiver (even assisting someone) is exhausting and draining physically and mentally (having experienced this). On top of having another job, it would be understandable to not log on and take some time to recharge.
If you still wanted to log on, you could always try a low key game of some sort or maybe even logging on just for a shorter show.

 

[Courtneypage]

I am conflicted over this as well!
Sometimes I don't feel like getting on cam but I push myself and do it anyways (so not a good idea) and then it ends up being the best night or I am minus one personality when I'm on cam. The latter REALLY sucks! I pride myself on being entertaining and when I'm not its upsetting! Its a crap shoot!

Um, I feel like this just turned into a rant or something. Oops!

Sorry.

 

[IsabellaSnow]

I am conflicted over this as well!
Sometimes I don't feel like getting on cam but I push myself and do it anyways (so not a good idea) and then it ends up being the best night or I am minus one personality when I'm on cam. The latter REALLY sucks! I pride myself on being entertaining and when I'm not its upsetting! Its a crap shoot!

Um, I feel like this just turned into a rant or something. Oops!

Sorry.

I'm the same, either I'll get on cam and people are tipping and don't make me work too hard for it and my energy gets up and I'm having the time of my life and so is everyone else. Or, what more likely happens is I'll get on cam feeling exhausted, others will pick up on it, I'll get a few beggars/idiots and it'll all just be too much for me, and then I'll feel really guilty because a couple of people have tried tipping but it's just not enough to keep me around.

I think it depends on how you feel. If you're genuinely exhausted then you could do the whole coming on and just chilling/chatting, but personally I'd take the night off/go to bed if you're genuinely tired. Camming for me fucks up my sleep patterns so if I over do it I get ill.

I don't have great motivation for camming though, especially not lately, and almost always choose my mental and physical health over coming on cam. I have had members get arsey with me before about it, or have nagged/ranted or made me feel bad about it in the past. At the end of the day though you don't owe them your time or body. It's completely your call, they can whine about it, but you and only you know what's best for you. If you feel you need a night off then take it.

 

[mutantdonut]

This thread sounds like a branch-off to another thread. Here's the link... https://www.ambercutie.com/forums/viewt ... 28&t=16026

Anyways, you can't be faulted if life and other circumstances get's in the way. Because you know... life...

 

[Yarrow]

Thanks for all the feed back you guys!

After I posted this I went on Chaturbate and did some research... then I fell asleep for about 4 hours. I feel so much better with extra sleep- but I will still take it easy tonight. Back on tomorrow. I don't like missing my schedule because it keeps me on track and accountable. Plus I feel like I let down the people that seem to come to my room most of the times I am on, and those guys and gals have been so awesome and supportive.

Sevrin- I am guessing you have seen part of my show, haha! I do do jumping jack on occasion. Your advice is great! I have been trying to figure out some lower energy stuff I can do on days when I am sore or just feeling more mellow--- I will keep on searching. I did buy a deck of cards, mad libs, and have played movie trivia, but more options to keep a room fun are always good.

hapa74- Yes! Caregiving is so so tiring. He didn't have any other family members helping him until this past week--- and she has been going down hill for a while. I recently had to tell him it is too much for me to help everyday with my job, and camming (which I would like to do full time- I really like it). He understands but I wish I could be there for him even more.

xxxpage- I like being entertaining too, but there has to be some middle ground for us when we are not feeling our best, right?! I mean most jobs people have off days, but they still go to work. So I am trying to see how I can make those off days work for me--- except maybe when you are soooo tired you could make yourself ill as Isabella has stated. Which is basically how I felt today.

Mutantdonut Ah! Thanks . There are a few ladies who feel the same kind of guilt letting their regulars down!

 

[KayleePond]

I just wanted to add, that I think a lot of full-time models had vanilla jobs at the start (and many continue to do both) and so it is a common issue! It was SO exhausting working both jobs but I know that personally I put in almost the same hours and kept a consistent schedule too! It depends what sort of job you have though, obviously. Some jobs just don't have that advanced notice or reliability and then it's super hard to have a reliable schedule. Some are just more physically or emotionally exhausting.

There was no way for me to be able to just all of a sudden switch, but I opened an account and put all the money into it that I possibly could. My plan was to save up enough to equal 3 full months of pay from my day job and I just kept adding to the fund until I had enough! I was able to quit my day job after a couple of months (haha my day job was VERY low paying) and now here I am, almost a year and a half later and living every day absolutely loving my job and the life that I get to have. It was so important to me to get to devote more time, focus, and effort on making my cam shows great and connecting with members and I feel that it was worth it, but I'm sure I don't have to tell you that!

Anyway, the main advice I'm trying to very wordily convey, is perhaps open a "Quit My Day Job" fund. Obviously that's not a solution for the shows you will have to do until then, but I know it helped me get closer bit by bit and just knowing I was working towards something so wonderful helped motivate me when I was exhausted!

 

[PearlSparkles]

As a person n model who has experience taking care of a very sick person, yes you will be exhausted. Its like taking care of a baby. But in my case i was a full time caregiver to my mother who progressively got worse so when cam time came around i had to either cancel or log on exhausted. Id make goal but sometimes especially the last few months id spent more time w my mother than camming 3+ hrs because i had no idea she was going to die.

Now all said and done, now that my mother passed n granted i was too exhausted from crying especially the last few weeks i can finally motivate myself to get on cam not feeling drained.

Take time for yourself and decide what you want to do camming wise and life wise

P.S. I currently do NOT have a vanilla job, camming is my full time income. cant relate to vanilla job n etc.

 

[Yarrow]

Thanks Kaylee! I would say you were articulate ... not too wordy. When I can save, boy do I save! I'm looking forward to saving as much of this money as possible. I really would like to do camming full time and then do my art full time-ish too. I should title a savings account "Quit My Day Job" .

And Angel, I'm sorry to hear about your mom's passing. Caregiving is intense, and it is really amazing you were there for her. It shows a lot about your character.

 

[Fay_Galore]

I am conflicted over this as well!
Sometimes I don't feel like getting on cam but I push myself and do it anyways (so not a good idea) and then it ends up being the best night or I am minus one personality when I'm on cam. The latter REALLY sucks! I pride myself on being entertaining and when I'm not its upsetting! Its a crap shoot!

Um, I feel like this just turned into a rant or something. Oops!

Sorry.

I'm the same, either I'll get on cam and people are tipping and don't make me work too hard for it and my energy gets up and I'm having the time of my life and so is everyone else. Or, what more likely happens is I'll get on cam feeling exhausted, others will pick up on it, I'll get a few beggars/idiots and it'll all just be too much for me, and then I'll feel really guilty because a couple of people have tried tipping but it's just not enough to keep me around.

Yes this! exactly this!

and my two cents: since the ratio of those two scenarios is 80:20 in my experience (members picking up my 'lazy' vibe happens a lot more then unexpected good night that give energy) for me it's often the right choice not to go on cam and see if I can make myself somehow cam-related useful (send out some snapchats, e-mail, social media, work on some graphics etc) BUT I do have a cosmo-tip If you feel you nééd to go on, even though you're tired, get yourself something special. Like what parents do with kids on a long car ride? they get them a new colouring book, or the promise of an ice cream halfway. so! get into that special lingerie you've been saving, that will make you feel soooo good (and thus energetic) or get a cup of your favourite tea, promise yourself some candy halfway (also great on cam). be kind to yourself.

 

[Alisa]

I completely understand you that working in your normal job and camming is tough. Personally, I work a lot during a day and very often I find myself too tired to be entertaining on cam. And believe it or not, your state really shows on cam! The days when I'm 100% into camming are usually also much more fun and profitable.
Days when I force myself on cam are most of the times the worst energy-in-the-room-wise and token-wise. Members feel your exhaustion and I often find myself too easily annoyed on those days by trolls or rude members.

After working for 8 hours and worrying about my my work stuff and responsibilities it is very hard to stay cheerful and positive and get on cam looking your best. I've been camming for a year and I am still learning to draw the line when I should forget about MFC and just relax in the evening. I try reminding myself that camming should be fun for me, not an obligation (this might be different for models who's income depends on camming only but this is not the case we are discussing here right) and if I feel my best, the members will reward me with more tokens than if I log on tired and annoyed.

Oh, a little trick I learnt - sometimes I have many meetings or classes or conferences during the day that exhaust me and I am not capable of normal cheerful interaction on cam but I feel that being sexy and dancing will relax me. So I log on, create an intimate atmosphere in my room, let my friends know I am up for chill dancing session and appreciate all tips thrown my way, and then I just quietly dance/move around. It has been accepted really good for now.

 

[RosieCotton]

I don't know what kind of day job you have, but I'm an assistant in a law firm. I'm crazy busy most days (I'm on lunch right now :lol and I also commute (almost 2 hours one way) so most days by the time I get home I am insanely exhausted! I know the exact struggle you have with being exhausted and if you should force yourself to get on cam or not.

My general answer would be no, unless you're an amazing faker because I tend to wear my emotions on my face. I can't even help it but it shows completely when I don't want to be there and then my night isn't as awesome. I've found the nights where even if I'm exhausted if I go on just to have fun and forget about the money, that's when I have the most fun and that's when it's portrayed on my face that I'm happy. I usually start off with a drink too and just sit and relax for a bit. I don't even worry that I'm not nude and don't have amazing room counts during that. The beer and talking definitely helps me to relax.

My regulars all know too that I work a full-time job and so they are all pretty understanding when I don't log on a day that I normally schedule myself to be on. It's good to be vocal with your regulars and to make sure you're letting everyone know you won't be on.

Also, I think being prepared definitely helps. I try to cam Monday-Thursdays and on those days are the days where I try to make sure my dinner is already ready when I get home, I make sure my hair is clean the night before and so that when I get home it's BAM, BAM, CAMTIME! I do this so that I can not only get a good shift in, but also so that I can get to bed early enough that I won't be dead when 5:30AM rolls around for my vanilla job.

Another little tip, if you are too exhausted to cam, why not try to do something else related to camming? I'm not sure how useful this is for you since I didn't see a MFC link for you, but for instance nights I take off cam I try to do some work on picture sets or my profile or promoting myself.

Hope that was somewhat useful. Basically though only you know your body and your limits, so listen to how you feel!

 

[mutantdonut]

One of the greatest luxuries of cam modeling is the option of working at your own discretion. So it's highly admirable that you're trying to fulfill your fanbase on a consistent basis in spite of fatigue. In the case where you're lack of energy get's in the way of how you perform, or even weighs on your health, you might be too unselfish for your own good. Your most loved regulars should understand. The ones that don't are probably not worth your time.

 

[innocent]

I can't get on unless I'm feeling it 100% or else I do terrible. Sometimes I have to go read a book / relax for an hour or 2 before I'm ready.

 

[JJasione]

Usually if I'm totally knackered or having a bad day I just get on for an hour and do more of a hangout show rather than having any real show goals and they're pretty successful. I don't stay on long enough for it to kill my camscore because I'm earning less, but it means my regs still get to chill with me for a while, and I come away feeling pretty proud that I ot on and didn't cancel my schedule.

 

[Rose]

If I'm too tired to make an appearance on cam, I generally try to film at least one clip for one of my clips store. It's not much, but it helps me feel like less of a slacker. :twocents-02cents:

 

[PlayboyMegan]

I drink a shit ton of coffee, then I'm good to go!

 

[BarbieLuv]

I drink a shit ton of coffee, then I'm good to go!

This is my go-to plan as well. :lol: