How to show up online after a decade of lurking
3/6/2025 (in progress)
As a millennial who grew up alongside the internet, the internet and social media holds a special place in my heart. Whether or not it deserves that space is definitely a question to think about, but right now the question that I want to investigate is: how do I show up online after years of primarily consuming and scrolling and scrolling and scrolling and not creating or engaging?
Last year, I would say that I dipped my toes back into creating and sharing. I posted videos on YouTube, I posted some on Instagram, and I also started and abandoned a Substack. I learned a bit more about myself and what I like to do by trying all of those things, and now I think it's time to do some intentional reflection and hone my focus for what to do next.
So here are three questions I'm asking myself to better understand how I can show up online in ways that feel right for me. If you're in a similar place, feeling compelled to create and share, but not sure how, try answering them for yourself and let me know what epiphanies they spark.
What means of sharing feel best for me?
Low-edit videos
Writing
Disappearing stories
What cadence of sharing feels sustainable and enjoyable?
Ugh. Here's the thing. I started my Substack with this phrase: be persistent, not consistent. And that phrase still resonates like crazy with me. I've let go of the idea that I can do anything on a consistent schedule (without external demands), and I'm okay with that. I truly believe that being persistent is more important than being rigidly consistent. It doesn't matter when you show up, if you show up at the same time or in the same way, you just gotta keep showing up.
I'm between two thoughts:
Post whenever I feel compelled to post and instead of cultivating/planning a schedule, cultivate and encourage that compulsion. Pros: it'll feel organic and authentic, because it is. Cons: how to deal with never feeling compelled to? how long is okay to go without sharing or posting?
Batch create and schedule for later. I recently found and started watching the Keven Langue Show, and what they do is record multiple videos in one day, and then schedule them out over time. I think this could work for writing and videos as well.
Ideally, I could publish a video once a week (for the algorithm), but if I could create and edit multiple at a time and schedule them, that feels better than trying to record, edit, and upload every week. Ditto for writing. Although, for writing, I don't think I need to publish at a cadence of once a week. This is more for me than any algorithm. Twice a month feels more sustainable and fine.
What's the point? Why do the work at all to show up online?
Self-expression.
One day (and also occasionally now) I'll share more for others than for myself. But right now, I'm claiming this decade as the one where I focus on creating what's inside my brain. This is my decade of self-expression.
So, here are my rules and the places where I'll be sharing.
Rules
Focus on self-expression, not a schedule.
Let people think what they think.
Avenues
Personal website writings (this gitbook)
YouTube channels: one for art, one for dev
Instagram(s): one for me, project specific accounts
focus on stories (posting and watching)
style main posts as poster
occasionally post reels
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