By skyforbes 
Let’s talk about the things nobody warns you about when you start seeing momentum as a creator: burnout. It creeps up fast, even when you think you’re built for this. I should know — I just hustled my way to 3,000 TikTok followers in a few short weeks, and I did it the way I do everything: all-in, full heart, and a touch of stubbornness that won’t let me quit.
Why I Went So Hard
If I’m honest, TikTok started as an escape. Life had just handed me a brutal pile-up — heartbreak, separation, long COVID, feeling like a stranger in my own body. I needed a win. I needed a mission. And TikTok was it.
But it wasn’t just about me. I poured 40+ hours a week into supporting my friend Jen’s “JennJuicetravel” room, modding, hyping, showing up every night. Her account took off. And in the process, so did mine.
What 40 Hours a Week Really Looks Like
That’s a full-time job — except you don’t clock out. You make friends, play games, run trivia nights, craft stories, pour energy into other people’s dreams while your own stuff — stocks, writing, self-care — starts collecting dust. You tell yourself, “This is the push I need! It’ll help everything else grow!” And it does, but…