"Smart Scheduling for the Disabled Content Creator" By Lucy ..

"Smart Scheduling for the Disabled Content Creator" By Lucy LaRue (An article that was accepted for MV in Oct 2018 and never got published. I am posting it here unedited in Sept 2022. I am angry) ------ The porn community has gone through several progressive improvements recently, including the increasing rate of disabled and chronically ill performers and models entering the industry. However, many find the full-time, consistent amount of dedicated effort that goes into creating content and sustaining an appealing professional image extremely difficult due to the limitations of the symptoms of their illnesses. It can even seem impossible to “keep up” with other performers. As a disabled MV Girl and enthusiastic disability advocate, I would like to share the system I use to be consistently productive despite my fluctuating physical abilities: Track Personal Trends It is much easier to create a realistic plan for the future once you understand what you are working with. Keep track of the trends you see in the way your body reacts to different stimuli, paying special attention to the recovery time you may need after each activity. Perhaps your illness flares up depending on the season, the weather, your physical activity, or the foods you eat. The more trends you are able to identify, the easier it will be to create a work schedule that rides or takes advantage of these trends instead of falling prey to them. Acknowledge Limitations (& work WITH them) It is quite common for people with disabilities or chronic illnesses to experience days or weeks where creating sexy videos and photos is impossible due to complications of their condition. This does not mean it is impossible to be productive! By identifying symptoms and acknowledging how they limit your production, you can avoid overexertion and select creative options that better suit your abilities on high-symptom days instead. Besides, low-energy days are the perfect opportunity to pamper yourself and take care of your skin! Leave off the makeup and let your pores breathe, or apply a face mask! Be kind to yourself and to your body: You will thank yourself later on, believe me! Content Triage Create a list of content you would like to create, including even the smallest tasks. This list should be constantly growing and evolving. Divide your list into three sections: 1. Tasks that take a high amount of energy (ex. Filming a full-length video, attending a photoshoot or event, Performing on cam) 2. Tasks that take a moderate amount of activity (ex. Prepping for a future shoot, Meeting with collaborators, even doing laundry!) 3. Tasks that take minimal energy (ex. Editing clips, designing advertisements, interacting with clients online, writing articles or erotica) In organizing the work you wish to create by the amount of effort and energy each action takes you and designating appropriate tasks to your varying abilities, you are able to utilize the knowledge you collected about your personal trends to plan for future creative endeavors without unnecessary burnout or wasted time. As you pay attention over time to your body’s reactions to the amount of energy it needs to expend for each task, you will be able to develop a fine-tuned schedule based on and not limited by your varying abilities. Prepare BackUp A common and unfortunate trait of many chronic illnesses or disabilities is unpredictability. This is why it is very important to create multiple options for yourself in the event that you run into an unexpected roadblock, health or otherwise. It can be difficult to bounce back once in a slump, so it helps to have several alternate tasks from a lower-energy task bracket available to avoid a slump in the first place. Maintaining a hardy queue of content available as a backup in case of an unintended absence can be a game-changer as well. It can be hard to hold off on posting the super sexy, smutty new content you’ve created right away, but keeping a couple juicy little tidbits for a symptom-filled day in the future is an investment in consistency that is well-worth the wait. Remember, it will take time to tweak and perfect your personalized plan, but with careful observation, honest introspection, prioritization, and content-conservation, you can work harmoniously with your disadvantages instead of letting them stall your success. ------ ~Lucy LaRue @LaceBaby