What would you make if the algorithm didn’t exist?
❤️🩹TL;DR
After years of letting hustle culture drain the joy from my YouTube channel, I’m returning to vlogging on my own terms. My new cosy living vlog series focuses on gentle, joyful moments instead of trending topics and analytics. I’ve been experimenting with filming formats and finally found what works and I’m loving the authentic connections it’s creating. Watch the series here
Hello, my friends!
This summer marks 10 years of blogging. Ten years! Isn’t that both insane and amazing? I’m genuinely shocked it’s been that long—it really doesn’t feel like it. I’ll dive deeper into that milestone when my actual anniversary rolls around, but today I want to talk about something that’s been brewing: my return to vlogging, and why it feels different this time.
When Hustle Culture Hijacked My Creative Joy
I started BookTube around 2018, not long after launching my blog. But being honest, I’ve been pretty unfaithful to it.
In a previous post, I opened up about how hustle culture sunk its claws into me, and it completely destroyed my relationship with YouTube. What started as a fun creative outlet became an exhausting checklist of “shoulds”:
- I should post consistently
- I should follow trending topics
- I should review buzzy books
- I should optimize for the algorithm
It completely sucked out the joy and creativity. Replaced by pressure, comparison, and that nagging voice telling me I wasn’t doing enough.
I still wrestle with these thoughts, but I’m fighting back—and slowly winning.
My New Approach: Vlogging for Joy, Not Metrics
So here’s what’s changed: I’m back to vlogging purely for the joy of it.
I’m actively ignoring:
- ❌ Analytics dashboards
- ❌ Trending topics
- ❌ Algorithm optimization tactics
- ❌ The “buzzing books” everyone’s talking about
Instead, I’m focusing on what feels fun.
Let me tell you—ignoring those analytics is feckin difficult. YouTube desperately wants you to see them, constantly dangling numbers in your face to get you creating more content for their machine. But I’m trying my best, and that’s all I can do.
“I’m seeking out the moments that bring joy—be they big or small. I especially love the small moments because you can build them up.”
Introducing: My Cosy Living Vlog Series
In December, I launched a new vlog series centered around cosy living—those little moments that feel like a gentle exhale.
What “Cosy Living” Means to Me
Now, I’m not saying I’m living in constant serenity. Trust me, I’m still a bag of anxiety and doubts. But I’m intentionally filling my life with more moments that quiet that nagging voice in my head and let me just be.
Cosy living is about seeking out moments of joy—big or small—and savouring them. And those small moments? They’re my favourite because you can stack them, build on them, create a life textured with tiny pockets of loveliness.
Finding My Filming Format (Through Trial and Error)
I’ve uploaded three cosy vlogs so far, and each one has been an experiment in finding what feels comfortable.
Vlog #1: Single Day Format
What I did: Filmed an entire single day
How it felt: Exhausting
Lesson learned: Too intense, too much pressure to film
Vlog #2: Multi-Day Compilation
What I did: Filmed clips over several days
How it felt: Confusing and disjointed
Lesson learned: Lost narrative thread
Vlog #3: The 2pm-to-2pm Sweet Spot ✨
What I did: Filmed from 2pm one day to 2pm the next
How it felt: It clicked!
The result: My favourite vlog so far—comfortable energy, authentic vibe, though I ended up with tons of footage and a longer video
Key takeaway: The 2pm-to-2pm timeframe works really well for my energy levels and lifestyle, but I need to be more selective with what I film next time.
Why This Feels Different: Connection Over Views
Watch the Series
This is honestly the most I’ve enjoyed making videos in years. And when people interact with these vlogs, the connection feels different—deeper, somehow.
It’s like viewers are seeing me, not just the thing I’m talking about. Which, yes, feels vulnerable but connection is what I’m craving. Not views, not subscriber counts, not watch time percentages.
A New Creative Outlet That Feels Right
I’m genuinely excited about this series as a creative hobby. Vlogging allows me to express myself in a different, more personal way than junk journaling or scrapbooking.
I feel way less pressure to make things look pretty and aesthetic. These vlogs aren’t meant to be perfect—they’re an expression of joy and gratitude, not another pretty thing to put on a shelf.
Join Me on This Journey
If this resonates with you—if you’re also trying to untangle yourself from hustle culture and find more joy in the everyday—I’d love for you to join me.
Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more cosy living vlogs, and let’s chat about intention, joy, and those gentle exhale moments we all need more of.
Thanks for being here and for joining me on this journey, my friends. Here’s to creating for joy, not metrics.
More Ways to Connect:
📺 Watch the Cosy Living Series
📧 Subscribe to my newsletter for updates (this is currently a work in progress)
💬 Leave a comment—What’s one cosy moment from your day today?
Elaine Howlin 