Should You Pivot or Power Through? How to Know When Your Content Strategy Needs a Shift
Feeling stuck in your content strategy? Before you torch everything, here’s how to tell if you need a pivot—or just a break.
If you’re a creator navigating the digital realm alone, there will come a moment when you question everything—your content, your strategy, your life choices. Is this working? Should I keep going? Did I just waste months (or years) on something that isn’t paying off?
The truth? You don’t always need to quit—you need to adjust.
But how do you know when it’s time to pivot your strategy, and when you just need a mental reset? Let’s break it down.
The Overthinking, Overworking, and Over-It Phase
I’ll admit it: I’m an over-thinker. I tend to stack my plate higher than a Thanksgiving dinner, and then wonder why I feel like I’m drowning in obligations. I constantly question if what I’m doing is the right thing, if I’m working hard enough, and if any of this is even worth it.
Sound familiar?
That’s why I created Design Your Life Club—to build a space for people like us, navigating success (or just survival) in a way that doesn’t break us.
Let’s talk about how to recognize when it’s time to pivot, before burnout makes that decision for you.
Questioning Your Solopreneur Path? Welcome to the Club.
No matter what you’re building—whether it’s content creation, a business, or something in between—self-doubt is part of the deal.
Motivation? Comes in waves.
Clarity? Unpredictable at best.
Energy? A precious and endangered resource.
The good news? If you have purpose, you’ll push through the inevitable lows.
The bad news? If you don’t have clarity on why you’re doing this, then maybe you should quit (or at least rethink your approach). Because without a clear purpose, everything starts to feel like an uphill battle.
3 Signs You’re Lost and Need a Shift
🚩 You’re stretched too thin.
Trying to show up on every platform, run every marketing tactic, and juggle a full-time job? Yeah, growth feels microscopic when you’re scattered.
🚩 You’re not seeing progress, and you don’t know why.
Sometimes the answer is right in front of you, but exhaustion makes it impossible to see. You’re putting in the work, but nothing’s clicking.
🚩 Your entire identity is wrapped up in your work.
You work seven days a week, your side hustle is your life, and if something goes wrong, it feels like your entire world is falling apart.
Recognizing these signs is step one. Now, let’s talk solutions.
3 Things to Do When You Feel Like Quitting
1. Talk to Someone Who Actually Gets It
Not just anyone—someone who understands the struggle.
For me? I call my friend who’s working on his own product and growing his LinkedIn audience. Does he have the magic solution? No. But does talking help me get out of my own head? Absolutely.
2. Write It Down Before Your Brain Implodes
Your brain is a terrible project manager. Get the chaos out of your head and onto paper (or Notion, or a napkin, I don’t judge).
Overwhelm thrives in disorganization. Writing things down forces clarity.
3. Create Content About Your Chaos
People love authenticity more than their Moms. You’re already living the struggle—why not document it?
If you’re feeling isolated, use your content to connect. Whether your audience is 100 people or zero, someone will relate to your journey.
When to Pivot (and When to Burn It All Down and Start Over)
So, you thought you had the perfect strategy, workflow, or niche. Now, you’re second-guessing everything.
How do you know if it’s time to pivot?
Step 1: Figure Out If It’s a Strategy Problem or an Energy Problem
🚫 Strategy Problem?
You’ve been consistent, but your engagement, income, or audience growth is flatlining. You’re losing excitement because nothing is moving.
😵 Energy Problem?
You love what you do, but you’re fried. Even if things are technically working, it’s not fun anymore.
→ What to do: Take a week-long step back. Scale back non-essential tasks and see if you feel better. If you’re still stuck, your strategy—not just your energy—needs a shift.
Step 2: Pinpoint What’s Draining You vs. Energizing You
If you’re overwhelmed, you need to figure out what’s actually draining your momentum.
😩 Draining You:
A platform that’s not working for you
A content style that feels forced
Tasks that feel like soul-sucking obligations
⚡ Energizing You:
The type of content that feels effortless
The creative process that excites you
The moments where you feel in flow
→ What to do: Make a weekly list of your tasks. Label each one as either energy-giving or energy-draining. If most of your work is draining, it’s time to pivot.
Step 3: Make Small Pivots Before a Full Overhaul
Don’t throw everything away just because you’re stuck. Instead, test small changes before making a drastic shift.
If social media is draining? Scale back. Focus on one platform.
If your niche feels too limiting? Test out new content types within your brand.
If your monetization strategy isn’t working? Experiment with coaching, consulting, or digital products before assuming the whole thing is doomed.
→ What to do: Run a 30-day experiment. Try small tweaks. Track what feels better and what actually moves the needle.
I’m In the Thick of It. You Too?
This isn’t just theory—I’m living this process right now.
I’m tweaking my LinkedIn content to attract a slightly different audience, testing a more “quirky but strategic” approach to networking and content creation.
Substack is still my passion, but I’m leaning into building a community of like-minded people who crave more from life and business—whether that’s entrepreneurship, self-improvement, or just breaking out of the rinse-and-repeat cycle.
Are you going through it too?
Let’s connect. Drop a comment. Share this with someone who’s in the trenches. Finding people on the same path is the fastest way to progress.
Final Thought: Pivot, Don’t Quit
Burnout and doubt don’t mean failure. They mean it’s time to reassess.
So, instead of quitting? Adjust. Experiment. Find your rhythm. Your future self will thank you.
🎥 ICYMI: My Latest Video
Feeling stuck, waiting for clarity to strike before you take action? That’s the biggest trap keeping you from growth. The truth is, purpose isn’t found—it’s built. And the fastest way to find your direction? Start creating.